Question 1

Which Hetzner server lines are suitable for a VMware migration?

Accepted Answer

Hetzner offers three main lines: The AX-Line with AMD Ryzen processors (e.g., AX102 with Ryzen 9 7950X3D) for best single-thread performance and value. The EX-Line with Intel Core processors for workloads requiring Intel compatibility. The SX-Line for storage-intensive applications with large HDDs. For most VMware migrations, we recommend the AX-Line – it offers the best performance per euro.

Question 2

Is consumer hardware like AMD Ryzen suitable for production workloads?

Accepted Answer

Yes, absolutely. The Ryzen 9 7950X3D offers 16 cores, 32 threads, and outstanding single-thread performance through 3D V-Cache. For most virtualization workloads, this is more than enough. The differences to server CPUs (EPYC/Xeon) are mainly: less RAM capacity (max 128GB instead of TB), no ECC support on some boards, fewer PCIe lanes. For 95% of VMware migrations, these limitations are irrelevant.

Question 3

What does a typical cost calculation for 3 VMware hosts look like?

Accepted Answer

Example: 3x Hetzner AX102 (Ryzen 9 7950X3D, 128GB RAM, 2x 1TB NVMe) cost together about €360/month. A comparable VMware environment with vSphere Standard costs licenses alone often over €2,000/month – without hardware! With Proxmox (free) and optional enterprise support (€330/year for 3 sockets), you save over €14,800 in the first year. The migration usually pays for itself within 6-9 months.

Question 4

What replaces vSAN at Hetzner – how does shared storage work?

Accepted Answer

Two options: Ceph or ZFS with replication. Ceph distributes data across all nodes and provides true distributed storage like vSAN. ZFS with Proxmox replication copies VMs regularly between nodes for HA. For smaller clusters (3-5 nodes), ZFS with replication is simpler and more performant. For larger environments, Ceph scales better. Both options are included in Proxmox at no additional cost.

Question 5

AX-Line vs. EX-Line – when to choose which server line?

Accepted Answer

AX-Line (AMD Ryzen): Best choice for most workloads. Outstanding single-thread performance, ideal for databases and applications that don't parallelize heavily. Unbeatable price-performance ratio. EX-Line (Intel Core): When your software explicitly requires Intel (licensed software with CPU binding, special drivers) or you need Intel-specific features. SX-Line: Only for storage-focused tasks like backup servers or file servers.

Question 6

How does networking work between Hetzner servers – what is a vSwitch?

Accepted Answer

Hetzner vSwitch is a virtual Layer-2 switch that connects your servers in a private VLAN. You order a vSwitch, assign your servers, and they can communicate via private IPs – like a physical switch, only virtual. Cost: €0 base fee, traffic between servers is free. Perfect for Proxmox clusters, as Ceph/ZFS replication and live migration can use private traffic.

Question 7

How many additional IPs and MACs do I get for VMs?

Accepted Answer

Each Hetzner server comes with one main IP. For VMs that need their own public IPs, you order additional IPs (€1-2/IP/month) and receive virtual MAC addresses. Alternatively, you route a subnet through your server. For most setups, we recommend: public IPs only for load balancers/reverse proxies, VMs internal via vSwitch, NAT for outgoing traffic. This minimizes costs and increases security.

Question 8

Can I use VLANs like in VMware NSX?

Accepted Answer

Yes, via Hetzner vSwitch with VLAN tagging. You can configure up to 4094 VLANs per vSwitch. Proxmox supports VLAN-aware bridges, so VMs can be isolated in different VLANs. For more complex setups, Proxmox offers SDN (Software-Defined Networking) with VXLANs and zone-based isolation. This covers most NSX functions – without additional licenses.

Question 9

What about firewall – do I need extra hardware?

Accepted Answer

No. Proxmox has a built-in firewall at datacenter, host, and VM level. For advanced requirements, we deploy OPNsense as a virtual firewall – open-source, enterprise features, no license costs. At Hetzner, you can also use their DDoS protection (automatically active) and book additional filtering options for critical applications.

Question 10

How do I use Hetzner Storage Boxes for backups?

Accepted Answer

Hetzner Storage Boxes are inexpensive external storage units (from ~€3/TB/month). You can access them via CIFS, SFTP, or Restic. Perfect for Proxmox Backup Server (PBS): PBS backs up your VMs incrementally and deduplicates, then a sync job copies the backups to the Storage Box. This gives you an off-site backup at a separate Hetzner location – important for true disaster recovery.

Question 11

How does High Availability work without vSAN and vSphere HA?

Accepted Answer

Proxmox HA uses Corosync for cluster communication and fencing. When a node fails, VMs are automatically restarted on other nodes. The storage must be either shared (Ceph) or replicated (ZFS). With 3 Hetzner servers, vSwitch for cluster traffic, and Ceph or ZFS replication, you have a full HA setup – comparable to vSphere HA + vSAN, but without license costs.

Question 12

Do I need special hardware for Ceph at Hetzner?

Accepted Answer

For Ceph, we recommend at least 3 nodes with separate disks for OSDs (Object Storage Daemons). AX-Line servers typically have 2x NVMe – one for the OS, one (or both in Ceph) for storage. For more capacity, choose servers with additional disk slots or use the SX-Line as storage nodes. 10Gbit network (standard on AX-Line) is important for Ceph performance.

Question 13

How are VMware VMs migrated to Proxmox on Hetzner?

Accepted Answer

Multiple ways: 1) Proxmox Import Wizard: Import directly from ESXi/vCenter. 2) OVA Export: Export as OVA in vSphere, upload to Hetzner, import to Proxmox. 3) Disk conversion: Convert VMDKs with qemu-img and import manually. For large migrations, we use parallel transfers and pre-staging to minimize cutover time. Most VMs run without changes after migration.

Question 14

Can I still access vCenter during the migration?

Accepted Answer

Yes, of course. The migration runs in parallel: your VMware environment remains fully functional while we build the Hetzner cluster and migrate VMs. You only switch at the final cutover. This way you can always go back if something doesn't work. We recommend keeping vCenter for 2-4 weeks after migration – as a fallback and for any follow-up migrations.

Question 15

How do I back up my Proxmox VMs on Hetzner?

Accepted Answer

Proxmox Backup Server (PBS) is the ideal solution: incremental, deduplicated backups with fast restoration. PBS runs on a separate Hetzner server or as a VM. For off-site backups, we sync PBS to a Hetzner Storage Box at another location. Alternatively, Veeam supports Proxmox directly from v12.1. The PBS + Storage Box combination offers enterprise backup at a fraction of the cost.

Question 16

What happens with hardware defects – how is Hetzner's support?

Accepted Answer

Hetzner replaces defective hardware usually within minutes to hours – often faster than enterprise support contracts. The servers are designed for quick replacement. For critical workloads: with a Proxmox HA cluster on 3+ nodes, your system survives the failure of a complete server without downtime. VMs are automatically restarted on the remaining nodes.

Question 17

Can you take over the operation of the Hetzner infrastructure?

Accepted Answer

Yes, that's our Managed Operations model. We take over: proactive monitoring with alerting, patch management for Proxmox and VMs, backup management with PBS, incident response for problems. You focus on your applications, we take care of the platform. Details on our Proxmox Support page.

Question 18

What about Windows licenses on Hetzner?

Accepted Answer

With VMware, you often pay for SPLA licenses. With Hetzner, you have several options: 1) Bring your own licenses (BYOL) – Software Assurance or Open License works. 2) Book Hetzner Windows license (from ~€15/month per server). 3) For few Windows VMs: per-VM licenses from a hoster. We advise you on the most cost-effective option based on your current licensing.

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