Strawberry Buttshake
More people should have their own instance. Let me know if you want help setting one up
Aug 31, 2018 at 6:39pmWeb
Show threadEleanorAug 31, 2018
@sara
I've been thinking about doing it. But I only have an asymmetric residential connection to run it on... I'm concerned that federation might saturate my uplink. Thoughts?
Show threadStrawberry ButtshakeAug 31, 2018
@kd0bpv Is a VPS out of the question?
Show threadEleanorAug 31, 2018
@sara
Since I have zero money, yes. Unfortunately.
Show threadStrawberry ButtshakeAug 31, 2018
@kd0bpv Understandable. I'd have to look at my metrics when I'm home from work but you should definitely be able to host a single-user instance on a home connection. Just make sure you lock it down
Show threadStrawberry ButtshakeAug 31, 2018
@kd0bpv Just downsized my server from 2gb of ram to 1gb
Show threadEleanorAug 31, 2018
@sara
Ok, that bandwidth usage doesn't look too bad. Maybe I will give it a go, then. Thanks!
Show threadStrawberry ButtshakeAug 31, 2018
@kd0bpv hope it goes well!
Show threadVI -> @[email protected]Aug 31, 2018

@kd0bpv @sara
Currently I am setting up a pleroma istance on a small ARM-board behind a 12Mbit/s asymetric DSL. We'll see how good this works out, but in theory, a single user will only take about the traffic your mastodon-client at max.

Pleroma is much easier to setup and basically runs on a potatoe

Show threadChris. R. 🎧🎼☕🍍Aug 31, 2018
@sara What are the minimum resources, so that I can host one for one person?
Show threadStrawberry ButtshakeAug 31, 2018
@haploc I'm running my instance on digital ocean's $10/month plan. The $5/month plan would probably be fine but I had trouble rolling out a massive upgrade :P
Show threadChris. R. 🎧🎼☕🍍Aug 31, 2018
@sara
Thanks. If I get around to it, I might try on the smallest tier (at Hetzner though, which is cheaper).
Show threadStrawberry ButtshakeAug 31, 2018
@haploc I'm pretty sure you can even run an instance on a raspberry pi or two, but I haven't tested that yet.
Show threadChris. R. 🎧🎼☕🍍Aug 31, 2018
@sara Sounds like a challenge ;-)
Show threadDan V PetersonAug 31, 2018
@sara @aral I worry a bit about this. I understand some of the reasoning but one of the big things people love about instances is the sense of community. I think making accounts easily transferable between instances is a better answer than running your own instance. Not always, but for most I think a better long term solution without losing that community feeling (that can admittedly sometimes go very wrong).
Show threadDan V PetersonAug 31, 2018
@sara @aral of course you could consider the self-instance a temporary solution until that comes about I guess.
Show threadStrawberry ButtshakeAug 31, 2018
@danvpeterson Mastodon was designed with many, many small instances in mind. They don't have to be single-user instances, and that's probably not the best solution for everyone. But I do agree that accounts should be able to drop in and out
Show threadDan V PetersonAug 31, 2018
@sara I can see many smaller instances being a good thing, still hesitant on the single-user instance concept. Transferability would greatly help people be willing to try smaller instances. It's primarily a desire to choose one I trust to be around long term that made me initially choose mastodon.social (which I've since had second thoughts about). Transferability would help lessen that fear of smaller instances going away. Especially if I could easily back up my account on a regular basis.
Show threadKristianAug 31, 2018
@sara Well looking at the install procedure and all the components involved, I don't think setting up an instance initially is the biggest issue. Keeping it running, maintained, updated, reasonably secured possibly is. Especially if you have little to no experience with any of the pieces of software involved. From a security point of view such an environment seems just as desirable as an amount of WordPress or T3 installations that never seen any real administration... 😐
Show threadStrawberry ButtshakeAug 31, 2018
@z428 imo that's all part of getting something set up
Show threaddeejoeAug 31, 2018

@sara @z428

In my estimation, during the course of what I think of as set-up of any network service, one *can* anticipate and thus configure things in such a way to mitigate or forestall future problems. But only to a certain point, and only optimally even then if one already has some combination of understanding & experience with the service.

Beyond this set-up phase are those challenges of maintenance.

