Finding My Way in the Fediverse

Fediverse Timeline

From: Birds Versus Mammuts

• https://mastodon.social/@leonieke (Nov 2, 2016 – Nov 2, 2022)
• https://vitaulium.nl/@leonieke (Nov 2, 2022 – Nov 10, 2022)
• https://pixelfed.social/@leonieke (Nov 6, 2022 – Jan 16 2025)
• https://pxlfd.fenslaw.nl/@leonieke (Jan 16 2025 – June 13, 2025)
• https://mstdn.social/@leonieke (Nov 10, 2022 – Jul 7, 2023)
• https://vitaulium.nl/@leonieke (Jul 7, 2022 – Jan 6, 2024)
• https://mstdn.fenslaw.nl/@leonieke (Jan 6, 2024 – June 11, 2025)
• https://squilla.vitaulium.eu/@leonieke (June 10, 2025 – ytd)

Running A Self Hosted Mastodon Server

As you can see from the username/instance list above, I have moved around quite a bit since I became active again in the fediverse. Previously I ran a firefish server, but with uncertain project development, I opted to go back to mastodon with all images running via S3 storage.

Setup

• Server: 4 GB Memory / 2 Intel vCPUs / 120 GB Disk / Debian 11 x64
• S3 Storage: DO Spaces

Via DigitalOcean, I have set up a droplet to run yunohost. Via yunohost, I have installed the mastodon application. On this droplet, I also run other applications, so it’s a shared diskspace.

Lessons Learned

Take some time to find how much you want to spend each month, because if you are not careful, the costs will grow dramatically. I expect to run my yunohost server (including mastodon) for about 40 USD/month. I need to figure out what to do with my old firefish server, because that runs for about 30 USD/month and I’d prefer to retire it, but not before I can transfer old posts to mastodon.

Tips & Tricks

• S3 Storage working for all images:
  • Get S3 Storage
  • I found a combination of information worked for my setup at DigitalOcean, just know you need to adjust .env.production:
    • https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/discussions/20952
    • https://docs.joinmastodon.org/admin/optional/object-storage/
• After Yunohost mastodon package update, copy back in stmp and cdn information from .env.production saved as a backup file.
• Adding/removing theme: not as easy as you might think! (via: https://www.opensourceagenda.com/projects/tangerineui-for-mastodon)
  • copy files to app/javascripts/styles/foldername (via cyberduck/sftp)
  • adjust config/locales/en.yml (via cyberduck/sftp)
  • adjust config/themes.yml (via cyberduck/sftp)
  • sudo su (to become root)
  • su - -s /bin/bash mastodon (to be come user=mastodon)
  • go to mastodon/live
  • RAILS_ENV=production bundle exec rake tmp:cache:clear
  • RAILS_ENV=production bundle exec rails assets:precompile
  • exit user=mastodon, back as root
  • sudo systemctl restart mastodon-web mastodon-sidekiq mastodon-streaming
  • sudo systemctl restart postgresql

To Do

• find a way to clear the cache, memory buffer(s) and diskspace regularly (see https://codeberg.org/Fedimins/mastodon-maintenance-tasks)
• ⬆️ learn about redis/sidekiq (see https://thenewstack.io/how-to-boost-mastodon-server-performance-with-redis/)
• clean up firefish instance