Dell EMC PowerScale OneFS (Isilon) F800 vs Synology DS923+
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
The PowerScale F800 delivers petabyte‑scale storage with a single, unified file system that simplifies management across multiple nodes. Built for demanding environments, it offers high throughput, low latency, and seamless scalability without downtime. Designed for data‑intensive enterprises, the F800 integrates advanced data protection, tiering, and analytics, enabling fast access to files while reducing total cost of ownership. Its modular architecture lets you add capacity and performance as your needs grow.
The Synology DS923+ is a 4-bay network-attached storage device designed for home labs and small businesses that need reliable, expandable file storage with built-in backup, media serving, and virtualization capabilities. Running Synology's DiskStation Manager (DSM) operating system, it offers a polished web-based interface for managing storage pools, running Docker containers, hosting Plex-style media libraries, and automating backups from multiple computers on the network. Dual M.2 NVMe slots allow SSD caching to speed up frequently accessed files, and an expansion unit can add five more bays for growing storage needs without replacing the whole system.
Around $600 for the diskless enclosure.
- Linear scalability without downtime
- Unified OneFS simplifies management
- Robust data protection with erasure coding
- Multi‑protocol support for diverse workloads
- Polished, easy-to-use DSM software
- Reliable and expandable storage
- Strong Docker/virtualization support
- Good community and documentation
- High upfront capital expense
- Complex initial configuration
- Requires specialized IT expertise for optimal tuning
- Premium pricing versus building your own NAS
- Drives sold separately add to cost
- CPU can bottleneck heavy transcoding
What reviewers say
Dell EMC PowerScale OneFS (Isilon) F800 Reviews
No reviews yet.
Synology DS923+ Reviews
3.8 (4)Good, not great
Mixed feelings about Synology DS923+ after using it for a while. On the plus side, strong docker/virtualization support. That said, premium pricing versus building your own nas, which held us back from rating it higher.
Does exactly what we need
We've been using Synology DS923+ for a few months now and it's genuinely made a difference. Good community and documentation. One minor gripe: cpu can bottleneck heavy transcoding, but it hasn't been a dealbreaker. Would recommend.
Solid choice
I picked up Synology DS923+ a while back and haven't looked back. Strong Docker/virtualization support. No major complaints so far. Would recommend.
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The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataDell EMC PowerScale F800 delivers enterprise‑grade, massive throughput and scale‑out capability at high cost, while Synology DS923+ offers affordable, easy‑to‑use storage for small‑scale or home environments.
Key differences
- •Performance: PowerScale up to 2.5 TB/s aggregate throughput vs unspecified, much lower performance on DS923+.
- •Scalability: PowerScale adds nodes linearly without downtime; DS923+ limited to 4 bays (expandable only with additional drives).
- •Protocol support: PowerScale natively serves NFS, SMB, HDFS, S3; DS923+ focuses on SMB/CIFS and media apps, Docker.
- •Price: PowerScale’s capital expense is high and unspecified; DS923+ costs around $600 for the chassis.
- •Target audience: PowerScale is built for enterprise/data‑center teams; DS923+ targets home labs and small businesses.
Performance
PowerScale advertises up to 2.5 TB/s aggregate throughput; DS923+ performance not specified and is far lower.
Build quality
Enterprise‑grade PowerScale hardware vs consumer‑grade Synology chassis.
Connectivity
PowerScale offers 10/25/40 GbE and optional InfiniBand; DS923+ connectivity not listed (likely 1 GbE).
Power & efficiency
Both list only AC power; no efficiency metrics provided to differentiate.
Compatibility
PowerScale supports NFS, SMB, HDFS, S3 simultaneously; DS923+ supports SMB and Docker/Plex but fewer enterprise protocols.
Pricing & value
DS923+ priced around $600 (diskless); PowerScale pricing is unknown but described as high upfront expense.
Warranty & support
PowerScale includes a 3‑year warranty; DS923+ warranty not specified.
Choose Dell EMC PowerScale OneFS (Isilon) F800 if…
Enterprise data‑center teams needing petabyte‑scale, high‑throughput NAS.
Choose Synology DS923+ if…
Home labs or small businesses seeking affordable, easy‑to‑manage storage.
Common questions
Can I start with a small deployment and grow later?
PowerScale scales linearly by adding nodes without downtime; DS923+ is limited to 4 bays, expansion only by adding drives.
What protocols does each system support for file access?
PowerScale supports NFS, SMB, HDFS, and S3 simultaneously; DS923+ primarily supports SMB/CIFS and Docker/Plex apps.
How does the cost compare for a typical small deployment?
DS923+ chassis costs ~US$600 (disks separate); PowerScale’s pricing is not disclosed but noted as a high upfront capital expense.