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 Do not quote a remembered server specification or price.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.

Cloud Firewalls do not yet protect private Network traffic or Load Balancers. Use host/application controls where needed. Verify rule changes with fresh connections; established connections survive updates.

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. Automatic backups are deleted with the server; snapshots survive. Create a Snapshot or convert a backup to one before deletion if recovery is required. Server snapshots/backups exclude attached Volumes, which need their own backup. See snapshot scope. 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 rejects the whole file and leaves the previous rules in place; verify the returned/live rules.

Sources

• API changelog for renames and removals
• API reference
• Product documentation
• CLI manual/source