# How to install OpenClaw on a VPS in 10 minutes > Install the OpenClaw AI agent on an Ubuntu VPS step by step. Node.js, onboarding, a Telegram bot and secure access to the dashboard over an SSH tunnel. ![OpenClaw logo on a phone screen](https://datapasa.com/wiki/img/install-openclaw-on-vps/cover.webp) OpenClaw is an open source AI agent with over 100,000 stars on GitHub. It runs on your own server and talks to you through messaging apps such as Telegram, WhatsApp, Discord and Signal. Unlike a regular chatbot it actually performs tasks: runs commands, controls a browser, reads email, works with files and APIs. This guide walks through installing OpenClaw on a VPS, from the first SSH login to the first message to your AI assistant in Telegram. ## Why install OpenClaw on a VPS You can run OpenClaw on a laptop or home computer, but that has limits: - **The agent works only while your computer is on.** Close the laptop and OpenClaw stops answering in Telegram. - **Heartbeat tasks do not run.** OpenClaw can wake up on a schedule to check email or deadlines, which needs a machine running 24/7. - **Load on your hardware.** A background daemon with connections to messengers and LLM providers uses resources all the time. - **Availability.** Channels like WhatsApp need a stable IP and a constant connection. A VPS solves all of this: it runs around the clock, has a static IP, and the agent stays reachable from any messenger. Even the entry plans on our [pricing page](https://datapasa.com/en/pricing) are enough for OpenClaw. ## What you need - **A Linux VPS, Ubuntu 22.04 or 24.04 recommended.** If you do not have one yet, follow [how to buy a VPS](https://datapasa.com/wiki/getting-started/how-to-buy-a-vps). - **At least 1 vCPU, 2 GB RAM and 20 GB of disk.** That is enough for OpenClaw with cloud models from Anthropic, OpenAI or Google. - **SSH access.** The server IP and root password are in the **Cloud Servers** list of the [panel](https://cloud.datapasa.com). - **An API key from an AI provider**, for example Anthropic (Claude), OpenAI (GPT), Google (Gemini) or OpenRouter. - **An account in the messenger** you want to use. Telegram is the easiest place to start. ## Step 1. Connect to the VPS via SSH Open a terminal (PowerShell or PuTTY on Windows) and connect with the IP and root password from the panel. If this is new to you, see [how to connect via SSH](https://datapasa.com/wiki/server-management/connect-via-ssh). ```bash ssh root@YOUR_SERVER_IP ``` On the first connection confirm the fingerprint with `yes`, then enter the password. ![Terminal with a successful SSH login to the server](https://datapasa.com/wiki/img/install-openclaw-on-vps/step-02.webp) Update the system right away: ```bash apt update && apt upgrade -y ``` ![Terminal output of apt update and apt upgrade](https://datapasa.com/wiki/img/install-openclaw-on-vps/step-03.webp) ## Step 2. Install Node.js OpenClaw is built on Node.js and needs **Node.js 24.16.0 or newer** on the 24.x line, or **Node.js 26.1.0 or newer**. Node 22, 23 and 25 are no longer supported. The version in the Ubuntu repositories is usually older, so install Node.js 24 LTS from NodeSource. Install the helper packages: ```bash apt install -y curl ca-certificates gnupg ``` Add the Node.js 24 repository and install it: ```bash curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_24.x | bash - apt install -y nodejs ``` ![Terminal output of the Node.js 24 installation from NodeSource](https://datapasa.com/wiki/img/install-openclaw-on-vps/step-04.webp) Check the versions: ```bash node -v npm -v ``` Node.js should report `v24.16.0` or newer (`v24.22.1` or newer is recommended for security fixes). Note the npm version too, you need it in the next step. ![Terminal showing the installed Node.js and npm versions](https://datapasa.com/wiki/img/install-openclaw-on-vps/step-05.webp) ## Step 3. Install OpenClaw Install OpenClaw globally with npm. npm 12 blocks package install scripts by default, so on npm 12 or npm 11.16 and newer allow the OpenClaw scripts explicitly: ```bash npm install -g openclaw@latest --allow-scripts=openclaw ``` On npm 11.15 and older, run the same command without `--allow-scripts=openclaw`. The download takes 1 to 3 minutes depending on the connection. ![Successful global installation of OpenClaw with npm](https://datapasa.com/wiki/img/install-openclaw-on-vps/step-06.webp) A warning about the npm version can be ignored. Check that the command is available: ```bash openclaw --version ``` ![Terminal output of openclaw --version](https://datapasa.com/wiki/img/install-openclaw-on-vps/step-07.webp) ## Step 4. Run onboarding and install the daemon The interactive wizard `openclaw onboard` connects your model API key, sets up the workspace and the messaging channels. The `--install-daemon` flag installs OpenClaw as a systemd service, so it runs in the background and starts again after a reboot: ```bash openclaw onboard --install-daemon ``` > **Running as a non root user.