Hetzner Explained

Hetzner Online GmbH
Company Type:Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung
Foundation:1997
Location:Gunzenhausen, Bavaria, Germany
Founder:Martin Hetzner
Industry:Web hosting, SSL certificates, Colocation, Domain registration
Num Employees:201–500[1]
Net Income:€78M (2020)
Revenue:€290M (2020)[2]
Module:
Child:yes

Hetzner Online GmbH is a company and data center operator based in Gunzenhausen, Bavaria, in Germany.

History

Hetzner Online GmbH began operations in Germany in 1997[3] under the name Hetzner Online Services. Between 2000 and 2015, Hetzner Online in Germany operated under the legal status AG ("Aktiengesellschaft"). In 2015, it changed its legal status to GmbH. In addition, Hetzner Online expanded its chief executive team with Stephan Konvickova and Günther Müller at the beginning of the year 2019.[4]

The company is named after its founder Martin Hetzner. Hetzner Online owns and operates four data center parks in Nuremberg[5] and Falkenstein (Germany), Tuusula (Finland),[6] [7] [8], Ashburn, Virginia (United States), and Hillsboro, Oregon (United States).[9] In addition, Hetzner Online is a co-investor in the Cinia C-Lion1 project, which connected Helsinki and Rostock, Germany together with a 1,100 km long submarine fiberglass cable. The cable provides a high-speed connection between Hetzner's German and Finnish data centers.[10] [11]

Services

Hetzner Online provides dedicated hosting, shared web hosting, virtual private servers, managed servers, domain names, SSL certificates, storage boxes,[12] and cloud. At the data center parks located in Nuremberg, Falkenstein and Tuusula/Finland, customers can also connect their hardware to Hetzner Online's infrastructure and network with the company's colocation services.[13] The company operates a server auction site online where the chance to rent older dedicated servers (not purchase or colocate) are auctioned off in the form of a Dutch auction.[14]

Hetzner Online has a domain name registrar arrangement with ICANN (for registering domains under .com, .net and .org and others),[15] DENIC (for .de),[16] and nic.at (for .at).[17]

Infrastructure

Hetzner Online's datacenter projects are coordinated and implemented in-house with as little outsourcing as possible. Data center units served by multiple redundant uplinks, including 1300 Gbit/s to DE-CIX and fiber optic links to Nuremberg and Frankfurt. Colocation facilities are sited at all data center parks in Nuremberg, Falkenstein (Vogtland) in Germany and Helsinki in Finland.[18] In 2021, a datacenter in Ashburn, Virginia, was opened, marking Hetzner's first American server.[19]

Network

The backbone is set up in the form of a ring network between the datacenter locations Nuremberg and Falkenstein as well as the most important Internet location, Frankfurt. All locations are connected to central exchange nodes such as DE-CIX, AMS-IX, DATA-IX and V-IX via the company's own fiber optic network.[20] All Hetzner's dedicated servers had a minimum 20 TB monthly cap for full speed on their servers with the option for an extra fee for full speed past that point, however, have lifted the bandwidth cap on 1 Gbit/s connection speeds as of October 1, 2018.[21] [22] [23]

Incidents

Hacking

In June 2013, Hetzner Online suffered from a security breach where customer information was exposed to attackers who had compromised Hetzner Online's monitoring systems.[24] [25]

Russian complaints about Glavcom.ua

In early August 2014, the Russian Federal Service for Supervision of Communications, Information Technology and Mass Media (Roskomnadzor) sent a demand to many news agencies, including BBC, prohibiting any mention of the demonstration that was being arranged in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk in support of the federalization of Siberia.[26] [27] A number of such messages were sent to Ukraine, which was in the midst of undeclared war with Russian paramilitary in Donetsk region.[28] Since the Ukrainian online newspapers did not remove the article, Roskomnadzor sent letters to their Internet providers demanding removal of the news item. Hetzner Online complied with the demands and sent a notice to glavcom.ua, saying "Please solve the problem and reply within the next 24 hours to avoid suspension. This is the final deadline."[29]

This story was widely reprinted in news sources.[30] Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairsissued a statement expressing solidarity with glavcom.ua owners and journalists. Vassily Zvarych, vice-head of Communications Department of Foreign Ministry, gave a press conference saying that he was surprised by Hetzner Online's compliance with the Russian complaint.[31] Also, a German chapter of Reporters Without Borders issued a statement condemning Roskomnadzor.[32]

