Mastering the Command 'doctl compute droplet' (with examples)

The doctl compute droplet command is a powerful tool provided by DigitalOcean that allows users to manage virtual machines, referred to as “droplets.” This versatile command line utility can be used to list, create, and delete droplets. It streamlines the process of managing virtual machines, making it a popular choice for developers and system administrators looking to efficiently control their cloud infrastructure. Here, we explore the use cases of creating, deleting, and listing droplets with specific command examples.

Use case 1: Creating a Droplet

Code:

doctl compute droplet create --region nyc3 --image ubuntu-20-04-x64 --size s-1vcpu-1gb mydroplet

Motivation:

Creating a droplet is often the first step when setting up new virtual server environments on DigitalOcean. Whether you’re launching a web application, testing new software, or simply needing additional compute resources, creating a droplet is a fundamental task. Using the doctl compute droplet create command simplifies this process through the command line, allowing rapid deployment without the hassle of navigating through web interfaces.

Explanation:

• doctl compute droplet create: Calls the creation function for a new droplet.
• --region nyc3: Specifies the geographical region for the droplet, which can affect latency and performance based on user location. Here, nyc3 refers to one of DigitalOcean’s data centers in New York City.
• --image ubuntu-20-04-x64: Defines the operating system image to install on the droplet. This example uses Ubuntu 20.04 LTS with a 64-bit architecture, which is popular for its stability and support.
• --size s-1vcpu-1gb: Sets the size and resources for the droplet, allocating 1 virtual CPU and 1GB of RAM, suitable for small applications or testing environments.
• mydroplet: The name to assign to the new droplet, which aids in identifying it within lists and interfaces.

Example Output:

ID           Name        Public IPv4        Private IPv4    Region    Image                          VCPUs   Memory    Disk    Status
123456789    mydroplet   192.0.2.1                           nyc3      Ubuntu 20.04 (LTS) x64        1       1024      25      active

Use case 2: Deleting a Droplet

Code:

doctl compute droplet delete mydroplet

Motivation:

As projects evolve or come to an end, it’s essential to efficiently manage cloud resources and budget by removing unused or obsolete droplets. Deleting a droplet when it’s no longer needed helps in reducing unnecessary costs and decluttering your cloud infrastructure. The doctl compute droplet delete command streamlines droplet deletion, offering a quick and straightforward approach without the need to manually locate and remove droplets through a graphical interface.

Explanation:

• doctl compute droplet delete: Invokes the delete operation for a specified droplet.
• mydroplet: Specifies the name of the droplet to be deleted, ensuring that the correct virtual machine is targeted for removal.

Example Output:

Notice: Droplet mydroplet is scheduled for deletion.

Use case 3: Listing Droplets

Code:

doctl compute droplet list

Motivation:

Regularly listing droplets is crucial for overseeing the cloud environment’s status, especially when managing multiple virtual machines. It’s important to verify which droplets are active, check their details, and review resource allocations routinely. This command helps administrators maintain an organized infrastructure by providing a quick overview of all existing droplets.

Explanation:

• doctl compute droplet list: Executes the command to fetch and display the list of all droplets currently available in your account, along with pertinent details like ID, name, IP addresses, region, and status.

Example Output:

ID           Name             Public IPv4        Private IPv4    Region    Image                          VCPUs   Memory    Disk    Status
123456789    mydroplet        192.0.2.1                           nyc3      Ubuntu 20.04 (LTS) x64        1       1024      25      active
987654321    testdroplet      192.0.2.2                           sfo2      CentOS 7 (LTS) x64            2       2048      50      active

Conclusion:

Managing droplets effectively is pivotal in leveraging cloud resources efficiently, ensuring applications run smoothly, and keeping costs at bay. The doctl compute droplet command provides robust capabilities for creating, deleting, and listing droplets directly from the command line, saving time and effort. By understanding and utilizing these utility commands, developers and administrators can maintain an optimized and well-organized cloud infrastructure on DigitalOcean.