** This guide runs everything as root to keep the first install short. For an agent you keep long term, the OpenClaw docs recommend a separate non root user. See [OpenClaw channels, updates and security](https://datapasa.com/wiki/guides/openclaw-telegram-discord-security#run-openclaw-as-a-non-root-user). First the wizard warns about security risks in multi user setups. Accept and continue. ![OpenClaw onboarding security warning](https://datapasa.com/wiki/img/install-openclaw-on-vps/step-08.webp) In **Setup mode** choose **QuickStart**. ![Choosing QuickStart setup mode in OpenClaw onboarding](https://datapasa.com/wiki/img/install-openclaw-on-vps/step-09.webp) Pick the AI provider. This guide uses OpenRouter, which offers many models and accepts crypto top ups. ![Selecting OpenRouter as the AI provider](https://datapasa.com/wiki/img/install-openclaw-on-vps/step-10.webp) Paste the provider API key. ![Entering the OpenRouter API key](https://datapasa.com/wiki/img/install-openclaw-on-vps/step-11.webp) Choose the model. Instead of the default `openrouter/auto`, select **Browse all models** and pick a specific one. ![Browsing all available models in OpenClaw onboarding](https://datapasa.com/wiki/img/install-openclaw-on-vps/step-12.webp) For simple tasks an inexpensive model such as Grok 4.1 Fast is fine. You can switch models later in the settings. ![Selecting the Grok 4.1 Fast model](https://datapasa.com/wiki/img/install-openclaw-on-vps/step-13.webp) Choose the channel for talking to the agent. This guide uses **Telegram (Bot API)**. ![Selecting Telegram Bot API as the messaging channel](https://datapasa.com/wiki/img/install-openclaw-on-vps/step-14.webp) Create a bot with [@BotFather](https://t.me/BotFather), then choose **Enter Telegram bot token** and paste the token. ![Entering the Telegram bot token from BotFather](https://datapasa.com/wiki/img/install-openclaw-on-vps/step-15.webp) Pick a search provider. DuckDuckGo is the easiest one because it needs no account or API key. ![Selecting DuckDuckGo as the search provider](https://datapasa.com/wiki/img/install-openclaw-on-vps/step-16.webp) Skip the skills setup for now. You can add skills at any time later. ![Skipping skills configuration during onboarding](https://datapasa.com/wiki/img/install-openclaw-on-vps/step-17.webp) For hooks press Space and then Enter on **skip for now**. Automation hooks are not needed yet. ![Skipping automation hooks during onboarding](https://datapasa.com/wiki/img/install-openclaw-on-vps/step-18.webp) Choose the first, recommended option and press Enter. ![Choosing the recommended option to finish onboarding](https://datapasa.com/wiki/img/install-openclaw-on-vps/step-19.webp) You land in the OpenClaw TUI. Ask the model a test question or type `/quit` to finish. ![OpenClaw terminal interface after onboarding](https://datapasa.com/wiki/img/install-openclaw-on-vps/step-20.webp) Onboarding is complete. ![Onboarding completed in the terminal](https://datapasa.com/wiki/img/install-openclaw-on-vps/step-21.webp) > **If the terminal seems stuck.** Sometimes onboarding stays in this state without showing a new prompt. Press Ctrl+C. ## Step 5. Check that the agent works Open Telegram, find your bot by its username and send any message, for example "Hi, just testing". ![First message to the OpenClaw bot in Telegram](https://datapasa.com/wiki/img/install-openclaw-on-vps/step-22.webp) OpenClaw first asks you to confirm the link to your Telegram account. Run the command from the bot's reply on the server. Your pairing code will be different from the one in the screenshot. ![Running the pairing command on the server](https://datapasa.com/wiki/img/install-openclaw-on-vps/step-23.webp) Message the bot again. When it replies, everything works. ![OpenClaw bot replying in Telegram](https://datapasa.com/wiki/img/install-openclaw-on-vps/step-24.webp) ## Open the OpenClaw dashboard OpenClaw runs a web dashboard at `http://127.0.0.1:18789/` for chats, configuration and sessions. It listens only on the server's localhost, so it is not reachable from the internet, which is the safe default. To open it, create an SSH tunnel **on your own computer**, not on the server: ```bash ssh -L 18789:127.0.0.1:18789 root@YOUR_SERVER_IP ``` While this session is open, go to `http://127.0.0.1:18789/` in your browser. ## What to do next OpenClaw becomes really useful with **skills**, modular instructions in SKILL.md format. Install ready ones from ClawHub or write your own. Ideas to try: - connect Gmail or another mailbox so the agent reads and answers email for you; - set up heartbeat tasks so OpenClaw checks the list in HEARTBEAT.md every hour; - add a second channel such as Discord or Slack; - connect a local model through Ollama if you want requests to stay on your server. ## How much server you need for OpenClaw When idle, the OpenClaw gateway uses 150 to 300 MB of RAM and almost no CPU. Load appears only while messages are processed, the agent calls the LLM API and runs tools such as a browser. | Scenario | Recommended resources | |---|---| | Telegram bot with a cloud model | 1 vCPU, 2 GB RAM | | Several channels and browser automation | 2 vCPU, 4 GB RAM | | Local 7B models through Ollama | 8 GB RAM or more | | Local 13B models and larger | 16 GB RAM or more | All current plans are on the [pricing page](https://datapasa.com/en/pricing). Not sure which one fits? [Contact us](https://datapasa.com/en/contacts) and we will help you choose. ## Summary Installing OpenClaw on a VPS takes 10 to 15 minutes: install Node.js, install the npm package, run onboarding with the daemon flag and connect a channel. You end up with a personal AI agent that runs 24/7, is available from Telegram or any other messenger, and stays fully under your control.