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The most straightforward OpenClaw VPS installation uses a Debian or Ubuntu server, the official installer, the onboarding wizard, and a managed systemd service. Use a VPS with root or sudo access and a supported Node.js runtime—Node 24.16 or newer, or Node 26.1 or newer; Node 26 is recommended. Keep the Gateway bound to loopback, then reach its Control UI through an SSH tunnel or Tailscale rather than exposing it directly to the Internet. For repeatable provisioning with firewall, VPN, Docker sandbox support, and systemd hardening, use the official Ansible deployment instead.
What do I need before installing OpenClaw on a VPS?
Prepare a Linux VPS running Debian or Ubuntu, administrative access, Internet connectivity, and a plan for private administration. The supported Ansible operating systems are Debian 11 or newer and Ubuntu 20.04 or newer. The direct installer is intended for a normal Linux VPS and handles the runtime installation when necessary.
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- A Debian- or Ubuntu-based VPS with root or sudo access.
- Outbound Internet access for package and OpenClaw downloads.
- Node.js 24.16 or newer, or Node.js 26.1 or newer. Node 26 is the recommended line.
- Credentials for the model provider and messaging channels you intend to use.
- A secure remote-access method: an SSH tunnel or Tailscale is preferred for the Gateway UI.
- A backup plan for the VPS state and workspace, which are the source of truth for the deployment.
OpenClaw can also be installed with npm, pnpm, or Bun if you already manage your own runtime. Docker, source builds, Nix, and Ansible are alternatives for different operational requirements; Docker is not automatically required just to run the Gateway.
Which OpenClaw VPS deployment method should I choose?
Choose the direct installer for one personal VPS and the shortest setup. Choose Ansible when you want repeatable provisioning, a firewall and VPN baseline, Docker support for agent sandboxes, and a hardened service account.
#1 Best Overall
| Deployment method | Setup effort | Gateway placement | Remote-access and security work | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Official installer | Lowest; one command followed by onboarding | Host-based | You configure private access, SSH, and any firewall policy | A single personal VPS |
| Manual npm, pnpm, or Bun installation | Higher; you manage the runtime and package lifecycle | Host-based | You manage service installation and network controls | Administrators with an existing JavaScript runtime workflow |
| Official Ansible deployment | Higher initial setup, repeatable afterward | Host-based; Docker is optional for the agent-sandbox backend | Installs UFW, Tailscale, Docker CE with Compose V2, and a hardened systemd service | Repeatable personal or team deployments |
| Docker or other alternatives | Depends on the chosen workflow | Containerized or otherwise customized | Must be designed and maintained by you | Specialized operational environments |
How do I install OpenClaw with the official VPS installer?
On a standard Debian or Ubuntu VPS, run the official installer, complete onboarding, install the managed service, and verify the Gateway. The installer detects the operating system, installs Node.js if needed, installs OpenClaw, and starts onboarding.
1. Connect to the VPS
Log in over SSH with an account that can use sudo, or use root. Perform the installation from that account so the resulting configuration and service belong to the intended Linux user.
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curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bashThe command installs the required components and launches onboarding. If you want to install the software without entering onboarding immediately, use the no-onboard flag documented by OpenClaw, then start onboarding separately when you are ready.
3. Complete onboarding
Follow the wizard to configure your model provider and channel credentials. Treat these credentials as server secrets: restrict access to the Linux account that runs OpenClaw and include the relevant configuration in your backup and recovery plan.
4. Install the managed Linux service
During onboarding, select the option to install the daemon, or run one of the documented service commands afterward:
openclaw onboard --install-daemonopenclaw gateway installOn Linux and WSL2, the managed startup path uses a systemd user service. This allows the Gateway to start under the configured user rather than as an unrestricted root process.
5. Verify the installation
Run all three checks from the same account that owns the OpenClaw configuration:
openclaw --version
openclaw doctor
openclaw gateway statusopenclaw --versionconfirms that the CLI is installed and available in the shell.openclaw doctoridentifies configuration and environment problems that need attention.openclaw gateway statusreports whether the Gateway service is running and how it is managed.
How do I keep the OpenClaw Gateway private on a VPS?
