Synology DS923+ vs. Home-Built FreeBSD NAS: A Head-to-Head Comparison

Julio Merino compares a Synology DS923+ against his home-built NAS running FreeBSD 14 with ZFS. His custom NAS utilizes a powerful ThinkStation workstation with ample CPU and RAM, while the DS923+ is a compact, dedicated NAS appliance with Synology's DSM and btrfs. Both offer comparable IOPS and network performance, but the DS923+ excels in noise and power consumption. DSM provides a user-friendly experience and robust backup solutions, while FreeBSD/ZFS requires more manual configuration and maintenance. Ultimately, the author prefers the DS923+ for its increased peace of mind regarding data security and management.