Hey! Please could you validate my NAS choice?

[scoob101]

Hey everyone, I wonder if you could help sanity check my NAS choice. Many thanks in advance!

I`m looking at replacing a 10+year old home wintel server with a NAS device. My new NAS will be fulfilling two roles:

·         Host / Sync a local copy (and provide backup for ) Microsoft onedrive cloud storage files
· HostPlex Media Server for local music (synced from onedrive), Video streaming, and recording of broadcast TV via LAN attached HD homerun

My existing wintel home server already runs the above roles and works well. My total storage requirements are modest (currently 1.6TB), so I`ll run a two drive array with some kind of redundancy with a third drive installed outside the array for online backups. I don’t care about snapshots or versioning.

So heres where I need some input / validation of my choice of NAS. I`m currently looking at a Synology DS923+ based on the following criteria:

·         I want a recent product which has a decent supported lifespan ahead of it, because I`d like to retain the hardware for 8-10 years.
·         I very much require a turnkey solution with minimal configuration overhead. Life priorities mean I don’t have time to tinker these days. It needs to “just work” out of the box.
·         Plex is a hard requirement, as is support for MS Onedrive sync. I`ve no interest or appetite to replace these solutions.
·         I want a rich software ecosystem just in case I happen to have a new role for my server in future (unlikely but future-proofing)
·         I`m happy to lose support for hardware transcoding / GPU support because a) my video content is *all* 1080p or lower, and I don’t like the client experience of transcoded video content anyway. I`m currently testing my existing plex 
server/clients with transcoding disabled both server and client side to confirm this wont present any challenge. Additionally I have no requirement to stream video to any client outside my home network. 
 

So, with the above in mind, do we think the Synology 923+ is a good choice?

[ed]

Your planned setup sounds well thought out, and the Synology DS923+ seems like a great choice based on your needs. Here's a quick validation based on the points you've mentioned:

1. Longevity and Support
The Synology DS923+ is a recent release and is expected to have a strong lifespan with software support for the foreseeable future (likely 5-6+ years, considering Synology's track record).
It is a popular model, so Synology will continue to push firmware updates and provide security patches, which should give you confidence in long-term usability.
2. Turnkey Solution with Minimal Configuration
Synology NAS units are well-known for their user-friendly interface and easy setup. The DSM (DiskStation Manager) software is intuitive and designed for users who want a "set it and forget it" experience.
Given that you're looking for a solution that "just works" without much tinkering, Synology's turnkey approach should be ideal for you. You'll get all the basic functions out of the box, and you can extend functionality easily through Synology’s package center when needed.
3. Plex Media Server
The Synology DS923+ is fully capable of running Plex Media Server for streaming music and video. As you mentioned, you don’t require hardware transcoding (and you're testing with transcoding disabled), so this NAS should handle 1080p content without issues.
Synology has a well-optimized Plex package that integrates seamlessly with DSM, so you’ll have the Plex server running smoothly.
4. MS OneDrive Sync
The Synology DS923+ supports OneDrive sync via Synology's Cloud Sync app. This allows you to sync your OneDrive files locally for backup and seamless access.
As a bonus, you can set up scheduled syncing and keep your data updated automatically between your NAS and OneDrive, which will help with your backup needs.
5. Software Ecosystem
Synology provides an extensive ecosystem of apps and services (like Hyper Backup, Drive, Surveillance Station, etc.), so if your needs grow in the future, you'll have the flexibility to expand your NAS's functionality.
Even though you don't foresee using the NAS for other roles right now, it's good to know that Synology has a rich software ecosystem that can handle various tasks as your requirements change.
6. Hardware Transcoding
Since you’ve confirmed that your media is 1080p or lower and you have no intention to stream outside your home network, you’re correct that hardware transcoding won’t be a major issue for you. The DS923+ lacks hardware transcoding support, but since your use case doesn’t require it, this won’t affect your experience.
7. Redundancy and Backup Setup
You mentioned using a two-drive array with redundancy (likely RAID 1), which the DS923+ supports with its four-bay configuration. This allows you to use the other two bays for additional storage or to set up your backup drive as you planned.
Verdict:
The Synology DS923+ is an excellent choice for your needs. It's user-friendly, has a good support lifespan, supports Plex and OneDrive sync, and is flexible enough for future use cases. Since you don't need transcoding and the NAS will primarily function as a file sync and media server, the DS923+ should serve you well for years to come without being overkill.

If you’re looking for a turnkey solution that’s reliable and requires little maintenance, this NAS fits perfectly.

[scoob101]

Thank you for such a thorough response. Its apprecaited. Everyone seems to flag transcoding support as the main gotcha, so I`m gonna take my time with that testing and ensure all my use cases are covered.