Leave the Gateway on loopback by default and connect to it through an SSH tunnel or Tailscale. Binding it to a LAN or tailnet interface is possible, but then you must configure the required shared Gateway token or password unless a trusted proxy is providing authentication.
Use an SSH tunnel for occasional administration
An SSH tunnel forwards a local port through the encrypted SSH connection without making the Gateway publicly reachable. Keep the Gateway listening on the VPS loopback interface, establish the tunnel from your workstation, and open the forwarded local address in your browser. The exact local and remote port depend on the Gateway configuration shown by your installation.
Use Tailscale for regular private access
Tailscale provides a private tailnet path for administration and Control UI access. The VPS guide recommends using a private path instead of publishing the Gateway on a public address. If you bind the Gateway to the tailnet interface, configure its shared token or password unless your trusted proxy is explicitly responsible for authentication.
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Gateway privacy does not secure the VPS itself. If you plan to restrict public SSH after installing Tailscale, install and test Tailscale first, then verify a second SSH session over the private path before changing the public SSH firewall rule. Keeping a second session open while testing prevents a firewall change from locking you out.
Do not assume Docker is required
In the official Ansible design, the Gateway remains host-based. Docker is installed for the optional agent-sandbox backend, so adding Docker solely to expose or daemonize the Gateway adds complexity without being a prerequisite.
How do I install OpenClaw with the hardened Ansible route?
Use the Ansible route when you want a repeatable server build with predefined network and service hardening. It installs Tailscale, UFW, Docker CE with Compose V2, Node.js and pnpm, host-based OpenClaw, and a hardened systemd service.
1. Start the documented bootstrap
curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/openclaw/openclaw-ansible/main/install.sh | bashThe target machine needs Internet access so Ansible can install packages and retrieve the required components.
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2. Understand the defense layers
- UFW: supplies the host firewall baseline.
- Tailscale: provides private administration and access.
- Docker isolation: the Docker
DOCKER-USERchain is used for sandbox traffic controls. - systemd hardening: the service runs with an unprivileged user and restrictive service settings.
The default design is intended to leave only SSH publicly reachable. Review the resulting rules and private-access path before making additional firewall changes.
3. Onboard as the OpenClaw account
After the playbook finishes, switch to the openclaw account for channel authentication and user-level configuration:
sudo -i -u openclaw
openclaw channels login --channel <name>Replace <name> with the channel you are configuring. Complete each channel login required by your deployment.
4. Inspect the service and logs
sudo systemctl status openclaw
sudo journalctl -u openclaw -fThe first command shows the service state. The second follows its journal output while you test startup, channel login, and message handling.
How do I tune OpenClaw for a small or slow VPS?
Small virtual machines may need startup and compilation tuning, but these settings are optional and host-specific rather than installation prerequisites.
Use a persistent compile cache
Set the following environment variable to keep compiled artifacts in a temporary filesystem path:
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NODE_COMPILE_CACHE=/var/tmp/openclaw-compile-cacheDisable automatic respawning when appropriate
For a constrained VM, the VPS guidance suggests:
OPENCLAW_NO_RESPAWN=1Apply environment changes to the service environment that actually launches OpenClaw, then restart and check the service status. Do not assume a shell export affects a systemd user service that starts later.
Review systemd startup behavior
The optional systemd checklist includes a 90-second startup timeout, the managed unit’s restart policy, and SSD-backed state and cache paths. These settings are useful when storage or CPU performance makes initialization slow; they should be adapted to the VPS rather than copied blindly.
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Start with the symptom, then use the command that exposes the relevant layer. Keep the Gateway private while troubleshooting so a temporary diagnostic change does not become a permanent Internet exposure.
The CLI command is missing
Run openclaw --version as the user who performed the installation. If the command is unavailable, check that you are using the same account and shell environment, and confirm that the supported Node.js runtime is installed. A manually managed npm, pnpm, or Bun installation may place the executable in a user-specific path.
The Node.js version is rejected
Check the installed runtime and upgrade to Node 24.16 or newer, or Node 26.1 or newer. Node 26 is the recommended version line. Re-run the installer or your package-manager installation after correcting the runtime, then repeat the version and doctor checks.
