How to install an OpenClaw agent on a VPS

OpenClaw (successor to Moltbot and Clawdbot) is the new evolved version of the autonomous AI assistant. This guide uses Docker to protect your host system while ensuring your assistant remains online 24/7.

Objective

The objective is to deploy OpenClaw in a container. This allows the agent to be isolated from the rest of the VPS (which is a good security practice) and simplifies updates (only one command is needed to change versions).

Requirements

• An active OVHcloud VPS.
• Access via SSH to your server using the default user (ubuntu, debian, etc.).
• An API key (Anthropic or OpenAI).

Instructions

Table of contents:

• Step 1 - Install Docker
• Step 2 - Prepare directories
• Step 3 - Deployment configuration (Docker Compose)
• Step 4 - Launch the agent
• Step 5 - Secure access via an SSH tunnel

Step 1 - Install Docker

On your VPS, install Docker and its Compose plugin:

curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sudo sh
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

Note: Log out and log back in via SSH for the Docker group addition to take effect.

Step 2 - Prepare directories

Docker needs folders on your VPS to store data permanently (WhatsApp sessions, memory).

mkdir -p ~/openclaw/data
cd ~/openclaw

Step 3 - Deployment configuration

Create a file named docker-compose.yml in this folder:

nano docker-compose.yml

Copy the following configuration into it:

services:
  openclaw:
    image: ghcr.io/openclaw/openclaw:latest
    container_name: openclaw-gateway
    restart: always
    ports:
      - "127.0.0.1:18789:18789"
    volumes:
      - ~/openclaw/data:/home/node/.openclaw
    environment:
      - NODE_ENV=production

Step 4 - Launch

Start your agent:

docker compose up -d

Step 5 - Secure access via an SSH tunnel

1. On your personal computer, create the tunnel.

The method remains the same. From your personal computer, open a terminal:

• Windows: PowerShell or Command Prompt (cmd).
• Linux / macOS: Terminal.

ssh -L 18789:127.0.0.1:18789 user@YOUR_VPS_IP

Keep this terminal window open for the entire duration of your use.

2. On your VPS (another terminal window), retrieve your access token:

cat ~/openclaw/data/openclaw.json | grep '"token":'

Open your browser and go to: http://127.0.0.1:18789.

Tip: If the interface remains disconnected, you can force the connection by using your token directly in the URL: http://127.0.0.1:18789/?token=VOTRE_GATEWAY_TOKEN

The rest takes place in the Overview menu: enter your Gateway Token to log in.

Go further

Secure an OVHcloud VPS

Official OpenClaw documentation

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