Knowledge Base

Hetzner Cloud is a popular provider that offers affordable and high-performance cloud servers. The CX series is one of its most preferred options, especially designed for small and medium-sized projects. In this article, we will compare the five core members of the CX series, CX11, CX21, CX31, CX41, and CX51, in detail, examining each one's features, performance, use cases, and pricing. Our goal is to help you choose the Hetzner Cloud server that best suits your needs. You can click on the link for more information about Hetzner Cloud Germany Location Servers.

1. Introduction: Overview of the Hetzner Cloud CX Series

The Hetzner Cloud CX series is ideal for users looking for performance, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. These virtual servers (VPS) are supported by modern hardware, fast SSD storage, and high bandwidth. The CX series can be used for a wide range of applications, from hosting websites to developing applications, creating test environments, and running small-scale databases. Each model offers different amounts of CPU, RAM, and storage space, catering to various needs. CX series servers offer flexibility with per-minute billing, and you can easily increase or decrease resources as needed.

1.1. Key Features of the CX Series

• High Performance: Equipped with the latest generation Intel or AMD processors and fast SSD storage.
• Scalability: You can easily increase or decrease resources.
• Affordable Price: Offers a cost-effective solution with per-minute billing and competitive prices.
• Ease of Use: Easily managed through a simple control panel and API.
• Various Operating Systems: Supports various operating systems such as Debian, Ubuntu, CentOS, Fedora, and Windows.
• Security: Offers basic security features such as DDoS protection and firewall.

1.2. Advantages and Disadvantages of the CX Series

Advantages:

• Cost-effectiveness
• High performance
• Scalability
• Ease of use
• Wide operating system support

Disadvantages:

• Shared resources (shares the same physical hardware with other cloud servers)
• May be insufficient for larger projects (more powerful cloud servers may be needed)

2. CX11: Entry-Level Solution

CX11 is Hetzner Cloud's most basic and affordable server. It is ideal for small projects, personal websites, or test environments.

2.1. Technical Specifications

• vCPU: 1
• RAM: 2 GB
• Storage: 40 GB SSD
• Bandwidth: 20 TB
• Price: Approximately €4.19 per month (hourly billing option also available)

2.2. Use Cases

• Personal websites and blogs
• Small-scale testing environments
• Simple web applications
• DNS server

2.3. Performance Tests

While the performance of CX11 is sufficient for simple websites and applications, it may be inadequate for more intensive workloads. For example, if you are running a CMS like WordPress, page loading times may be a bit slow.

# You can use sysbench to test CPU performance
sudo apt update
sudo apt install sysbench

sysbench --test=cpu --cpu-max-prime=20000 run

3. CX21: Balanced Performance and Price

CX21 offers more resources compared to CX11 and is a more suitable option for medium-sized projects. Thanks to more RAM and CPU power, it can run more complex websites and applications smoothly.

3.1. Technical Specifications

• vCPU: 2
• RAM: 4 GB
• Storage: 80 GB SSD
• Bandwidth: 20 TB
• Price: Approximately €6.19 per month (hourly billing option also available)

3.2. Use Cases

• Medium-sized websites and blogs
• E-commerce sites (small-scale)
• Development and testing environments
• Simple game servers

3.3. Real-Life Example: A Small E-commerce Site

An e-commerce site owner was initially using the CX11 server, but started experiencing performance issues as traffic increased and the number of products grew. After switching to CX21, page loading times improved significantly and customer satisfaction increased.

4. CX31: More Resources and Flexibility

CX31 is a good option for projects that require more resources. With more CPU, RAM, and storage space, it can handle more intensive workloads and offer better performance.

