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_IP
Create a dedicated user:
adduser openclaw
usermod -aG sudo openclaw
su - openclaw

Security 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.
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 -v
Should 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 | bash
Launch the setup wizard:
openclaw onboard --install-daemon
The 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
  • Download from code.claude.com
  • 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-codex
Or 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_IP
Then 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 --follow
Common 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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