Of the many useful things I could do with my spare time instead I'm setting up a Lemmy instance because why not. The scope of this is definitely greater than any self-hosting I've ever attempted, so please feel free to tell me just how much trouble I'm in. I'm just giving the broad strokes to see if I've made any crucial errors (other than deciding to do this at all).

And if this is a completely wrong place for a post like this or I'm missing data I'm supposed to include I apologize, I probably need a sanity check, in more ways than one.

First limitation, I'll be hosting it on an existing Linux Mint box acting as a file share mostly and occasional gaming PC/movie streaming box. Its hardware is overkill for this, I do not anticipate issues when it is in use. It receives regular updates and weekly reboots, instance will be set to automatically restart. NVMe with loads of space for local storage, RAID SSDs for data offload/backup.

Second limitation, I hate Cloudfare and Oracle. I do not want to use either of them.

Third limitation, money. Cheaper is better. I have a URL picked out and a registrar which will give me the cheapest long term option, in case I actually keep this thing going.

Last limitation, I'm already in over my head so I'll be relying on a lot of googling and probably some chat bots to figure things out as I go through the actual deployment process. What could go wrong?

So, Lemmy hosted on Linux Mint box using Docker containers. ISP is a good one for this I'm told, no CGNAT, largely stable public IP but I'll have a script running in case it does change. Confirmed ports 80/443 are open. Using Caddy for the HTTPS. Closed registration to start, if by some miracle I make it to actually wanting to allow additional users it will not be fully open, and I'll use Brevo for the email SMTP. Security wise I know I'm making it harder for myself by exposing my IP, I'm going to have UFW running and Crowdsec to help keep incoming bad traffic out.

Down the line I'll get Lemmy updates, backups, retention rules in place/automated, and make decisions on federation, etc. Thoughts?

In the mid 90s I saw the donuts on a rope contrail. Is there a website that collects reported sightings like that? For those who don't know it is a contrail from a suspected secret plane and or propulsion engine (Aurora aircraft / pulsed detonation wave engine).

Details of my sighting for anyone interested: I don't have date specifics, Central Massachusetts, mid to late 90s. it was daytime, weekend most likely. I was at the kitchen table, I heard an engine sound rapidly growing, the entire house rattled as the noise peaked and began to fade, south to north. when I went outside to look I saw the donuts on a rope contrail clear in the blue sky, otherwise cloudless from what I remember.

Didn't think much of it for 20 years (just thought huh, odd contrail) until I read about the Aurora and realized it was crazier than I realized.

And he was definitely not referencing anything, he said he didn't know and would need to ask the bartender, heh. Still made my heart happy.