Droplet How-Tos

DigitalOcean Droplets are Linux-based virtual machines (VMs) that run on top of virtualized hardware. Each Droplet you create is a new server you can use, either standalone or as part of a larger, cloud-based infrastructure.

Getting Started

Create Droplets

Create Droplets from the DigitalOcean Control Panel and customize the image, plan, authentication method, and quantity of Droplets you want.

Set up a Production-Ready Droplet

Create a new Droplet with our recommended configuration for improved security, reliability, and monitoring.

Connection

Connect with SSH

Use a terminal to connect to Droplets using OpenSSH or PuTTY for shell access to your remote server.

Connect with the Droplet Console

Use the Droplet Console from a web browser to connect to Droplets for native-like terminal access to your remote server.

Transfer Files with Filezilla

Securely move files between Droplets and your local machine using FileZilla, an open-source FTP client.

Access Droplet Metadata

Use the Droplet metadata service to programmatically query a Droplet for information about itself.

Configuration

Add SSH Keys to Droplets

Improve security when you log in by creating SSH keys and adding them to Droplets.

Tag Droplets

Organize Droplets with tags to group and filter Droplets by role, automatically include Droplets in firewall or load balancer configurations, or target multiple Droplets at once with the API.

Track Performance

Monitor Droplet performance with default graphs for bandwidth, CPU usage, and disk I/O. Install the DigitalOcean metrics agent for extended graphs like CPU load average, memory usage, and disk usage.

Provide User Data

Use the Droplet metadata service’s user data option to automatically configure Droplets and applications with cloud-init.

Droplet Management

Resize Droplets

Resizing a Droplet lets you change the amount of CPU and RAM a Droplet has, optionally add additional disk space, and change to a different type of Droplet plan or CPU.

Rebuild Droplets

Overwrite the entirety of a Droplet’s disk with an image you select.

Manage the Droplet Agent

Install the Droplet agent on older Droplets to enable features like the Droplet Console, or uninstall the agent to remove access.

Manage the Kernel

Upgrade a Droplet’s internal kernel to the latest supported version, modify your Droplet to boot into a specific non-default version, or use the DigitalOcean GrubLoader kernel to switch legacy Droplets from external kernal management to internal kernel management.

Destroy Droplets

Destroy a Droplet to permanently and irreversibly destroy the Droplet, its contents, and its automated backups.

Recovery

Connect with Recovery Console

Use the Recovery Console to recover access to a Droplet. It provides out-of-band access regardless of your network settings. It emulates the access you would have if you were sitting down with a keyboard and monitor attached to the actual server.

Boot from Recovery ISO

Use DigitalOcean’s recovery ISO with the Recovery Console to regain access to and perform data recovery operations on your Droplet, like getting access to an interactive shell, running fsck, or chrooting into the system.