this post was submitted on 25 Dec 2025
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Asklemmy

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What actually happens to posts when a Lemmy instance shuts down? (self.asklemmy)
submitted 4 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago) by claim_arguably to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml
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When I first new about lemmy, lemm.ee was among the biggest and I created an account on it but didn't use it much and didn't knew that the instance was deleted until recently. So help me understand where content is stored:

  • When a post is created, is it only stored on the original instance, or copied to every other one?

  • Do all federated servers get a copy, or get posts from other server when user demands them?

  • When an instance shuts down, is its content gone forever, or do other instances keep copies?

  • If the original server is gone, what happens to edits or deletions?

  • Is there any kind of “shared” storage in the Fediverse, or network that store everything?

  • Could one still access all lemm.ee content now? Or post in it's communities?

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[–] can@sh.itjust.works 10 points 3 hours ago (2 children)

When a post is created, is it only stored on the original instance, or copied to every other one?

Copied

  • Do all federated servers get a copy, or get posts from other server when user demands them?

They get copies of all posts from communities their users subscribe to.

  • When an instance shuts down, is its content gone forever, or do other instances keep copies?

The copies remain. But new comments or posts won't federate to other copies.

  • Is there any kind of “shared” storage in the Fediverse, or network that store everything?

No,

  • Could one still access all lemm.ee content now? Or post in it's communities?

Yes, as long as an instance that was around long enough to federate with it still exists. You can browse from SJW for example.

[–] MyMindIsLikeAnOcean@piefed.world 4 points 2 hours ago* (last edited 2 hours ago)

I’m new to this place…I still have no idea what’s going on and little idea of what an instance or my instance is.

…but I’m an OG internet user and what you’re describing sounds like ~~EchoNet~~ FidoNet?, or one of the various networked BBS systems pre-internet. BBSs, or groups of BBSs would frequently drop in and out of the networks, and the forums/threads from the absent BBSs would still be there…but in a “cleaved” state. Very confusing to a user who used multiple ‘Nets (which was everybody).

[–] claim_arguably 3 points 3 hours ago (2 children)

What is SJW?

[–] med@sh.itjust.works 6 points 3 hours ago

His instance and mine, "sh.itjust.works" was federated with lemm.ee

[–] can@sh.itjust.works 2 points 3 hours ago

I missed one:

If the original server is gone, what happens to edits or deletions?

Edits or posts made after the server is gone? They don't federate out past your instance.