Table of Contents
I wanted to move my Mastodon/Pixelfed instances from a server hosted via Digital Ocean to a server hosted via Hetzner. After reading up on the options on mastodon server migration and after I received good advice from other fediverse users, I decided to start with running a GoToSocial (GTS) instance.
A fairly easy install on yunohost, first as a test server to see what GTS is all about. My conclusion?
- no userinterface for posting new items
- major dev status (beta, atm)
- feels a bit clunky, but fast
- so fast
- and fun!
I installed GTS on a real domain (https://squilla.vitaulium.eu) and it was all systems go!
Migration of my mastodon and pixelfed post is deceptively easy: install Slurp and you are ready to start.
Left-overs
There are a few left-overs, some of which need to be resolved before I can fully delete my mastodon and pixelfed instances.
- Small GTS bugs (yunohost forum first point of call, check issues in GTS codeberg repository)
- GTS: Config saving via yunohost: language syntax not saved, so adjusted manually or else application will not start
- GTS: Weird cookie situation to enter /settings > oauth related, not for all yunohosted apps, just those with admin login
- GTS: Mute / mute duration not active on gts? (check on phanpy.social / elk.zone & tusky app)
- Read up on full config & backup options (Borg backup @ Hetzner)
- Check db replace options to bring back camelbacking to hashtags
- Mastodon import, wait with full deletion on digital ocean (keep backup!) until all boxes checked
- Check bookmarks
- Import filters
- Save logs (&> sometext.txt)
- Find posts with dead accounts, adjust json and rerun
- Check threaded posts (see https://github.com/VyrCossont/slurp/issues/4)
- Pixelfed import, wait with full deletion on digital ocean (keep backup!) until all boxes checked
- Add post to warn followers > normal migration + alias does not work in pixelfed
- Manually add pixelfed following to GTS
- Save logs (&> sometext.txt)
- Find posts with dead accounts, adjust json and rerun
- Check handful of posts with +6 photos attached; currently running into errors
⁂ Fediverse Account Timeline
Where does this leave my other fediverse accounts?
| url | platform | start date | end date | notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| mastodon | Nov 2, 2016 | Nov 2, 2022 | main mastodon server, deleted upon request, all content lost | |
| mastodon | Nov 2, 2022 | Nov 10, 2022 | self hosted by masto.ai, deleted upon request, all content lost | |
| pixelfed | Nov 6, 2022 | Jan 16, 2025 | main pixelfed server, deleted upon request, content migrated | |
| https://mstdn.social/@leonieke | mastodon | Nov 10, 2022 | Jul 7, 2023 | hosted by @stux@mstdn.social 1, referral setup to GTS account |
| firefish | Jul 7, 2022 | Jan 6, 2024 | self hosted via digital ocean, running yunhost, deleted manually, all content lost | |
| mastodon | Jan 6, 2024 | Jun 2025 | self hosted via digital ocean (migrated to GTS), to be deleted, content migrated | |
| pixelfed | Jan 16, 2025 | Jun 2025 | self hosted via digital ocean, running yunhost (migrated to GTS), to be deleted, content migrated | |
| https://squilla.vitaulium.eu/@leonieke | gotosocial | Jun 10, 2025 | ytd | self hosted via hetzner, running yunohost |