How to Install OpenClaw on a VPS

How to Install OpenClaw on a VPS
A comprehensive guide for setting up your personal AI assistant on any Virtual Private Server.
By TONNIC AI Agency
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Prerequisites
Before you begin the installation process, make sure you have everything ready. Having these prerequisites in place will ensure a smooth setup experience.
VPS Provider
Hostinger, DigitalOcean, Hetzner, or any Linux VPS
Ubuntu 24.04 LTS (recommended)
Minimum 2GB RAM, 4GB+ recommended
On Your Computer
Terminal/SSH client
VPS IP address
API keys / Subscriptions (ie Claude, ChatGPT, etc.)
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Step 1: Connect to Your Server
The first step is establishing a secure connection to your VPS. You'll use SSH (Secure Shell) to access your server remotely.
SSH into your VPS:
ssh root@YOUR_SERVER_IPCreate a dedicated user:
sudo adduser openclaw
sudo usermod -aG sudo openclaw
sudo su - openclawSecurity first! Running as root is dangerous. Always create a dedicated user for applications to minimize security risks.
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Step 2: Install Node.js 22
OpenClaw requires Node.js version 22 or newer to run properly. This step ensures you have the correct runtime environment installed on your server.
Prerequisite: Ensure curl is installed on your system. If not, install it first:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install -y curl

01
Download and run the Node.js setup script
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_22.x | sudo -E bash -
02
Install Node.js package
sudo apt-get install -y nodejs
03
Verify the installation
node -vShould show v22.x.x or higher.
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Step 3: Install OpenClaw
Now it's time to install OpenClaw itself. The official installer automates most of the setup process, making it quick and easy to get started.
Run the official installer:
curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bashLaunch the setup wizard:
openclaw onboard --install-daemonThe wizard will guide you through the configuration process and set up everything automatically, including the system service and initial settings.
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Step 4: Choose Your AI Provider
OpenClaw supports multiple AI providers, giving you flexibility in how you access AI capabilities. Choose the option that best fits your needs and budget.
Option A: Claude Subscription
Prerequisites: Install Claude Code CLI first
curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bashThen follow setup at code.claude.com/docs/en/setup
Then generate setup-token:
claude setup-token
openclaw models auth paste-token --provider anthropic
Option B: Anthropic API Key
For direct API access:
openclaw models auth login --provider anthropic
Option C: OpenAI Codex
ChatGPT/Codex subscription via OAuth:
openclaw onboard --auth-choice openai-codexOr run OAuth directly:
openclaw models auth login --provider openai-codex
Option D: OpenAI API Key
For usage-based billing:
openclaw onboard --auth-choice openai-api-key
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Step 5: Access the Dashboard
Once OpenClaw is installed and configured, you'll want to access the web dashboard to manage your assistant. This requires creating a secure SSH tunnel from your local computer to the server.
Create an SSH tunnel from your computer:
ssh -N -L 18789:127.0.0.1:18789 openclaw@YOUR_SERVER_IPThen open in your browser:
http://127.0.0.1:18789/
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Step 6: Run as a Service
To ensure OpenClaw runs continuously and starts automatically after server reboots, it needs to be configured as a system service. The onboard wizard sets this up automatically, but it's useful to know how to manage it.
Check Service Status
sudo systemctl status openclaw-gateway.service
Start the Service
sudo systemctl start openclaw-gateway
Stop the Service
sudo systemctl stop openclaw-gateway
Restart the Service
sudo systemctl restart openclaw-gateway
View Live Logs
sudo journalctl -u openclaw-gateway -f
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Troubleshooting
If you encounter any issues during or after installation, OpenClaw provides several diagnostic commands to help identify and resolve problems.
Diagnostic Commands:
openclaw status
openclaw doctor
openclaw logs --followCommon Issues:
Port in use → Another process is running on port 18789
Command not found → Add npm bin directory to PATH
Auth errors → Check your API key or token
Service won't start → Verify binary path in service file
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What You Get
After completing the installation, you'll have a powerful, self-hosted AI assistant at your fingertips. Here's what OpenClaw brings to your workflow:
24/7 AI Assistant
Responds via WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord
Runs continuously in the cloud
Never sleeps, always available
Complete Privacy
No third-party hosting
Full control over everything
Powerful Automation
Email management, calendar scheduling
Code generation, file organization
Custom skills and integrations
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Next Steps
Congratulations on installing OpenClaw! Now it's time to customize and enhance your AI assistant to fit your specific needs.
Configure Channels
Set up WhatsApp, Telegram, and other messaging platforms
Browse Skills
Explore available capabilities at clawhub.com
Customize
Edit AGENTS.md and SOUL.md files
Set Up Backups
Protect your configuration and data
Resources:
Documentation
docs.openclaw.ai
GitHub Repository
github.com/openclaw/openclaw
Community Discord
discord.gg/openclaw
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Choosing the Right AI Tool for Your Needs
Understanding the unique strengths of agentic AI like OpenClaw versus traditional workflow automation tools is crucial for maximizing efficiency and innovation.
OpenClaw (Agentic AI Assistant)
Multi-turn conversational interactions with memory and context across sessions
Autonomous task planning and execution without predefined workflows
Self-directed problem solving where the agent decides what tools to use and when
Operating as a persistent assistant that proactively suggests actions
Handling completely novel requests that weren't anticipated in advance
Workflow Automation (n8n, Zapier, Make)
Predictable, repeatable workflows with fixed logic
Deterministic outcomes with exact results every time
High-volume data processing
Lower latency for simple operations
Scheduled tasks on exact triggers
Visual workflow builders
Cost-effective for high-frequency automations
General AI Chats (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini)
One-off conversations and quick questions
Content generation and creative writing
Research and information synthesis
Code snippets and debugging help
No persistent memory or automation
Manual copy-paste workflows
IDE AI Coders (Claude Code, Cursor, Google Antigravity)
Deep integration with your development environment
Multi-file code editing and refactoring
Understanding entire codebases
Real-time code suggestions and completions
Terminal command execution
Limited to development workflows only
Best of Both Worlds: You can combine OpenClaw with workflow automation tools - use OpenClaw for intelligent decision-making and natural language interfaces, then trigger n8n/Zapier workflows for the heavy lifting.
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