What can the DS423+ run?

Plex

The DS423+ is a strong Plex box: its Intel Celeron J4125 (4 cores) has Intel Quick Sync, so 4K HDR transcodes in hardware to whatever device is watching, and Plex installs straight from DSM. Feed it over 2 × 1GbE and even a demanding household barely troubles it.

Jellyfin

Prefer open-source? Jellyfin containerises cleanly on the DS423+ and uses the same Intel Celeron J4125 (4 cores) Quick Sync engine, so you lose nothing on transcoding versus Plex — 4K in hardware, no Plex Pass, streamed over 2 × 1GbE.

Immich

Immich runs on the DS423+ in DSM's Docker, but its ML search wants 8 GB and this model tops out at 6 GB — enough to try, tight for a large library. A model with a higher RAM ceiling suits it better.

Home Assistant

Home Assistant Container runs happily in DSM's Docker on the DS423+ and barely touches the Intel Celeron J4125 (4 cores). The full HA OS wants a VM, which this model's 6 GB ceiling handles only lightly, so take the container path here.

Nextcloud

For a full private cloud — files, calendar, contacts, office — the DS423+ hosts Nextcloud in DSM's Docker. The 4-core Intel Celeron J4125 (4 cores) and 2 GB out of the box and room for 6 GB keep it snappy for a family; it wants more headroom than a simple file share, so do not starve it.

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Frigate

For AI camera detection, the DS423+ qualifies: its Intel Celeron J4125 (4 cores) brings an Intel iGPU to decode the feeds, and a plug-in Coral TPU (roughly CA$40–120) does the object recognition in milliseconds. With that Coral it handles several cameras on 2 × 1GbE without straining.

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Pi-hole / AdGuard Home

The DS423+ makes a fine home for Pi-hole or AdGuard Home: the container barely registers next to storage, and because the box is already on all day, it is a natural network-wide DNS blocker for everything on your 2 × 1GbE.

Paperless-ngx

Paperless-ngx runs in DSM's Docker on the DS423+; the 4-core Intel Celeron J4125 (4 cores) handles a household's OCR in bursts, with 2 GB out of the box and room for 6 GB to keep indexing quick.

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Vaultwarden

Run Vaultwarden on the DS423+ and your passwords live on hardware you control: it is a tiny, Bitwarden-compatible vault that works with the official apps and browser extensions, using almost none of DSM's resources.

Minecraft server

The DS423+ can host a Minecraft world in DSM's Docker: a world wants ~4 GB, and this model offers 2 GB out of the box and room for 6 GB. Add RAM before inviting a crowd; the Intel Celeron J4125 (4 cores)'s clock does the rest.

See compatible RAM for the DS423+ ›

Docker (general)

The DS423+ runs a full container platform through DSM, which is what makes it more than a 4-bay disk box — Immich, Nextcloud, Pi-hole and the rest all run here. How many you stack comes down to 2 GB out of the box and room for 6 GB on the 4-core Intel Celeron J4125 (4 cores).

Virtual machines

The DS423+ can virtualize on its Intel Celeron J4125 (4 cores), but a 6 GB ceiling leaves little for a guest once DSM 7.x takes its share — light VM duty only, not a daily-driver Windows box.

Surveillance recording

With Synology's built-in surveillance app and the 4-core Intel Celeron J4125 (4 cores), the DS423+ records a serious number of cameras. Plan the 4-bay storage around your retention window, and fit WD Purple or SkyHawk drives built for the 24/7 write load.

Time Machine / backup target

Backups are the DS423+'s day job: it serves as a Time Machine and Windows/phone backup target over SMB, and its 2 × 1GbE link keeps whole-machine backups quick. Cap each user's quota so the 4 bays are not swallowed by old snapshots.