Ask HN: Hetzner dedicated and crypto – what have you been told is allowed?
Today I was told by Hetzner support that they do not allow any crypto applications.
This was in the context of my dedicated server - not cloud.
First, I asked whether I could run a non-mining Ethereum node. The answer was no.
Then I asked:
How about if I sync one copy of the Ethereum block chain (about 350 GB of data) to my server without allowing it to be publicly accessible - is that allowed?
and also whether they allow crypto applications at all. Hetzner support answered
Dear ladies and gentlemen
We do not allow any crypto related applications.
Hetzner's public documentation only seems to forbid mining applications, which they started doing in May on all servers including dedicated.
There is also this Reddit post from about 1 month back that indicated they forbid crypto applications on cloud servers
https://www.reddit.com/r/ethstaker/comments/qwteod/be_careful_with_hetzner_any_crypto_activity_is/
but it appeared that did not apply to dedicated servers.
Has any one else on HN received a recent response from Hetzner regarding what is permitted on dedicated servers with respect to crypto applications?
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An anecdote: I had trouble participating in the Ethereum network properly, but then I synced my timeservers with Hetzner's NTP servers and things resolved. And at the time of writing, around 15% (roughly 500 nodes) of Ethereum nodes on hosting providers use Hetzner (though it seems it is consistently decreasing): https://www.ethernodes.org/networkType/Hosting
The likely reason for forbidding the applications is that syncing deteriorates the disks heavily. Nevertheless, they seem to be widely used to this date, as time synchronisation with them seems to have positive effect on node operation effectiveness.
https://www.hetzner.com/legal/dedicated-server
``` DEDICATED SERVER SERVICE AGREEMENT We strive to keep our networks operating at the highest possible level, so all of our clients benefit from it. Therefore the following actions are prohibited:
- Operating applications that are used to mine crypto currencies - The scanning of foreign networks or foreign IP addresses - Manually changing the hardware address (MAC) - The use of fake source IPs. ```
I am mostly saddened that "cryptocurrencies" are shortened to just "crypto".
It will lead to a whole mess of confusion when you start talking of cryptography (the original "crypto") with people who assume you mean cryptocurrencies.
Eg. I can imagine a tier 1 support person saying how some cryptography is forbidden already.
I've been running both an Ethereum and Bitcoin node from my dedicated Hetzner box for years without issue. I wonder if you just got generic answers from a tier 1 support person who doesn't know much.
I would ask them to point you towards the section of the T&C agreement where this is stated.
From what others have commented the T&Cs only disallow mining.