Server Lifecycle
Create a Server
hcloud server create [options] --name <name> --type <server-type> --image <image>
Flags:
--name <name>- Server name (required)--type <server-type>- Server Type ID or name (required)--image <image>- Image ID or name (required)--location <location>- Location ID or name--ssh-key <key>- SSH Key ID or name (can be specified multiple times)--network <network>- Network ID or name to attach to (can be specified multiple times)--firewall <firewall>- Firewall ID or name to attach to (can be specified multiple times)--volume <volume>- Volume ID or name to attach (can be specified multiple times)--user-data-from-file <file>- Read user data from file (use-for stdin)--label <key=value>- User-defined labels (can be specified multiple times)--placement-group <group>- Placement Group ID or name--primary-ipv4 <ip>- Primary IPv4 ID or name--primary-ipv6 <ip>- Primary IPv6 ID or name--enable-backup- Enable automatic backups--enable-protection <delete|rebuild>- Enable protection (values: delete, rebuild)--start-after-create- Start Server after creation (default: true)--without-ipv4- Create without IPv4--without-ipv6- Create without IPv6--allow-deprecated-image- Allow use of deprecated images--automount- Automount Volumes after attach-o, --output json|yaml- Output format
List Servers
hcloud server list [options]
Columns: id, name, status, type, ipv4, ipv6, location, datacenter, labels, protection, volumes, private_net, placement_group, backup_window, created, age, rescue_enabled, locked, included_traffic, ingoing_traffic, outgoing_traffic, primary_disk_size
Flags:
-l, --selector <label>- Filter by label selector-s, --sort <field>- Sort results--status <status>- Filter by status (can be specified multiple times)-o, --output noheader|columns=...|json|yaml- Output options
Describe a Server
hcloud server describe [options] <server>
Flags:
-o, --output json|yaml|format- Output format
Delete Servers
hcloud server delete <server>...
Accepts one or more server IDs or names.
Update a Server
hcloud server update [options] <server>
Flags:
--name <new-name>- New server name
Power Management
Power On
hcloud server poweron <server>
Power Off (Hard)
hcloud server poweroff <server>
Immediately cuts power. Use shutdown for graceful ACPI shutdown.
Shutdown (Graceful ACPI)
hcloud server shutdown [options] <server>
Sends an ACPI shutdown request. The OS must support ACPI.
Flags:
--wait- Wait for the server to shut down before returning--wait-timeout <duration>- Timeout for waiting (default: 30s)
Reboot (Graceful)
hcloud server reboot <server>
Reset (Hard)
hcloud server reset <server>
Hard reset, equivalent to pressing the physical reset button.
Access
SSH into a Server
hcloud server ssh [options] <server> [--] [ssh options] [command [argument...]]
Flags:
-u, --user <user>- SSH username (default: root)-p, --port <port>- SSH port (default: 22)--ipv6- Connect via IPv6 address
Pass additional SSH options after --.
Get Server IP
hcloud server ip [--ipv6] <server>
Flags:
-6, --ipv6- Print the first address of the server's primary IPv6 network
Request VNC Console
hcloud server request-console [options] <server>
Returns a WebSocket URL and password for VNC console access.
Flags:
-o, --output json|yaml- Output format
Server Modifications
Change Server Type
hcloud server change-type [--keep-disk] <server> <server-type>
Server must be stopped first. Requires a reboot after the change.
Flags:
--keep-disk- Keep disk size of current type (enables downgrading later)
Rebuild Server
hcloud server rebuild [options] --image <image> <server>
Reinstalls the server from an image. All data on the server will be lost.
Flags:
--image <image>- Image ID or name (required)--allow-deprecated-image- Allow use of deprecated images--user-data-from-file <file>- Read user data from file (use-for stdin)
Create Image from Server
hcloud server create-image [options] --type <snapshot|backup> <server>
Flags:
--type <snapshot|backup>- Image type (required)--description <text>- Image description--label <key=value>- Labels (can be specified multiple times)
Rescue Mode
Enable Rescue Mode
hcloud server enable-rescue [options] <server>
Outputs a root password. Server must be rebooted to enter rescue mode.
