How to Install OpenClaw on VPS: Step-by-Step Guide

How to Install OpenClaw on a VPS: Complete Guide

Ready to get your own OpenClaw AI assistant up and running? This step-by-step guide walks you through the entire OpenClaw installation process on a VPS. Whether you’re a seasoned sysadmin or setting up your first server, you’ll be up and running in under 20 minutes.

Prerequisites

Before you start the OpenClaw setup, you’ll need:

• A VPS running Ubuntu 20.04+ or Debian 11+ (1-2GB RAM minimum, 2GB+ recommended)
• SSH access to your server (root or sudo user)
• A domain name (optional but recommended for SSL)
• 10 minutes of your time

Recommended VPS Providers

• Hostinger — Budget-friendly, great for beginners ($4-8/month)
• DigitalOcean — Reliable developer-focused ($4-6/month droplets)
• Hetzner — Excellent performance-to-price ratio
• Vultr — Good global coverage, flexible plans

Step 1: Connect to Your VPS via SSH

Open your terminal and connect to your server:

ssh root@your-server-ip

If you’re using a non-root user with sudo access:

ssh username@your-server-ip

Step 2: Update Your Server

Always start with a fresh update:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step 3: Install Node.js

OpenClaw requires Node.js 18 or later. Install it using NodeSource:

curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_22.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt install -y nodejs

Verify the installation:

node --version
npm --version

Step 4: Install OpenClaw

Install OpenClaw globally via npm:

sudo npm install -g openclaw

Verify the installation:

openclaw --version

Step 5: Initialize OpenClaw

Run the initialization wizard:

openclaw init

This will guide you through:

• Setting up your admin user and password
• Configuring your AI model (API key for OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, etc.)
• Setting your preferred communication channels
• Configuring your gateway URL and ports

Step 6: Start the OpenClaw Gateway

Start the OpenClaw gateway service:

openclaw gateway start

Check the status:

openclaw gateway status

To run the gateway as a background service (recommended):

openclaw gateway start --daemon

Step 7: Configure Your Domain (Optional but Recommended)

Point your domain’s DNS A record to your VPS IP, then set up a reverse proxy with Nginx:

sudo apt install -y nginx certbot python3-certbot-nginx

Create an Nginx configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/nginx/sites-available/openclaw

Add the configuration (replace your-domain.com):

server {
    listen 80;
    server_name your-domain.com;

    location / {
        proxy_pass http://localhost:3000;
        proxy_http_version 1.1;
        proxy_set_header Upgrade $http_upgrade;
        proxy_set_header Connection 'upgrade';
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_cache_bypass $http_upgrade;
    }
}

Enable the site and secure it with SSL:

sudo ln -s /etc/nginx/sites-available/openclaw /etc/nginx/sites-enabled/
sudo nginx -t
sudo systemctl reload nginx
sudo certbot --nginx -d your-domain.com

Step 8: Install Skills

Browse and install skills from ClawHub:

openclaw skill search weather
openclaw skill install weather

Step 9: Verify Everything Works

Run through this checklist:

1. Gateway running? — openclaw gateway status
2. Web interface accessible? — Visit http://your-server-ip:3000 or your domain
3. AI model responding? — Send a test message through the web interface
4. Skills loaded? — openclaw skill list

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Gateway Won’t Start

Check the logs: openclaw gateway logs. Common causes include port conflicts (change the port in config) or missing Node.js dependencies.

Can’t Access Web Interface

Ensure your firewall allows traffic on port 3000: sudo ufw allow 3000. If using Nginx, verify the proxy configuration.

AI Model Not Responding

Verify your API key is correctly set: openclaw config show. Test with a simple model that you know works.

Next Steps

Congratulations! Your OpenClaw installation is complete. From here, explore the ClawHub marketplace for skills, connect your communication channels, and start building automated workflows.

Ready to Transform Your Workflow?

OpenClaw is free to start — no credit card required. Experience the power of a true AI assistant that works alongside you, not just for you.

Book a Free 30-Minute Consultation and let us show you what OpenClaw can do for your business.