The notices to suspend Glavcom.ua were issued by Hetzner Online August 6, 2014; on August 10 Hetzner Online issued apologies, denying that any censorship was planned and that their technical support made a wrong decision, which they regret.[33] However, by that time the story was widely published in German mass-media,[34] and Glavcom.ua already migrated from Hetzner Online to another hosting provider.[35] [36]

no.spam.ee lawsuit

In 2013, an Estonian anti-spam activist Tõnu Samuel posted a blog entry about an alleged spammer Silver Teede on his website no.spam.ee. In retaliation, Teede wrote a complaint to the blog's service provider, Hetzner Online, who decided to terminate services for the blog. In an ensuing court case, Estonian courts found the complaints to be baseless and awarded Samuel damages from Silver Teede for the loss of Samuel's servers.[37] [38] [39]

Duplicate Ed25519 SSH keys

From April 2015 to December 2015, many of the OS images used by Hetzner's installation program installimage had used duplicate Ed25519 SSH keys. This could potentially mean that an attacker could use a man-in-the-middle attack to compromise an SSH connection that was using Ed25519 keys. Hetzner sent an email to all affected customers with any potentially affected servers on information about the issue, and how to fix it.[40] [41]

Blocking "Novaya Gazeta"

On January 11, 2016, Hetzner blocked the St. Petersburg site of Novaya Gazeta, the leading oppositional, non-governmental newspaper in Russia.[42] The newspaper marked the act as political censorship without any legal procedure.[43]

