fediverse &mdash; Vance's Notes https://blog.ylhuang.com/tag:fediverse 🔗 https://vance.ylhuang.com/ Sat, 09 May 2026 05:04:06 +0200 Lessons learned: How not to federate Mastodon https://blog.ylhuang.com/lessons-learned-how-not-to-federate-mastodon <![CDATA[I'm not entirely sure what I want this blog to be yet. For now, it will just be whatever project I'm currently working on. So I just tried following someone else on Mastodon and noticed that I couldn't follow anyone. Nor could they follow me. Checking in Mastodon Sidekiq reveals the issue: Mastodon::UnexpectedResponseError: returned code 401 I looked online and found this GitHub issue. Turns out, there's a small wrinkle with setting up LOCAL_DOMAIN and having other things hosted on the same server. It looks like Mastodon servers (and probably other software in the Fediverse) use the the Webfinger protocol to verify that an account exists on the server. However, my domain's Webfinger instance was pointing to my homepage instead! So all the servers were rejecting my follow requests and interactions as illegitimate. After correctly redirecting the Webfinger endpoint of my main domain (https://ylhuang.com/.well-known/webfinger), I was back online and all my interactions within the Fediverse happened soon after (likes, follows, etc.). Hopefully, this helps others trying to set up their own Mastodon server. 'Til next time! Tags: #federation #mastodon #troubleshooting #Fediverse Questions or suggestions? Reach out to me at vance.ylhuang.com!]]> I'm not entirely sure what I want this blog to be yet. For now, it will just be whatever project I'm currently working on.

So I just tried following someone else on Mastodon and noticed that I couldn't follow anyone. Nor could they follow me. Checking in Mastodon Sidekiq reveals the issue:

Mastodon::UnexpectedResponseError: returned code 401

I looked online and found this GitHub issue. Turns out, there's a small wrinkle with setting up LOCAL_DOMAIN and having other things hosted on the same server. It looks like Mastodon servers (and probably other software in the Fediverse) use the the Webfinger protocol to verify that an account exists on the server. However, my domain's Webfinger instance was pointing to my homepage instead!

So all the servers were rejecting my follow requests and interactions as illegitimate. After correctly redirecting the Webfinger endpoint of my main domain (https://ylhuang.com/.well-known/webfinger), I was back online and all my interactions within the Fediverse happened soon after (likes, follows, etc.).

Hopefully, this helps others trying to set up their own Mastodon server.

'Til next time!

Tags: #federation #mastodon #troubleshooting #Fediverse

Questions or suggestions? Reach out to me at vance.ylhuang.com!

]]> https://blog.ylhuang.com/lessons-learned-how-not-to-federate-mastodon Sun, 07 Sep 2025 23:42:09 +0000 Federation Fix https://blog.ylhuang.com/federation-fix <![CDATA[Federation wasn't quite working before, but I've tested and verified it to be working now. Thanks for bearing with me while I get it set up. Real blog content coming soon after I get all the technical issues worked out, I promise! Fediverse Questions or suggestions? Reach out to me at vance.ylhuang.com!]]> Federation wasn't quite working before, but I've tested and verified it to be working now. Thanks for bearing with me while I get it set up.

Real blog content coming soon after I get all the technical issues worked out, I promise!

#Fediverse

Questions or suggestions? Reach out to me at vance.ylhuang.com!

]]> https://blog.ylhuang.com/federation-fix Mon, 25 Aug 2025 02:05:19 +0000 Take 2 https://blog.ylhuang.com/take-2 <![CDATA[Hello again, #Fediverse! Alright, WriteFreely didn't quite work right last time I set it up. Let's see how well it works now that I've fixed some things on the backend. Questions or suggestions? Reach out to me at vance.ylhuang.com!]]> Hello again, #Fediverse!

Alright, WriteFreely didn't quite work right last time I set it up. Let's see how well it works now that I've fixed some things on the backend.

Questions or suggestions? Reach out to me at vance.ylhuang.com!

]]> https://blog.ylhuang.com/take-2 Sun, 24 Aug 2025 23:56:28 +0000