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DigitalOcean is a global cloud infrastructure provider with extensive region coverage. ClawControl provides full support for DigitalOcean Droplets, making it easy to deploy OpenClaw instances worldwide.

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API Token Setup

Before deploying to DigitalOcean, you need to create an API token:
  1. Sign up for a DigitalOcean account
  2. Navigate to API in the left sidebar
  3. Click Generate New Token
  4. Give it a descriptive name (e.g., “ClawControl”)
  5. Select Read & Write scopes
  6. Click Generate Token
  7. Copy the token immediately (it won’t be shown again)
Store your API token securely. Anyone with this token can create and manage resources in your DigitalOcean account.

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Configuration Options

DigitalOcean deployments support the following configuration options:

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Droplet Size

Choose from various droplet sizes based on your needs:
SizevCPUsRAMDiskTransferPrice/Month
s-1vcpu-2gb (default)12 GB50 GB2 TB$12
s-2vcpu-2gb22 GB60 GB3 TB$18
s-2vcpu-4gb24 GB80 GB4 TB$24
s-4vcpu-8gb48 GB160 GB5 TB$48
The s-1vcpu-2gb size is recommended for basic OpenClaw deployments and provides reliable performance.

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Region

Available DigitalOcean regions: North America:
  • nyc1 (New York City 1) - Default
  • nyc3 (New York City 3)
  • sfo3 (San Francisco 3)
  • tor1 (Toronto 1)
Europe:
  • ams3 (Amsterdam 3)
  • lon1 (London 1)
  • fra1 (Frankfurt 1)
Asia-Pacific:
  • sgp1 (Singapore 1)
  • blr1 (Bangalore 1)

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Image

ClawControl uses ubuntu-24-04-x64 as the default operating system image, which is fully tested and supported.

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Default Configuration

When you create a new DigitalOcean deployment, these defaults are used: 
{
  apiKey: string,              // Your DigitalOcean API token
  size: "s-1vcpu-2gb",         // 1 vCPU, 2GB RAM
  region: "nyc1",              // New York City
  image: "ubuntu-24-04-x64"   // Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
}

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Creating a Deployment

Using the ClawControl CLI: 
clawcontrol /new
Select DigitalOcean as your provider and provide:
  1. Deployment Name: A unique identifier for this deployment
  2. API Token: Your DigitalOcean API token
  3. Droplet Size: Choose from available options (default: s-1vcpu-2gb)
  4. Region: Select a datacenter location (default: nyc1)
  5. OpenClaw Configuration: AI provider, model, and channel settings

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Deployment Process

When you run /deploy, ClawControl will:
  1. Create SSH Key: Generates and uploads an SSH key to DigitalOcean
  2. Provision Droplet: Creates a new droplet with your specifications
  3. Configure System: Installs Node.js, Chrome, and dependencies
  4. Install OpenClaw: Deploys and configures the OpenClaw agent
  5. Setup Tailscale: Configures secure VPN access (optional)
  6. Start Services: Launches OpenClaw as a systemd service
The entire deployment process typically takes 5-10 minutes depending on droplet provisioning time.

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API Operations

ClawControl uses the DigitalOcean API to manage your deployment:

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Droplet Management

  • Create, delete, and list droplets
  • Power on/off, reboot, and shutdown operations
  • Monitor droplet status and wait for active state

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SSH Key Management

  • Upload public SSH keys for secure access
  • List and delete SSH keys (by ID or fingerprint)
  • Retrieve SSH key details

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Resource Information

  • List available droplet sizes and pricing
  • Query available regions and availability
  • Check action status and completion

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Monitoring Your Deployment

After deployment, use these commands to monitor your instance: 
# View deployment status
clawcontrol /status

# SSH into your droplet
clawcontrol /ssh

# View OpenClaw logs
clawcontrol /logs

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Pricing and Billing

DigitalOcean charges are:
  • Hourly billing with monthly caps
  • Predictable pricing based on droplet size
  • No bandwidth overage fees within transfer limits
  • Automated billing charged to your payment method
You can view detailed pricing and usage in the DigitalOcean Control Panel under Billing.

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Advanced Configuration

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Custom Droplet Sizes

If you need more resources, DigitalOcean offers:
  • Basic droplets: Cost-effective shared CPU
  • General Purpose: Dedicated CPU with balanced resources
  • CPU-Optimized: High CPU-to-memory ratio
  • Memory-Optimized: High memory-to-CPU ratio

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Optional Features

When creating droplets, you can enable:
  • Backups: Automated weekly backups (+20% of droplet cost)
  • IPv6: Enable IPv6 networking (free)
  • User Data: Cloud-init scripts for custom provisioning
  • Tags: Organize and filter your droplets

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Regional Considerations

Choose your region based on:
  • Latency: Select the region closest to your users
  • Compliance: EU regions for GDPR compliance
  • Features: Some features may vary by region

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Troubleshooting

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API Token Issues

If you encounter authentication errors:
  1. Verify your API token has Read & Write scopes
  2. Ensure the token hasn’t been deleted or revoked
  3. Check that you’re logged into the correct account

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Droplet Creation Failures

Common issues:
  • Quota limits: Check your account droplet limits
  • Region availability: Try a different region if droplets are unavailable
  • Payment issues: Ensure your payment method is valid

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Connection Problems

If SSH connection fails:
  1. Verify the droplet is in “active” state
  2. Check that SSH keys were properly uploaded
  3. Ensure firewall rules allow SSH (port 22)
  4. Verify your local SSH client configuration

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Cleanup and Deletion

To remove a deployment: 
clawcontrol /destroy
This will:
  • Delete the droplet from DigitalOcean
  • Remove uploaded SSH keys
  • Clean up local configuration files
Destroying a deployment is permanent. Make sure to backup any important data before deletion.

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