How to Set Up OpenClaw on a VPS: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Running an AI assistant from your laptop sounds convenient until the laptop closes, the power goes out, or you need to leave the house.

OpenClaw fixes that. You run on your own server, and it answers you on the channels you already use: WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack, Discord, and more.

It connects to LLM providers like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Groq, then delivers responses directly through your messaging apps.

A VPS changes everything about how that works. Your assistant runs 24/7 in the cloud not tied to your laptop, not dependent on your home electricity.

For anyone in South Africa dealing with load shedding, that last point alone is worth the setup.

This guide covers two deployment paths for deploying OpenClaw on a VPS: the one-click route through Truehost SA and the manual setup route for anyone who wants full control.

By the end, you’ll have a fully functional AI assistant running on your own server.

Prerequisites

Before you start, make sure you have the following:

• An API key from a supported LLM provider, such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Groq, or another compatible service
• A domain name optional, but recommended for a clean URL and SSL
• A Truehost account for one-click deployment, or SSH access to any VPS for manual installation
• Basic terminal comfort, you don’t need to be a developer, but you should be able to follow command-line instructions
• A VPS running Ubuntu 22.04 or 24.04 LTS with at least 1–2 vCPUs and 2 GB RAM (4 GB recommended for heavier workloads)

RAM guidance: For simple Telegram use, 2 GB is enough. If you want to run local models with Ollama, go with 4 vCPUs and 16 GB RAM. For most users on cloud API keys, 2–4 GB covers everything.

One-Click Deployment on Truehost

The fastest way to get OpenClaw on a VPS is through Truehost SA’s managed hosting. You skip the manual configuration and go straight to using your assistant.

Here’s what you get with Truehost OpenClaw hosting:

• Managed infrastructure: less maintenance on your end
• Fast provisioning: often under a minute
• ZAR-denominated billing: no surprise USD charges on your card
• Local support and SA-optimised servers
• Load shedding-proof: your server runs in the cloud while your home power is out
• Pre-loaded OpenClaw with room to scale

Don’t have a VPS yet? Check Truehost OpenClaw hosting plans to get started.

1) Go to the OpenClaw hosting page

Visit Truehost SA’s OpenClaw hosting page. Sign up or log in if you don’t have an account yet.

2) Select and configure your plan

Choose the plan that fits your workload:

• Cloud Pro / OpenClaw KVM plans, Managed VPS. Truehost handles the server. Best for beginners and small businesses.
• VPS 2 (unmanaged) Full root access. Ideal for developers who want complete control.

Recommendation: Most users starting with OpenClaw do well with the Cloud Pro plan. It’s the best balance of performance and ease of use.

3) Deploy your instance

• Click Deploy and add a custom domain if you want a clean URL and HTTPS
• Complete payment via card, EFT, or other SA-available payment methods
• The system provisions the VPS, installs OpenClaw, and configures basic settings automatically
• You’ll receive an email with server login credentials and dashboard details within minutes

4) Connect and go

• Log into the OpenClaw dashboard
• Enter your LLM API key (OpenAI, Anthropic, Groq, etc.)
• Connect your first messaging platform Telegram is the easiest starting point
• Your private AI assistant is now live and running 24/7

Manual Setup on Any VPS

Prefer full control or using another VPS provider? Follow these steps on a fresh Ubuntu server.

Step 1: Provision a Fresh VPS

• Choose Ubuntu 22.04 or 24.04 LTS
• Minimum: 1 vCPU / 1 GB RAM; recommended: 2 GB RAM or more
• Make sure you have SSH access and your server IP ready

Step 2: Update Your System and Install Dependencies

SSH into your server. Run the following:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install curl git build-essential -y

Next, install Node.js via nvm. This gives you the latest version and easier version management, better than installing via apt directly.

curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.7/install.sh | bash
nvm install 24

Node 24 is the recommended runtime for OpenClaw. Node 22.19+ also works.