Flags:
--ssh-key <key>- SSH Key ID or name to inject (can be specified multiple times)--type <type>- Rescue type (default: linux64)
Disable Rescue Mode
hcloud server disable-rescue <server>
Reset Root Password
hcloud server reset-password [options] <server>
Flags:
-o, --output json|yaml- Output format
Backups
Enable Backups
hcloud server enable-backup <server>
Disable Backups
hcloud server disable-backup <server>
Network Attachment
Attach to Network
hcloud server attach-to-network [options] --network <network> <server>
Flags:
-n, --network <network>- Network ID or name (required)--ip <ip>- IP address to assign (auto-assigned if omitted)--ip-range <cidr>- Subnet CIDR to attach to (auto-assigned if omitted)--alias-ips <ip>- Additional alias IPs (can be specified multiple times)
Detach from Network
hcloud server detach-from-network --network <network> <server>
Flags:
-n, --network <network>- Network ID or name (required)
Change Alias IPs
hcloud server change-alias-ips [options] --network <network> <server>
Flags:
-n, --network <network>- Network ID or name (required)--alias-ips <ips>- New alias IPs--clear- Remove all alias IPs
ISO Management
Attach ISO
hcloud server attach-iso <server> <iso>
Detach ISO
hcloud server detach-iso <server>
Placement Groups
Add Server to Placement Group
hcloud server add-to-placement-group --placement-group <group> <server>
Flags:
-g, --placement-group <group>- Placement Group ID or name (required)
Remove Server from Placement Group
hcloud server remove-from-placement-group <server>
Create Placement Group
hcloud placement-group create [options] --name <name> --type <type>
Flags:
--name <name>- Name (required)--type <type>- Type (required, e.g. spread)--label <key=value>- Labels (can be specified multiple times)-o, --output json|yaml- Output format
List Placement Groups
hcloud placement-group list [options]
Columns: id, name, servers, type, age, created
Flags:
-l, --selector <label>- Filter by label selector-s, --sort <field>- Sort results-o, --output noheader|columns=...|json|yaml- Output options
Describe Placement Group
hcloud placement-group describe [options] <placement-group>
Flags:
-o, --output json|yaml|format- Output format
Delete Placement Groups
hcloud placement-group delete <placement-group>...
Labels and Protection
Add Label
hcloud server add-label [--overwrite] <server> <label>...
Labels use key=value format.
Flags:
-o, --overwrite- Overwrite if label key already exists
Remove Label
hcloud server remove-label <server> (--all | <label>...)
Flags:
-a, --all- Remove all labels
Enable Protection
hcloud server enable-protection <server> (delete|rebuild)...
Protection types: delete, rebuild. Specify one or both.
Disable Protection
hcloud server disable-protection <server> (delete|rebuild)...
Set Reverse DNS
hcloud server set-rdns [--ip <ip>] (--hostname <hostname> | --reset) <server>
Flags:
-i, --ip <ip>- IP address to set rDNS for-r, --hostname <hostname>- Hostname for the PTR record--reset- Reset rDNS to default value
Server Types (Read-Only)
List Server Types
hcloud server-type list [options]
Columns: name, id, description, cores, cpu_type, architecture, memory, disk, storage_type, category, included_traffic, traffic, deprecated
Flags:
-l, --selector <label>- Filter by label selector-s, --sort <field>- Sort results-o, --output noheader|columns=...|json|yaml- Output options
Describe Server Type
hcloud server-type describe [options] <server-type>
Flags:
-o, --output json|yaml|format- Output format
Images
List Images
hcloud image list [options]
Columns: name, id, type, os_flavor, os_version, description, architecture, disk_size, image_size, created, age, deprecated, bound_to, status, protection, rapid_deploy, labels, created_from
Flags:
-t, --type <type>- Filter by type: system, app, snapshot, backup-a, --architecture <arch>- Filter by architecture: x86, arm-l, --selector <label>- Filter by label selector-s, --sort <field>- Sort results-o, --output noheader|columns=...|json|yaml- Output options
Describe Image
hcloud image describe [options] <image>
Flags:
-a, --architecture <arch>- Architecture (default: x86)-o, --output json|yaml|format- Output format
Delete Images
hcloud image delete <image>...
Update Image
hcloud image update [options] <image>
Flags:
--description <text>- Image description--type <type>- Image type
Image Labels and Protection
hcloud image add-label [--overwrite] <image> <label>...
hcloud image remove-label <image> (--all | <label>...)
hcloud image enable-protection <image> delete
hcloud image disable-protection <image> delete
Infrastructure Reference
Locations
hcloud location list [options]
Columns: name, id, description, country, city, network_zone, latitude, longitude
Flags:
-o, --output noheader|columns=...|json|yaml- Output options
hcloud location describe [options] <location>
Flags:
-o, --output json|yaml|format- Output format
Datacenters (Deprecated)
Datacenters are deprecated. Use locations instead.
hcloud datacenter list [options]
Columns: name, id, description, location
hcloud datacenter describe [options] <datacenter>
ISOs
hcloud iso list [options]
Columns: id, name, description, type, architecture
Flags:
--architecture <arch>- Filter by architecture: x86, arm--type <type>- Filter by type: public, private (default: both)--include-architecture-wildcard- Include ISOs with unknown architecture (for custom ISOs with architecture filter)-o, --output noheader|columns=...|json|yaml- Output options
hcloud iso describe [options] <iso>
Flags:
-o, --output json|yaml|format- Output format
List All Resources
hcloud all list [options]
Lists all project resources (servers, images, volumes, networks, firewalls, etc.). Does not include static/public resources like locations or public ISOs.
Flags:
--paid- Only list resources that cost money-l, --selector <label>- Filter by label selector-o, --output json|yaml- Output format