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 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by claim_arguably to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml
30 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

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 29 points 1 month 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 10 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

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).

[–] can@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

My explanations may not have been new user-friendly. So we're on the "threadiverse" as some of us call it. Lemmy is the biggest software that's compatible but there's also mbin, and piefed. You're signed up on a piefed server (instance). But you can still interact with Lemmy users, communities, etc. And vice-versa.

The only difference is your UI and admins.

Is there anything specific I can clarify?

[–] MyMindIsLikeAnOcean@piefed.world 5 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (2 children)

Thank you.

I sort of get it. I get the concept. I don’t really understand what I have access to in addition to “Lemmy”. I get that my interface is different because I use Blorp…I get that whatever address a user is posting from comes with a set of admins that moderate their users and choose what instances they see. I guess I don’t get the scope of the whole thing or what I’m not seeing and why. I sort of understand that the “channels” are hosted on particular instances.

I’m a refugee from Reddit and instantly preferred this because I don’t get random automatic false positive warnings from the system, and there no mods harassing me and abusing the auto moderation system….so far. Maybe because everybody isn’t a bot and/or picking a fight with me.

[–] can@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Is Blorp an app? You're registered on a piefed instance which has some more features than Lemmy and a different website UI but we're still compatible. You can use this site to search for communities.

One of the best features in my opinion is the modlog.. If any mods are abusive we can see it and take action.

[–] MyMindIsLikeAnOcean@piefed.world 4 points 1 month ago (2 children)

Yeah…it’s the app I use. It’s pretty slick.

Interesting…I’ll check both those out. 

[–] moseschrute@lemmy.ml 4 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Blorp dev here. Thanks for using my app! Let me know if there is anything I can do that will make it even better for ya!

[–] MyMindIsLikeAnOcean@piefed.world 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

No complaints, and thank you very much for making it.

The only thing I can think of is when I open the app I’ll sometimes see a post I’m interested in…but the feed will refresh, and I can’t find the post again. It’s not common the first post is one I’m interested in, I just don’t always remember to not look before it refreshes - so it’s mildly annoying. Not a huge deal.

[–] can@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Another thing to keep in mind is votes are obscured, but not really private. Admins of federated instances can see them and there are tools too. Piefed might work a little differently. There's an option to not have your votes federate to other servers so only your admins can see it.

[–] MyMindIsLikeAnOcean@piefed.world 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Thanks.

I never really paid attention to votes…not even on Reddit. I’m old and I just say what I say. I’ll hand them out to reward effort…but beyond that the count miss me.

[–] can@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 month ago

I feel the same way. It was a relief when Lemmy didn't keep a "karma" count on my profile.

[–] moseschrute@lemmy.ml 3 points 1 month ago (1 children)

I’m the developer behind Blorp. Initially it was a Lemmy client, but as I add support for more piefed specific features, I feel more confident saying we have 1st class support for Lemmy and PieFed. 

[–] can@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 month ago

Nice! Keep it up.

[–] can@sh.itjust.works 2 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago)

Also, with regard to abusive mods. If you do notice anything, please let us all know !yepowertrippinbastards@lemmy.dbzer0.com

Edit: fixed link

[–] claim_arguably 5 points 1 month ago (2 children)

What is SJW?

[–] med@sh.itjust.works 16 points 1 month ago

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

[–] can@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 month 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.