VPS and server management on Hetzner
Hetzner gives you powerful hardware in Europe, but the server itself is your responsibility: setup, updates, security and backups. We take that part off your hands, so your WordPress site, online store or application runs fast, secure and without surprises.
What you get
- A server chosen for your project, not out of habit
- A configured, hardened server ready for production
- Off-server backups with tested restores
- Monitoring and a response when something happens
- One contact for the server, the site and the domain
- The Hetzner account stays in your name
Why Hetzner
A German provider with data centres in Germany and Finland that gives you more resources for the same budget. A good fit when you want control rather than ready-made shared hosting.
More power for the budget
Fast NVMe drives and modern AMD and Intel CPUs. A site or store that struggles on shared hosting usually loads noticeably faster on its own server.
Data in the European Union
Servers in Nuremberg, Falkenstein and Helsinki, in ISO 27001 certified data centres. That makes GDPR compliance easier.
Flexible scaling
A cloud server can be scaled up in minutes before a campaign and back down after it. When the project grows, it moves to its own physical server.
Network-level protection
Built-in DDoS protection and a free infrastructure firewall that stops traffic before it reaches the server.
Backup and file storage options
Snapshots and automatic backups for cloud servers, plus Storage Box and Object Storage for off-server archives and media.
Full control
Root access, your choice of operating system and software, and an API for automation. Nothing is locked behind a hosting panel you cannot change.
Cloud, Dedicated, Storage or Managed: which one for what
Hetzner has four main groups of services. Here is what each one is, who it suits and a real-world example.
Cloud
Cloud servers (VPS)
A virtual server you can spin up in minutes. Resources scale with a few clicks, and you get snapshots, automatic backups, a firewall and load balancers.
Good for
- WordPress sites and online stores
- Staging environments
- Laravel, Node.js and Docker apps
- Projects with traffic peaks
Example
An online store on a cloud server with dedicated vCPUs. Before Black Friday we scale it up in minutes and scale it back down after the campaign.
Keep in mindShared vCPUs cost less, but neighbours affect you under load. For stores we recommend dedicated vCPUs.
Dedicated
Physical servers
A whole physical server just for you: maximum performance, plenty of RAM and disk, no neighbours. Lines for AMD, Intel, large data volumes and GPUs.
Good for
- Large online stores and catalogues
- Many sites on one server
- Heavy databases and internal systems
- AI workloads on a GPU server
Example
An agency with 40 client sites on one AMD server, each site in its own isolated environment, with backups in a Storage Box.
Keep in mindProvisioning takes longer than a cloud server, and scaling means moving to a bigger machine.
Storage
Storage Box, Object Storage, Volumes
Space for data outside the main server. Storage Box is for backups (SFTP, rsync, Borg), Object Storage is S3-compatible storage for media and large volumes, Volumes add disk space to a cloud server.
Good for
- Daily off-server backups
- Media files and documents
- Archives that must be kept for a long time
- Extra space without changing servers
Example
Every night the site and database are backed up to a Storage Box in another location. If something goes wrong, we restore a specific day without relying on the server itself.
Keep in mindStorage is not hosting for the site: it is space for data, used together with a server.
Managed
Managed servers
Hetzner maintains the operating system and software, runs backups and monitors the server. You work through the konsoleH panel, but without root access.
Good for
- Classic hosting for a few sites
- Company email on the same server
- Teams without their own sysadmin
- Projects without special software needs
Example
A company with a corporate site and mailboxes that needs stable hosting without thinking about server updates.
Keep in mindWithout root access you cannot install everything. If you need Redis, Docker or a specific PHP version, Cloud or Dedicated with our management is the better choice.
Not sure which one you need? Describe your project and we will suggest a setup and explain why.
What we handle
End-to-end care for your server, from choosing the setup to day-to-day running. You can hand us everything or just one part.
Choosing and setting up
We choose the server type, location and resources based on traffic and budget, and prepare the server for production.
- Cloud, Dedicated or a mix
- Ubuntu or Debian with a minimal software set
- SSH access with keys only
- Private networks between servers
Example
The site runs on a cloud server and the database on a separate server in a private network, unreachable from outside.
WordPress and app stack
We set up the software your project actually uses, with the right versions and settings.
- Nginx, Apache or OpenLiteSpeed
- PHP with a separate pool per site
- MariaDB or MySQL, Redis for caching
- Node.js, Laravel and Docker
Example
A WooCommerce store with Redis object cache and separate PHP pools, so a slow request on one site does not stall the others.
Security
We close everything that is not needed and keep the system and software up to date.
- Hetzner and server-level firewalls
- Fail2ban against login attempts
- Regular security updates
- SSL certificates and Cloudflare in front of the server
Example
The server accepts web traffic only through Cloudflare, and SSH is reachable only from specific addresses.
Backups and restores
A backup that has never been tested is not a backup. We keep copies off the server and check that they restore.
