Hetzner Cloud

---
name: hetzner-cloud
description: Manage Hetzner Cloud infrastructure with the `hcloud` CLI — servers, networks, firewalls, load balancers, volumes, DNS zones, SSH keys, primary/floating IPs, snapshots, certificates, placement groups, storage boxes. Use whenever the user mentions Hetzner, hcloud, VPS provisioning, or Hetzner location codes (fsn1, hel1, nbg1, ash, hil, sin) — even if they don't say "hcloud". CLI-only; does NOT cover Hetzner Robot (dedicated servers, separate product and API).
---

# Hetzner Cloud

Use the installed `hcloud` CLI and its `--help`/JSON output for current
resource types, locations, flags and pricing. This covers Cloud/DNS/Storage
Box APIs supported by that CLI; dedicated servers/auctions use Hetzner Robot.

## Authentication and discovery

Use the authorized project's existing context or `HCLOUD_TOKEN`. A token in
an env file is not automatically exported. Creating a context normally
prompts; `hcloud context create --token-from-env <name>` uses the process
token without prompting. Keep tokens out of command arguments/logs.

Confirm project/context before writes. Discover server types, system images,
architecture, location/network zone and price through current CLI/API data
(`hcloud server-type list`, `hcloud location list`,
`hcloud image list --type system --architecture arm`, `hcloud all list` for the
whole project). Do not quote a remembered server specification or price.

## Dependencies and verification

Referenced SSH keys/firewalls/networks must exist before server creation.
Inspect a proposed firewall change against the current rules and retain a
working management path. `firewall replace-rules --rules-file` replaces the
set, so omitted rules disappear. `zone import-zonefile --zonefile` likewise
replaces all Zone RRSets; omitted records disappear.

Treat server state, network reachability and application health as separate
checks. Read the API action result and resource state back after changes;
verify the intended service from its actual caller.

## Gotchas worth retaining

- A recycled IP can trigger SSH's changed-host-key warning. Authenticate the
  new fingerprint through a trusted console/channel before updating
  known_hosts; `ssh-keyscan` alone does not establish identity.
- Servers and Primary IPs lost their `datacenter` request/response property on
  2026-07-01. The CLI's `server create --datacenter` is removed; use `--location`
  and inspect the server type's per-location availability and prices with
  `hcloud server-type describe <type> -o json`.
- Volumes are location-pinned; a server in another location cannot attach them.
  Private networks span locations within one network zone, not across zones.
- DNS zones do not take effect until the registrar delegates to the correct
  nameservers. Inspect delegation before debugging records.
- Deletion is immediate. Confirm resource IDs and the requested destructive
  scope; establish recoverable data first. Server snapshots/backups exclude
  attached Volumes, which need their own backup. See
  [snapshot scope](https://docs.hetzner.com/cloud/servers/backups-snapshots/overview/).
  Assigned Primary/Floating IPs cannot be deleted; unassign them first.
- `status: running` does not prove reachability. Inspect
  `hcloud server describe <srv> -o json | jq '.public_net | {v4:.ipv4.blocked, v6:.ipv6.blocked}'`
  for a provider block (abuse report or unpaid invoice) when several
  otherwise-open ports time out, SSH open to `0.0.0.0/0` included, or every
  server on the account fails at once. Such symptoms alone do not prove a
  block; a provider-level block needs Hetzner support, not an app firewall fix.
- Firewall JSON must match the API schema. `source_ips` is an array of strings;
  PowerShell serialization needs sufficient JSON depth. A shape error
  (`cannot unmarshal object into Go struct field FirewallRule.source_ips of
  type []string`) rejects the whole file and leaves the previous rules in
  place; verify the returned/live rules.
- Storage Box/DNS subcommands and API boundaries can evolve. Use installed
  command help and the official changelog rather than treating an older
  Cloud-only feature list as current.

## Sources

- [API changelog](https://docs.hetzner.cloud/changelog) for renames and removals
- [API reference](https://docs.hetzner.cloud/reference/cloud)
- [Product documentation](https://docs.hetzner.com/cloud/)
- [CLI manual/source](https://github.com/hetznercloud/cli/tree/main/docs/reference/manual)