Synology Active Backup for SaaS vs XigmaNAS

Synology Active Backup for SaaS backs up Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace data to Synology NAS servers for recovery after data loss or service downtime. Microsoft 365 coverage includes OneDrive for Business, SharePoint Online, Exchange Online, and Teams. Google Workspace coverage includes Drive, Gmail, Contacts, and Calendar, including shared drives, labels, and attachments. Microsoft 365 backups can run continuously, manually, or on a schedule; continuous intervals adjust from one to ten minutes based on detected API request rates. Both services support file versioning, and Google Workspace versions can be retained for a chosen period or kept in full. The Microsoft 365 Recovery Portal lets administrators and employees restore or export backed-up data, with self-service access dependent on configuration. The product is a free add-on for a compatible Synology NAS, with unlimited accounts subject to NAS storage capacity. Active Backup for Microsoft 365 requires DSM 6.1-15217 or later. Deduplication requires an x64 NAS using Btrfs, and neither service supports secondary backups. Google Workspace setup requires configuring the Drive SDK API and creating a service key.

XigmaNAS is a free, open-source operating system for building a network-attached storage server. Designed for home users and small businesses, it provides a WebGUI for configuring and managing the server without the FreeBSD command line. Storage support includes ZFS, software RAID, JBOD, UFS, and disk encryption. Network sharing protocols include SMB/CIFS, FTP/SFTP, SSH, NFS, AFP, RSYNC, Unison, and iSCSI, with compatible access listed for Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android systems. S.M.A.R.T. monitoring and email notifications can report drive problems. A web-based VirtualBox host runs virtual machines through phpVirtualBox, and documentation lists MariaDB and phpMyAdmin among included software. XigmaNAS supports 64-bit systems only. Install downloads include LiveCD, LiveUSB, embedded, and full images. Embedded installs need a 2 GB OS disk; full installs need 4 GB, and both require 512 MB RAM.