Read also: 9 Best VPS Providers for OpenClaw

Step 3: Install OpenClaw

Clone the official repository and move into the project directory:

git clone https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw.git
cd openclaw
npm install
npm run build

What each command does:

• git clone: downloads the OpenClaw source code to your server
• cd openclaw: moves you into the project folder
• npm install: installs all required dependencies
• npm run build: compiles the project into a runnable format

Step 4: Configure Environment Variables

Copy the example environment file:

cp .env.example .env

Open .env and set the following:

• Your LLM API key (OpenAI, Anthropic, or Groq)
• Port number
• App secret / session key

Security callout: Never commit your .env file to Git or share it publicly. It contains your API keys. Add .env to your .gitignore immediately.

Read also: VPS Monitoring Tools You Should Use

Step 5: Set Up as a systemd Service

Without a process manager, OpenClaw stops the moment you close your SSH session. A systemd service keeps it running in the background and restarts it automatically on reboot.

Create a systemd service file for OpenClaw, then enable and start it:

systemctl enable openclaw
systemctl start openclaw

Verify it’s running:

systemctl status openclaw

You should see active (running) in the output.

Step 6: Connect to Messaging Platforms

Telegram (easiest recommended first):

1. Create a bot using BotFather on Telegram
2. Copy the bot token into your .env file under the Telegram token variable
3. Restart the OpenClaw service
4. Message your bot to confirm it’s responding

WhatsApp:

1. Create a Meta Developer account
2. Set up a WhatsApp Business API app and get your credentials
3. Add credentials to .env and restart the service
4. For the full WhatsApp setup, refer to the official OpenClaw documentation

WhatsApp requires more steps than Telegram. If you’re new to OpenClaw, start with Telegram and add WhatsApp once the assistant is stable.

Step 7: Test Your Setup

• Message your Telegram bot and confirm it replies
• Visit http://YOUR_SERVER_IP:3000 for the dashboard
• Check that the dashboard loads and shows your connected platform
• If something isn’t working, move to the troubleshooting section below

Post-Installation: Configuration & Optimisation

Security

Getting OpenClaw on a VPS is only half the job. Securing it properly is the other half.

• Set up UFW firewall: allow only your SSH port and OpenClaw port; block everything else
• Install SSL with Certbot (free HTTPS), update APP_URL in .env to use HTTPS after setup
• Install fail2ban: blocks brute-force login attempts on SSH

A .co.za domain adds local credibility if you’re building an SA-facing project or sharing the assistant with clients.

Check our guide on buying .co.za domains in South Africa

Storage & Memory

• Default in-memory storage resets on reboot fine for testing, not for production
• Switch to SQLite for simple persistence
• Use PostgreSQL or MongoDB for heavier workloads or multi-user setups
• Update the DATABASE_URL variable in .env after switching

Connecting Multiple Platforms

• Add credentials for each platform (Telegram, WhatsApp) in .env
• Restart the service after any .env changes
• OpenClaw handles multiple platforms simultaneously once credentials are set one gateway, all your channels.

Dashboard & Monitoring

Use the built-in dashboard for live status and logs. Key commands:

• Check service status: systemctl status openclaw
• View live logs: journalctl -u openclaw
• View last 100 log lines: journalctl -u openclaw -n 100

Performance Tips

• Monitor resource usage with htop
• Limit concurrent browser automation sessions to avoid RAM spikes
• Use lighter, faster models for simple tasks; reserve larger models for complex queries

Staying Updated

Run this regularly to keep OpenClaw current with the latest fixes and features:

git pull
npm install
npm run build
systemctl restart openclaw

Common Issues & Troubleshooting

For anything not listed here, check the official OpenClaw GitHub issues page.

Set Up OpenClaw on a VPS With Truehost

You’ve now seen both paths to running OpenClaw on a VPS: the managed one-click route through Truehost SA, and the manual route for those who prefer hands-on control.

Either way, the result is the same: a private, always-on AI assistant that works whether your home power is up or not.

You’re not renting access to someone else’s AI. You’re running your own, on your own terms.

If you took the Truehost path, your assistant is likely already live. If you did the manual setup, you now have full control over every layer of the stack.

The next step is simple: open Telegram, message your bot, and see what it can do.

Ready to get started? Visit the Truehost OpenClaw hosting page and have your assistant running in under five minutes.

Set Up OpenClaw on a VPS FAQs