How to Set Up Hetzner Storage Box on Linux

When I first got my Hetzner Storage Box, I wasn’t sure how to use it. It looked like a regular hosting service, but it was only for files. That’s because a Storage Box is not for websites or apps. It’s more like a big remote hard drive you can access from anywhere. You can back up files, store big folders, or even use it with other servers.

In this guide, I’ll show you how I set it up on my Linux computer. You’ll learn the easy steps to connect it, move files, and keep things safe. If you’re new to Linux or Hetzner, don’t worry. I’ll explain each step in a simple way.

What is a Hetzner Storage Box?

A Hetzner Storage Box is an online storage space. You rent it from Hetzner, a hosting company in Germany. It gives you a lot of space to store files. Think of it like Google Drive or Dropbox, but more private and powerful. You can use different ways to connect to it, such as:

SFTP (Secure File Transfer Protocol)
SCP (Secure Copy Protocol)
SMB/CIFS (Windows file sharing)
WebDAV (Web Distributed Authoring and Versioning)

Each method is a little different, but they all let you move files in and out.

Why Use It?

Here are a few things I use my Storage Box for:

Backing up websites from my server
Keeping old photos and videos safe
Sharing large files with clients

It’s cheap, fast, and works great with Linux. Plus, I get peace of mind knowing my files are not on just one computer.

Before You Start

You’ll need a few things first:

A Hetzner Storage Box (you can order one on their website)
Your Storage Box username and password
Your Linux system (any distro should work, I use Ubuntu)

Now let’s get started.

Step 1: Install Needed Tools

First, open your terminal.

If you want to connect with SFTP or SCP, your system probably already has ssh installed. You can check by typing:

ssh -V

If it shows a version, you’re good.

If you want to mount the Storage Box like a folder, you need something called sshfs. It lets you use SFTP but in a way that feels like the files are on your own computer.

To install sshfs, run:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install sshfs

(If you’re using a different Linux version, the command may change a little.)

Step 2: Connect Using SFTP

This is the fastest way to check if everything works. In your terminal, type:

sftp [email protected]

Replace u12345678 with your username and your-storagebox.de with your box’s address.

Then type your password when asked.

If you see a prompt like sftp>, it worked.

You can now use commands like:

ls        # list files
put file.txt     # upload file
get file.txt     # download file
exit      # leave sftp

That’s nice, but typing commands isn’t always fun. So let’s make it easier.

Step 3: Mount It Like a Folder (with SSHFS)

You can make your Storage Box feel like a regular folder on your computer.

First, make a folder where it will appear:

mkdir ~/mybox

Then run:

sshfs [email protected]:/ ~/mybox

Again, replace your username and address.

Now if you open ~/mybox, you’ll see your remote files right there. Copy, paste, and open files like normal.

To unmount it when done:

fusermount -u ~/mybox

Tip: If you get an error, check if fuse is installed. You can run sudo apt install fuse just to be sure.

Step 4: Make it Auto-Mount (Optional)

If you want your Storage Box to mount every time your computer starts, you can add a line to your /etc/fstab file.

But this part can be risky if not done right. So be careful.

Instead, I like to make a little script.

Here’s mine:

#!/bin/bash
sshfs [email protected]:/ ~/mybox

I saved it as mount_box.sh, then made it executable:

chmod +x mount_box.sh

Now I can just run ./mount_box.sh whenever I want.

Step 5: Use rsync for Backup

I love using rsync. It’s a smart copy tool. It only copies what’s new or changed.

Here’s how I back up a folder to my box:

rsync -avh /home/me/Documents/ ~/mybox/documents_backup/

And to download from the box:

rsync -avh ~/mybox/documents_backup/ /home/me/RestoredDocuments/

This is super useful for keeping backups fresh.

Bonus: Other Ways to Connect

Hetzner also supports other methods. Here are a few:

SMB: Good for Windows-style file sharing. Easy if you want to share with others in a home network.
WebDAV: Works with apps like Nextcloud, or you can mount it on Linux using davfs2.
rsync over SSH: Fast and secure, like the example above.

I usually stick with SSH-based options. They feel safer to me.

Troubleshooting Tips

Here are some common problems I ran into:

Can’t connect? Check your username, address, or password.
File transfer slow? Try rsync instead of dragging files.
Mount not showing files? Run ls -l ~/mybox and see if it responds. If not, unmount and try again.

Handy Commands Cheat Sheet

Here’s a quick list I keep nearby:

sftp [email protected] → connect
sshfs user@box:/ ~/mybox → mount
fusermount -u ~/mybox → unmount
rsync -avh src/ dest/ → backup or copy

Final Thoughts

Using Hetzner Storage Box with Linux is easier than it looks. Once it’s mounted, it feels like a local drive. You can treat it just like a folder on your desktop.

I like that I don’t have to worry about plugging in an external hard drive. Everything is online, and I can reach it from any computer.

And here’s a pun to leave you smiling: storing files without backups is like skydiving without a parachute—it might be fun at first, but you’ll regret it on the way down.

So go ahead and give it a try. What will you use your Storage Box for?