Show threadFeohAug 31, 2018
@sara I agree. I set one up and ran it for months. Great experience. There are two aspects of the Mastodon instance admin experience that need work IMO: 1) Upgrading to new versions (Mine blew up when I did an upgrade. Multiple core devs looked at it and were mystified. My instance went mute. All the pieces still worked. Something in the routing busted.) - and 2) Routing. You can run your own instance, but understanding how traffic flows and having the links with other busy 'hub' instances are important.
Show thread0xCAug 31, 2018
@sara big question: baremetal, VPS, or self hosted
Show threadStrawberry ButtshakeAug 31, 2018
@kb I prefer a VPS but I know that's not always an option
Show thread0xCAug 31, 2018
@sara main concern is probably privacy but if you're gonna use someone elses instance then that argument is basically moot. Look out everyone new instance incoming
Show threadFeohAug 31, 2018
@sara Another thing that would help is rock solid instructions on how to back up an instance. Everything - the web stack, backend, all of it, so that if you attempt an upgrade and botch, rolling back is a thing. I had my postgres backed up but wasn't sure about the rest, and with things like migrations etc it can get super tricky.
Show threadMaraAug 31, 2018
@feoh @sara this is somewhat useful re: migrations
https://github.com/tootsuite/documentation/blob/master/Running-Mastodon/Migration-guide.md#detailed-steps
tootsuite/documentation

Full documentation repository for Mastodon. Contribute to tootsuite/documentation development by creating an account on GitHub.

Show threadFeohAug 31, 2018
@orionwl @sara That does look handy, thanks! I'll squirrel that away in case I ever feel brave enough to try again :)
Show threadSi JoblingAug 31, 2018
@sara have you used your own hosting or something tailor made?
Show threadStrawberry ButtshakeAug 31, 2018
@si I just spun up a digital ocean droplet
Show threadSi JoblingSep 1, 2018
@sara I guess a Linode would do the job just as well (and easier for someone with an existing account). Any clever pointers for setup?
Show threadbhaugenAug 31, 2018

@sara

Raccoon hacker? Our local raccoon families need some hacking.

But thanks also for the offer to help people set up their instance. Very much needed.

Show threadbhaugenAug 31, 2018

@sara

> Our local raccoon families need some hacking.

P.S. I do not mean anything harmful. I had a friend many years ago who was sorta a raccoon whisperer.

See also https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/jan/31/be-fierce-furious-and-fight-join-the-raccoons-of-the-resistance

Be fierce, furious, and fight! Join the Raccoons of the Resistance! | First Dog on the Moon

The Raccoons of the Resistance will help you channel your anger against the actual literal coup in the USA with this handy coup-resisting guide

Show threadsaumyaSep 1, 2018

@sara thanks for the helpinghand upfront.

Can I run an instance in the same laptop that I use to work. If thats possible I will try running my own instance.

Thanks again.

Show threadStrawberry ButtshakeSep 1, 2018
@saumya it's not something I would recommend at all but it is definitely possible.
Show threadsaumyaSep 1, 2018

@sara Ohh! Thanks for the reply.

That means I need a separate dedicated machine to run it.

I thought I could just run it along side my work. Is the setup too complicated or the server running it will take up all the juice from the machine.

Show threadStrawberry ButtshakeSep 1, 2018
@saumya it's more a security concern. Also if you shutdown your computer, you lose access to your instance
Show threadsaumyaSep 1, 2018

@sara

Security problem is a problem for sure.

Well the shutdown part I can live with I hope.

Thanks for the help. Let me see if I can arrange for an extra machine.

Show threada:\drianSep 4, 2018
@sara I now have my own instance up and running but I'm confused about how to use that username on other networks like I see you have done. Can you shed some light?
Show threadStrawberry ButtshakeSep 4, 2018
@_ I'm not entirely sure what you mean?
Show threada:\drianSep 4, 2018
@sara So I was coming at this from a different angle and confused about how it all worked. I thought instances were more isolated. I get it now :)
Show threadStrawberry ButtshakeSep 4, 2018
@_ glad I could help :P
Show threada:\drianSep 4, 2018
@sara Sometimes all people need to do is simply be present, haha.
Show threadRiver ✔️Sep 4, 2018
@sara I'm not sure I need one, but I'm super curious...