Blocking Ukraine War information

On March 7, 2022, during the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Hetzner allegedly blocked servers belonging to a Ukrainian state-affiliated war information website (war.ukraine.ua), which was posted by the official Ukraine Twitter account.[44] Hetzner initially denied blocking the website in question, stating that Cloudflare informed them that the IP does not belong to their network. Two days later, Hetzner confirmed via a press release that they had erroneously suspended the servers due to "anomalies" found in the account by an employee, which came from a not yet fully developed "plausibility check" and stated that their actions had not been politically motivated.[45] The press release has since been deleted from the Hetzner website.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Hetzner | LinkedIn . 2023-04-26 . 2024-02-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240206105620/https://www.linkedin.com/company/hetzner-online/ . live .
  2. Web site: Hetzner Online GMBH, Gunzenhausen, Germany . 2023-04-26 . 2023-04-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230426165851/https://www.northdata.com/Hetzner+Online+GmbH,+Gunzenhausen/Amtsgericht+Ansbach+HRB+6089 . live .
  3. Web site: Company Overview of Hetzner Online AG . Businessweek . 19 June 2014 . https://archive.today/20140619160125/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=108542938 . dead . June 19, 2014 .
  4. Web site: Hetzner Online expands management team. Hetzner Online GmbH. 6 May 2019. 23 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211123171932/https://www.hetzner.com/presse-berichte/2019/01/12258. dead.
  5. News: Beatrix Taggart . 17 May 2013 . Hetzner Online shortlisted as "New Datacentre of the Year" at the 6th International Datacentre Awards . Daily Host News . 19 June 2014 . 23 November 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211123234736/https://www.dailyhostnews.com/hetzner-online-shortlisted-as-new-datacentre-of-the-year-at-the-6th-international-datacentre-awards . live .
  6. News: Nicole Henderson . 1 February 2013 . Web Host Hetzner Online Adds Colocation Services to Two German Data Centers . Web Host Industry Review . 19 June 2014 . 1 December 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171201041147/http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/web-host-hetzner-online-adds-colocation-services-to-two-german-data-centers . live .
  7. Web site: Hetzner sets foot in Finland . Good News from Finland/Finnfacts . 21 November 2017 . 2 September 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190902123107/http://www.goodnewsfinland.com/hetzner-sets-foot-finland/ . dead .
  8. Web site: Hetzner constructs a data center park in Tuusula, Finland . Finpro . 21 November 2017 . 1 December 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171201042128/https://www.finpro.fi/web/finpro-eng/news/-/asset_publisher/R46o/content/id/1535434 . live .
  9. Web site: Data centers - Hetzner Online GmbH. www.hetzner.com. en-US. 2022-01-20. 2022-03-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20220309184531/https://www.hetzner.com/unternehmen/rechenzentrum/. live.
  10. Web site: Submarine Data Cable to Link Germany and Finland . eco . 21 November 2017 . 1 December 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20171201040637/https://web.eco.de/en/news/submarine-data-cable-to-link-germany-and-finland/ . dead .
  11. Web site: Cinia Completes Submarine Data Cable to Link Germany and Finland . Cinea . 21 November 2017 . 20 September 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180920160940/https://www.cinia.fi/en/archive/cinia-completes-submarine-data-cable-to-link-germany-and-finland.html . dead .
  12. Web site: Storage Boxes . 2017-11-21 . 2019-09-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190906175832/https://wiki.hetzner.de/index.php/Storage_Boxes/en . live .
  13. Web site: About us . 2017-11-21 . 2022-03-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220312182118/https://www.hetzner.com/unternehmen/ueber-uns . live .
  14. Web site: Server auction - Hetzner Online GmbH. www.hetzner.com. 2020-03-24. 2022-04-30. https://web.archive.org/web/20220430004859/https://www.hetzner.com/sb/. live.
  15. Web site: ICANN-Accredited Registrars . 2014-09-23 . 2019-05-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190505044210/https://www.icann.org/registrar-reports/accredited-list.html . live .
  16. Web site: List of DENIC Members . 2014-09-11 . 2015-09-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150905223250/http://www.denic.de/en/denic/members/list-of-denic-members.html . dead .
  17. Web site: Registrar-Liste . nic.at . 2014-09-11 . 2017-01-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170118112921/https://www.nic.at/ui/index.php/registrarliste/ . dead .
  18. News: Data centers. 2017-11-21. 2017-11-21. 2022-03-09. https://web.archive.org/web/20220309184531/https://www.hetzner.com/unternehmen/rechenzentrum/. live.
  19. Web site: Truly thrifty cloud hosting - Hetzner Online GmbH . Hetzner Online GmbH . 17 November 2021 . 17 November 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211117141656/https://www.hetzner.com/cloud . live .
  20. News: 21 November 2017 . Secure Modern Network Infrastructure . 21 November 2017 . 15 May 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160515032723/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLyQcpXDci4 . live .
  21. Web site: ALL HETZNER DEDICATED SERVERS NOW HAVE REAL UNLIMITED TRAFFIC . 2018-10-01 . PlexGuide.com . 2018-12-24 . 2020-11-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201109031018/https://plexguide.com/threads/all-hetzner-dedicated-servers-now-have-real-unlimited-traffic.2032/ . dead .
  22. Web site: Hetzner Dedicated Servers now with real unlimited traffic . 2018-10-01 . LowEndTalk . 2018-12-24 . 2018-12-24 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181224170521/https://www.lowendtalk.com/discussion/152498/hetzner-dedicated-servers-now-with-real-unlimited-traffic/ . live .