4.1. Technical Specifications

• vCPU: 2
• RAM: 8 GB
• Storage: 160 GB SSD
• Bandwidth: 20 TB
• Price: Approximately €9.29 per month (hourly billing option also available)

4.2. Use Cases

• High-traffic websites
• Medium-sized databases
• Development and testing environments (for multiple projects)
• Game servers (for more players)

5. CX41: High-Performance Solution

CX41 is designed for projects that require higher performance. With more CPU cores and RAM, it can handle more intensive workloads and offer better response times.

5.1. Technical Specifications

• vCPU: 4
• RAM: 8 GB
• Storage: 240 GB SSD
• Bandwidth: 20 TB
• Price: Approximately €12.39 per month (minute-based billing option is also available)

5.2. Use Cases

• High-traffic websites and applications
• Large-scale databases
• Video streaming and encoding
• Computationally intensive applications

6. CX51: The Highest Performance Option

CX51 is the most powerful member of the CX series. With the most CPU cores and RAM, it can handle even the most intensive workloads smoothly. It is ideal for performance-oriented applications and projects.

6.1. Technical Specifications

• vCPU: 4
• RAM: 16 GB
• Storage: 320 GB SSD
• Bandwidth: 20 TB
• Price: Approximately €19.69 per month (minute-based billing option is also available)

6.2. Use Cases

• Very high-traffic websites and applications
• Large-scale databases (e.g., MySQL, PostgreSQL)
• Big data analysis
• Machine learning
• Game servers (for a large number of players)

7. Comparison Tables

7.1. Technical Specifications Comparison

7.2. Performance and Use Cases Comparison

8. Operating System Selection and Installation

Hetzner Cloud supports various operating systems. The most popular options include Debian, Ubuntu, CentOS, and Fedora. The choice of operating system depends on your project's requirements and personal preferences.

8.1. Debian

Debian is known for its stability and reliability. It is often preferred for server environments.

8.2. Ubuntu

Ubuntu stands out for its ease of use and extensive community support. It is a good option for beginners.

8.3. CentOS

CentOS is based on Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) and is frequently used for enterprise-level applications.

8.4. Fedora

Fedora is designed for users who want to try the latest technologies. It is updated more frequently and includes newer software.

8.5. Operating System Installation

You can select your desired operating system when creating your server via the Hetzner Cloud control panel. The installation process is performed automatically.

9. Security Tips

It is important to take the following precautions to ensure the security of your cloud server:

• Use Strong Passwords: Use complex and unique passwords for your server and all user accounts.
• Enable the Firewall: Control incoming and outgoing traffic to your server using Hetzner Cloud's firewall feature.
• Keep Software Up to Date: Regularly update your operating system and all software to close security vulnerabilities.
• Secure SSH Access: Restrict SSH access to only the necessary IP addresses and use key-based authentication.
• Take Regular Backups: Prevent data loss in the event of a disaster by backing up your data regularly.

10. Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do CX series servers use shared resources?

A: Yes, CX series servers use shared resources. This means that you share the same physical hardware with other cloud servers.

Q: Which CX series server is right for me?

A: Server selection depends on the requirements of your project. For small projects, CX11 or CX21 may be sufficient, while CX31, CX41, or CX51 may be more suitable for more intensive workloads.

Q: Can I increase resources later?

A: Yes, you can easily increase or decrease your server's resources via the Hetzner Cloud control panel.

Q: Which operating system should I choose?

A: The choice of operating system depends on the requirements of your project and your personal preferences. You can choose from popular options such as Debian, Ubuntu, CentOS, and Fedora.

Q: Is there DDoS protection?

A: Yes, Hetzner Cloud offers basic DDoS protection for all CX series servers.

11. Conclusion and Summary

The Hetzner Cloud CX series offers affordable, high-performance, and scalable cloud servers. The CX11, CX21, CX31, CX41, and CX51 models offer a variety of options to meet different needs. Server selection depends on your project's requirements, performance expectations, and budget. With the information presented in this article, you can choose the Hetzner Cloud server that best suits your needs and successfully implement your project. Remember, choosing the right server is critical to the performance and success of your project.