How to install OpenClaw on a VPS: step-by-step guide

Prerequisites

Before installing OpenClaw, you'll need:

• A VPS running Ubuntu 22.04 or newer (Debian 12+ also works)
• At least 2 GB RAM and 20 GB storage
• SSH access to your server
• An AI API key (OpenAI, Anthropic, or OpenRouter)

Recommended VPS providers

For the best value, we recommend:

• Hetzner CX22 — EUR 4.35/month, 2 GB RAM, excellent network (our top pick)
• DigitalOcean — USD 12/month, 2 GB Droplet, great documentation
• Contabo — EUR 5/month, 4 GB RAM, budget-friendly

Step 1: connect to your server

Open your terminal and SSH into your VPS:

ssh root@YOUR_SERVER_IP

First thing, update your system:

apt update && apt upgrade -y

Step 2: run the k-claw installer

With a k-claw subscription, installation is a single command:

curl -fsSL https://claw.krokanti.com/install | bash

The installer will:

1. Ask for your license key
2. Validate it against the k-claw API
3. Establish a secure SSE connection
4. Walk you through configuration questions
5. Install everything automatically

Step 3: configure your agent

The installer asks you about:

• AI model — Claude Sonnet, GPT-4o, DeepSeek, or GLM Flash
• API key — Your OpenRouter key for model access
• Messaging channel — Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord, or Slack
• Bot token — Your platform-specific bot credentials

Step 4: verify installation

After installation completes, verify everything is running:

systemctl status kclaw-*

Then test by sending a message to your bot on your chosen messaging platform.

What gets installed

The k-claw installer sets up:

• Node.js 22 runtime
• OpenClaw agent framework
• UFW firewall with SSH-only access
• Fail2Ban for brute-force protection
• Dedicated system user with restricted permissions
• Systemd service for automatic startup

Troubleshooting

If something goes wrong during installation, the k-claw dashboard shows real-time status of your installation. Common issues and solutions are covered in our courses.