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Kubernetes on DigitalOcean (DOKS)

Last updated: March 4, 2026

This guide follows the DigitalOcean UI flow to create and connect a Kubernetes cluster.

All screenshots are loaded from digitalocean/images/kubernetes/.

Prerequisites​

  • DigitalOcean account with billing enabled
  • A project where the cluster will be created
  • A terminal/Droplet where you can run doctl and kubectl

1. Open Kubernetes and start cluster creation​

  • Open DigitalOcean dashboard.
  • Go to Kubernetes and click Create a Kubernetes Cluster.
  • You can also click Create from the top menu, then select Kubernetes.

Step 1 - List Kubernetes

2. Create Kubernetes Cluster​

  • Configure cluster options.
  • If needed, enable High Availability.
  • Choose droplet/node plan.
  • Click Create Kubernetes Cluster.
  • Wait until cluster provisioning is complete.

Step 2 - Create Kubernetes Cluster

3. Open cluster details​

  • After creation, open the cluster details page.
  • In the guided setup flow, click Next.

Step 3 - Cluster details

4. Connect cluster (Droplet + doctl + kubectl)​

  • Create or use a Droplet/terminal machine for cluster access.
  • Install doctl on that machine.
  • Install kubectl:
curl -LO "https://dl.k8s.io/release/$(curl -L -s https://dl.k8s.io/release/stable.txt)/bin/linux/amd64/kubectl"
sudo install -o root -g root -m 0755 kubectl /usr/local/bin/kubectl
kubectl version --client
  • Run the exact command shown by DigitalOcean on this screen (kubeconfig save command).
  • After the command succeeds, click Continue.

Step 4 - Connect cluster

5. Verify kubectl and continue​

  • Verify access from terminal:
kubectl get nodes
kubectl get ns
  • If the cluster and nodes are visible, click Continue.

Step 5 - Verify kubectl

6. Deployment complete​

  • On the deployment complete screen, click Great, I am done.

Step 6 - Deployment complete

7. Final cluster detail page​

  • You will land on the final cluster detail page.
  • From here, you can manage node pools, upgrades, networking, and access settings.

Step 7 - Final cluster detail page

Next Step​