The Gateway is not running
Run openclaw gateway status, then openclaw doctor. If you installed the managed service, inspect the systemd status and journal for the account that owns the service. For the Ansible deployment, use sudo systemctl status openclaw and sudo journalctl -u openclaw -f.
The Control UI cannot be reached remotely
Confirm that the Gateway is intentionally listening on loopback and that you are using the matching SSH tunnel or Tailscale path. Do not solve a failed private connection by binding the Gateway publicly. If you deliberately bind to a LAN or tailnet interface, configure the shared Gateway token or password, or verify that a trusted proxy is enforcing authentication.
Channel login fails
Run channel authentication as the account that owns the OpenClaw service. On an Ansible deployment, that is normally openclaw. Recheck provider credentials, channel-specific permissions, and the service journal after each login attempt.
Startup is too slow on a small VM
Apply the compile-cache and no-respawn settings, use SSD-backed paths where available, and review the systemd startup timeout. These changes address resource constraints; they do not replace sufficient CPU, memory, or reliable storage.
How do I update, back up, and recover an OpenClaw VPS?
The VPS contains the deployment’s state and workspace, so treat it as the authoritative copy. Before changing the runtime or OpenClaw package, back up those directories and the service configuration needed to recreate the account and its permissions.
Back up state and workspace
Identify the actual state and workspace locations used by your Linux account, then copy them to storage outside the VPS. Protect the backup because it may contain channel credentials, provider configuration, conversation data, and workspace files.
Record the deployment method
Keep a short recovery record containing the operating-system release, Node.js version, installation method, service account, private-access method, and any environment overrides. This prevents a direct installation from being confused with an Ansible-managed host during recovery.
Test restoration before you need it
A backup is useful only if it can be restored with the expected ownership and permissions. Periodically restore it to a disposable Linux environment or replacement VPS, then run openclaw doctor and openclaw gateway status before reconnecting production channels.
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For a manually installed host, retain the previous package and runtime details before upgrading. For Ansible-managed machines, retain the playbook inputs and service configuration. Stop the service before replacing state, restore the known-good files, correct ownership, and verify the Gateway privately before resuming channel traffic.
What is the safest practical installation sequence?
- Provision a Debian or Ubuntu VPS with root or sudo access and outbound Internet connectivity.
- Choose the direct installer for a single host or Ansible for repeatable hardening.
- Confirm Node.js 24.16 or newer, or 26.1 or newer; prefer Node 26.
- Install OpenClaw and complete model-provider and channel onboarding.
- Install the managed systemd service with
openclaw onboard --install-daemonoropenclaw gateway install. - Run
openclaw --version,openclaw doctor, andopenclaw gateway status. - Keep the Gateway on loopback and choose an SSH tunnel or Tailscale for remote access.
- If using Ansible, verify the
openclawservice and journal, then complete channel login as theopenclawaccount. - Back up the VPS state and workspace before routine upgrades or configuration changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use an existing Node.js installation instead of the OpenClaw installer’s runtime setup?
Yes. OpenClaw supports users who manage their own runtime with npm, pnpm, or Bun. Ensure the selected runtime satisfies the documented Node version requirement before installing the package, and remember that you will also own the update and service-integration work.
Does OpenClaw require Docker on a VPS?
No. The Gateway can run directly on the host under systemd. Docker is an optional component in the Ansible design for the agent-sandbox backend, not a requirement for the Gateway itself.
Can I put the OpenClaw Control UI behind a reverse proxy?
You can, but the proxy must be treated as part of the authentication boundary. When the Gateway is bound beyond loopback, use its shared token or password unless the proxy is trusted and demonstrably enforcing authentication for every request.
What happens if I lose the VPS that runs OpenClaw?
A replacement server can be rebuilt with the same direct or Ansible method, then restored from an external backup of the state and workspace. Reapply the original service account, permissions, runtime version, environment overrides, and private-access controls before reconnecting channels.
Is the Ansible deployment suitable for several OpenClaw servers?
It is the better fit when hosts must be provisioned consistently because the firewall, VPN, package, Docker, and systemd configuration are automated. Keep the playbook inputs under version control and separate host-specific secrets from reusable configuration.
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