  23. Web site: Traffic/en - Hetzner DokuWiki . Hetzner.de . 2018-12-24 . 2018-12-29 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181229125538/https://wiki.hetzner.de/index.php/Traffic/en . live .
  24. News: Fabian Scherschel . 7 June 2013 . Hetzner web hosting service hacked, customer data copied . . 19 June 2014 . 26 February 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230226045157/http://www.h-online.com/security/news/item/Hetzner-web-hosting-service-hacked-customer-data-copied-1884574.html . live .
  25. News: Nicole Henderson . 7 June 2013 . Hetzner Security Breach Exposes Customer Passwords, Payment Information . Web Host Industry Review . 19 June 2014 . 21 June 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140621144755/http://www.thewhir.com/web-hosting-news/hetzner-security-breach-exposes-customer-passwords-payment-information . live .
  26. Web site: BBC: "Блог редактора: Артем Лоскутов и "федерализация Сибири" . 2019-12-21 . 2015-05-21 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150521055722/http://www.bbc.co.uk/russian/blogs/2014/08/140802_blog_editor_restricting_access.shtml . live .
  27. Web site: BBC World Service statement regarding interview with Artem Loskutov . 2019-12-21 . 2020-06-05 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200605052337/https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/statements/artem-loskutov . live .
  28. Web site: Bloomberg: Ukraine in 'Undeclared War' With Russia as Rebels Unite . . 2017-03-07 . 2015-01-08 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150108080918/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-05-12/ukraine-rebels-seek-to-join-russia-as-gas-deadline-set.html . live .
  29. Web site: Немцы заблокируют «Главком» за то, что он не удалил статью по требованию Роскомнадзора . 6 August 2014 . 2014-08-07 . 2014-08-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140810034149/http://ain.ua/2014/08/06/535747 . live .
  30. News: Webhoster Hetzner: Deutsche Firma hilft russischer Medienaufsicht bei Zensur . Der Spiegel . 8 August 2014 . 2014-08-11 . 2022-10-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221027080922/https://www.spiegel.de/netzwelt/netzpolitik/webhoster-hetzner-fordert-zensur-von-ukrainischer-website-glavcom-a-985147.html . live . Gathmann . Moritz .
  31. Web site: МИД Украины удивлен позицией немецкого хостера, согласившегося с Роскомнадзором . 2014-08-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140809175708/http://www.linenews.com.ua/?p=2888 . 2014-08-09 . dead .
  32. Web site: Russische Zensurversuche im Ausland . 2014-08-09 . 2014-08-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140809113012/https://www.reporter-ohne-grenzen.de/pressemitteilungen/meldung/russische-zensurversuche-im-ausland/ . live .
  33. Web site: Human rights in Ukraine: Russian censor will not be allowed to block Glavkom . 2014-08-11 . 2014-08-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140812223557/http://khpg.org/en/index.php?id=1407702463 . live .
  34. News: 9 August 2014 . The Truth About Hetzner Censoring Glavcom . root-services.net . https://web.archive.org/web/20140903201521/https://r00t-services.net/knowledgebase/39/The-Truth-About-Hetzner-Censoring-Glavcom.html . 2014-09-03 .
  35. Web site: Роскомсвобода: Немецкий хостер хотел заблокировать украинский сайт по требованию Роскомнадзора, но извинился . 2014-08-11 . 2014-08-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140812203140/http://rublacklist.net/8195/ . live .
  36. Web site: Glavcom.ua: Немецкий хостер отказался блокировать «Главком» и извинился перед редакцией . 2014-08-11 . 2014-08-12 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140812203156/http://glavcom.ua/news/225722.html . live .
  37. News: Hans Lõugas . 29 October 2013 . Laimaja peab sotsiaalmeedias vabandust paluma . . 7 August 2014 . 10 August 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140810124427/http://epl.delfi.ee/news/eesti/laimaja-peab-sotsiaalmeedias-vabandust-paluma.d?id=66992046 . dead .
  38. News: Sander Silm . 28 October 2013 . Netilaimaja peab maksma Tõnu Samuelile 11 150 eurot . . 7 August 2014 . 12 August 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140812051346/http://www.ohtuleht.ee/551502/netilaimaja-peab-maksma-tonu-samuelile-11-150-eurot . live .
  39. News: Silver Meikar . 17 June 2013 . Silver Meikar: avatus ja läbipaistvus taastaks usalduse . . 7 August 2014 . 8 August 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140808063629/http://arvamus.postimees.ee/1272534/silver-meikar-avatus-ja-labipaistvus-taastaks-usalduse . live .
  40. Web site: Ed25519/en – Hetzner DokuWiki . wiki.hetzner.de . 16 April 2020 . 5 June 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200605185241/https://wiki.hetzner.de/index.php/Ed25519/en . live .
  41. Web site: Duplicate ED25519 SSH Host Keys at Hetzner . blogs.intevation.de . 16 April 2020 . 11 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210511080929/http://blogs.intevation.de/thomas/hetzner-duplicate-ed25519-ssh-host-keys/ . live .
  42. Web site: Немецкий провайдер заблокировал сайт «Новой газеты в Петербурге» . 11 January 2016 . 2016-01-11 . 2022-10-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221027080925/https://www.fontanka.ru/2016/01/11/182/ . live .
  43. Web site: Осторожно, цензура! . 2016-01-11 . 2016-01-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160109225641/http://novayagazeta.spb.ru/ . live .
  44. Web site: Ukraine / Україна on Twitter . 2022-03-10 . Twitter . en . 2022-03-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220310115316/https://twitter.com/Ukraine/status/1500899395906191361 . live .
  45. Web site: Statement Concerning The Website war.ukraine.ua . 2022-03-10 . dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20220309145845/https://www.hetzner.com/presse-berichte/2022/03/166980. 2022-03-09. www.hetzner.com.

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