Creating a Droplet on DigitalOcean
Deploying a Virtual Private Server (VPS) isn’t as hard as it might seem. In this guide, I’ll walk you through the process of setting up a server correctly. I’ll be using Pop!_OS (built on Ubuntu) for my main computer and Ubuntu Server for my VPS. For this tutorial, I’ve chosen DigitalOcean as my VPS provider.
Step 1: Set Up a DigitalOcean Account
Start by creating an account on DigitalOcean. It’s a simple process, and with my referral link, you’ll receive $200 in credit to use on DigitalOcean for 60 days.
Step 2: Generate an SSH Key
You’ll need an SSH key for secure authentication. If you don’t already have one, follow These instructions to create an SSH key.
Step 3: Create a Droplet
Once your account is set up, navigate to the DigitalOcean dashboard and click on Create > Droplets. DigitalOcean refers to their VPS instances as “Droplets.”
Select Data Center
Choose a data center closest to you or your target audience.
Choose an Image
Select Ubuntu 24.10 x64 as your operating system.
Choose a Plan
For small websites, the $4/month plan is sufficient. This plan includes:
- 1 CPU
- 512 MB of RAM
- 10 GB SSD
- 500 GB of transfer bandwidth
If your needs grow, you can always upgrade later.
Authentication Method
Use SSH key authentication—it’s more secure than using a password. To add your SSH key:
Open a terminal on your main desktop and run the following command:
cat ~/.ssh/id_ed25519.pub
Copy the output starting with
ssh-ed25519
and ending with your email address.Paste it into the New SSH Key section on the DigitalOcean dashboard, name it, and click Add SSH Key.
Step 4: Finalize and Create Your Droplet
Scroll down, change the hostname to something meaningful, and click Create Droplet.
What’s Next?
Congratulations! You’ve successfully created your first Droplet. Now, you can begin configuring it for your specific needs.