Networking review · Hardware provided by Synology; original video not sponsored
Synology DS923+ Review: Family Photos, Backups and DSM
A NAS gives the family a shared place for photos, videos and files. My DS923+ setup also became a small home server, with user permissions, Synology Photos, and a plan for offsite backups.
Steve's verdict
The appeal for me is the software and the control over my own files. The four-bay DS923+ makes sense for my video work, but a smaller household may not need this much hardware.
Best for
Households or small creative businesses planning local file storage and backups.
Skip it if
This adapts my original video and test. Check current specifications, firmware support and prices before buying older equipment.
Original video
2023-06-03
Focus
Synology DS923+ review
Article type
Hands-on review
What I like
- Synology Photos keeps my family library accessible
- Shared folders work across my computers
- Room for more than basic file storage
What to know
- Drives and upgrades add to the cost
- RAID doesn't replace a separate backup
- Remote access and application setup take attention
Why I wanted a NAS for family photos
My original Synology was still running 11 years after I bought it. The reason for moving to a larger system wasn't just collecting more hardware: my family photo library and YouTube projects needed somewhere to live. A NAS connects to the home network rather than one computer's USB port. That lets several computers and phones reach shared storage, with accounts controlling who can access which folders.
The DS923+ configuration I built
For the June 2023 review, Synology supplied the hardware without sponsoring the video. I installed four 8TB Seagate IronWolf drives, two Synology 400GB M.2 drives, and two 16GB memory modules. Those are my review configuration, not what every retail box includes. I also showed the two built-in gigabit network ports and the optional networking expansion slot. Plan the enclosure, drives and any upgrades as separate parts of the budget.
Synology Photos and shared family access
Synology Photos was the feature that mattered most at home. I could browse old pictures and videos from my phone without keeping the entire library on it. In DSM, I created accounts for my wife and me and a family group, making folder permissions easier to manage together. I also showed an active-projects folder for my video work. The useful part is having a shared workflow, rather than repeatedly moving files between individual external drives.
Drive redundancy is only one layer
I described using RAID 5 across the four drives so the system could tolerate one drive failing. That trades some raw capacity for redundancy; it doesn't protect against every cause of data loss. A NAS can still be lost to theft, damage or an accidental deletion that propagates. My plan in the video was to send a second NAS to my parents and use Hyper Backup for an offsite copy. Treat that as a separate backup plan, not a claim that RAID makes files impossible to lose.
More server features—and who needs them
The video tours Package Center, virtual machines, Plex and Surveillance Station alongside file storage. Camera recording depends on camera compatibility and licensing; it doesn't mean every cloud camera can be connected. My enthusiasm came from having several tools in one system. If all you need is a modest photo archive, a two-bay model may be enough. If you run a small creative business like mine, look at growth, backup recovery and network capacity before choosing how far to expand.
Technical references
More networking guides and reviews
My Wi-Fi 7 and 10Gb Ethernet Home Network UpgradeModem, Router and Switch: Home Network Basics ExplainedQuestions before you buy
Is a Synology NAS a backup?
It can be a backup destination, but it needs a backup strategy of its own. RAID redundancy and an independent offsite copy solve different problems.
Was this DS923+ video sponsored?
No. Synology provided the hardware used in the June 2023 review, which I disclose in the article and video.
Watch the full review