- Snapshots before every major change
- Daily backups to a Storage Box
- Separate database backups
- Test restores on a regular schedule
Example
After a faulty plugin update we rolled back only the database to that morning, without losing the afternoon orders.
Monitoring and response
We watch the server and the sites and act before a problem becomes visible to your customers.
- Site uptime
- CPU, memory and disk
- SSL certificate and domain expiry
- Alerts when something drifts
Example
The disk starts filling up with logs: we get an alert and clean up before the site goes down.
Migration to Hetzner
We move sites and apps from shared hosting or another provider, with no downtime and no lost email.
- A copy tested on the new server before the switch
- DNS switch at the right time
- Checks of email, forms and payments
- Old hosting shut down only after checks
Example
Ten sites move from shared hosting to one cloud server over a weekend, with every site checked after the switch.
Speed and load
We tune the server and caching so the site stays fast even with many visitors.
- Page and object caching
- PHP and database tuning
- CDN and image optimisation
- Load tests before campaigns
Example
Before a campaign we run a load test and scale up only for the days it is needed.
Domains, DNS and email
We organise DNS records and email so messages from your site reach the inbox.
- DNS in Cloudflare or Hetzner
- SPF, DKIM and DMARC
- Sending site email through an SMTP service
- Forwarding for company addresses
Example
Order emails stop landing in spam after SPF and DKIM are set up and mail is sent through an SMTP service.
When it makes sense
Situations where your own managed server solves a real problem.
A slow site on shared hosting
ProblemThe store loads slowly and the host limits resources.
SolutionA cloud server with its own resources, caching and WooCommerce tuning.
Traffic peaks during campaigns
ProblemThe site goes down during promotions, exactly when most customers arrive.
SolutionA load test and extra resources just for the campaign.
No backups outside the server
ProblemAll copies live on the same server as the site.
SolutionDaily backups to a Storage Box and test restores.
An unmaintained server
ProblemA VPS set up years ago with no updates since.
SolutionAn audit, updates and hardening, then regular maintenance.
Many sites in many places
ProblemSites spread across several hosts with different panels and renewal dates.
SolutionConsolidation onto one or two servers with the same setup.
An app, not just a site
ProblemA Laravel or Node.js project that cannot run on shared hosting.
SolutionA server with Docker or the stack you need, with deploys and backups.
How we work
A clear process without interrupting live sites.
Call and audit
We learn what runs on the server, how much traffic there is and what worries you.
Proposal
We propose a Hetzner setup and explain the choice.
Setup
We prepare and harden the server and set up backups and monitoring.
Migration
We move the sites, check them and switch DNS.
Maintenance
Updates, monitoring and help whenever you need it.
The server stays yours
The Hetzner account is in your name and you pay Hetzner directly. We work as a member of your project, with access you can revoke at any time.
- No middleman for Hetzner billing
- Documentation of the server setup
- Access and credentials stay with you
- No multi-year lock-in
- You can take over the server yourself at any time
Useful reading on speed and servers
Articles from our blog on what makes a site fast and how the server affects it.
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How to improve TTFB and server response time in WordPress
The speed of any WordPress site plays a critical role in both User Experience (UX) and SEO. Web pages that load slowly can negatively…
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5 common reasons why WordPress is slow
A slow website is a nightmare for everyone – website owners, visitors and not least Google. Slow WordPress means more wasted time waiting for…
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Cloudflare: a beginner’s guide
What is Cloudflare? Cloudflare is a leading web security and productivity company that provides a global content distribution service – CDN (Content Delivery Network).…
Questions about VPS and Hetzner
Cannot find your answer? Write to us and we will reply personally.
Hetzner is a trademark of Hetzner Online GmbH. Pixadoro is not affiliated with Hetzner Online GmbH.
What is the difference between shared hosting and a VPS?
On shared hosting, resources are split between many sites and you cannot change the server. A VPS has its own resources and full control, but someone has to set it up and maintain it. That is the part we take on.
Do I need a Cloud or a Dedicated server?
For most sites and stores a cloud server is the best start: it is fast, easy to scale and has snapshots. Dedicated makes sense for high traffic, many sites in one place or heavy databases.
Whose name is the Hetzner account in?
Yours. You pay Hetzner directly and we get access as a member of your project. If we stop working together, the server and the data stay with you.
Will there be downtime during migration?
There should not be. We prepare and test the new server while the old one keeps running, and switch DNS only once everything is checked. We check email, forms and payments after the switch.
Where are the backups kept?
Outside the main server: in a Storage Box or Object Storage, ideally in another location. We also take a snapshot before every major change.
What happens if the server goes down?
Our monitoring alerts us and we act. Hardware issues at Hetzner are handled by their team, and we get the sites running again. Response times are agreed per project.
Do you support apps that are not WordPress?
Yes. We work with Laravel, Node.js, Vue.js, React and Docker, as well as internal systems we have built or taken over.
Do you work with providers other than Hetzner?
Our focus is Hetzner because it offers a very good balance of performance and budget in Europe. If your project has a reason to be elsewhere, we can talk about it.
