Thanks, one question though... I've just been making some more bookmarks... is your backup server database now your master? So when you get your main databases back (or a replacement), will my bookmarks remain when you switch back?

It's a master-master setup with only one accepting writes at any time. So it should catch up first, and then I'll be able to switch back over to the original DB without data loss.

Good architecture. And nice of you to explain clearly and completely the problem and to invite your users to backup. I'd like to see that more often, but more companies are too scared to lose customers to do that.

But they'll win new ones when this story and the likes come to their attention, and when they learn how the company handled it with honesty and aplomb. I for one was unaware of this service and this story has made me consider signing-up.

@idlewords: would you have stats at hand?

Maybe a temporary loss of functionality earned you a few users above the daily average.

Which is exactly why I'm staying with pinboard!