Quick answer: OpenClaw can be deployed safely and cost-effectively when infrastructure, runtime, and security are planned together. If you want the fastest managed path, review the Managed OpenClaw VPS Hosting page first, then follow this guide for implementation detail.

This guide walks through an end-to-end OpenClaw setup on an Ubuntu VPS, including runtime preparation, Docker deployment, and security hardening steps teams usually skip on first launch.

Focus topics: install openclaw ubuntu, openclaw setup guide, deploy openclaw vps, how to install openclaw on vps

OpenClaw Server Requirements

OpenClaw can run on a 4 GB RAM VPS when model inference stays external and your node focuses on orchestration, automation logic, and connector execution. For smoother concurrency and lower queueing latency, 8 GB RAM gives better operational headroom.

For production, choose Ubuntu 22.04, at least 2 vCPU, solid NVMe storage, and enough outbound bandwidth for API-heavy workflows. If your usage includes many integrations or heavy logging retention, plan storage expansion early so you avoid emergency cleanup under load.

• Minimum baseline: 4 GB RAM, 1-2 vCPU, 40 GB SSD/NVMe
• Recommended for teams: 8 GB RAM, 2 vCPU, 100 GB NVMe
• Operating system: Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
• Runtime: Docker + Docker Compose
• Security baseline: UFW, SSH hardening, patch policy

Step 1 – Prepare Your VPS

Before pulling containers, patch the server, disable risky defaults, and create an operational user. Most failed deployments are not Docker issues; they are host-level hygiene problems caused by weak package state, open ports, or rushed SSH defaults.

Set timezone, configure swap if needed, and document your baseline. Teams that skip baseline documentation usually struggle during troubleshooting because they cannot tell whether a later issue came from OpenClaw, host configuration drift, or external API instability.

• Run `sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y` before deployment
• Create a non-root admin user with sudo access (`sudo adduser openclawops && sudo usermod -aG sudo openclawops`)
• Set SSH key auth and reduce password-based access in `/etc/ssh/sshd_config`
• Enable UFW (`sudo ufw allow OpenSSH && sudo ufw allow 443/tcp && sudo ufw enable`)
• Record baseline memory, disk, and CPU metrics

Step 2 – Install OpenClaw Using Docker

Install Docker Engine and Compose plugin from official repositories, then create an OpenClaw project directory with explicit environment files. Keep secrets separate from code and avoid embedding API keys directly in compose files committed to Git.

Use predictable service names, persistent volume mounts, and health checks so restart behavior is controlled. After deployment, validate endpoint reachability, container status, and log flow before exposing the node to real automation tasks.

• Install Docker and verify daemon status (`sudo systemctl enable –now docker`)
• Create `.env` for API keys and runtime settings
• Deploy with compose (`docker compose up -d`) and check logs (`docker compose logs -f`)
• Use compose health checks and restart policies (`restart: unless-stopped`)
• Mount persistent storage for state and logs
• Confirm `docker ps` and service logs are clean

Fix: `systemctl –user` unavailable (no user bus)

A common OpenClaw deployment issue is `Failed to connect to bus: No medium found` when using user-level systemd commands. This happens when linger is not enabled for the runtime user.

• Run `sudo loginctl enable-linger openclawops`
• Re-login as the target user and retry `systemctl –user daemon-reload`
• Prefer system-wide units for production if your team is not using user sessions consistently

Step 3 – Secure Your OpenClaw VPS

Security starts with least privilege: expose only ports you use, keep outbound scope controlled, and avoid unrestricted root workflows for day-to-day operations. OpenClaw processes automation tasks that may touch APIs, credentials, and external systems.

Patch cadence matters as much as initial setup. Build a weekly maintenance window for host updates, dependency checks, and key rotation. Production security is a process, not a one-time command sequence.

• Allow only SSH and HTTPS unless additional ports are required
• Terminate TLS with a valid certificate (`sudo certbot –nginx -d yourdomain.com` or reverse proxy equivalent)
• Use outbound restrictions for sensitive environments
• Avoid privileged container mode by default
• Rotate secrets and API keys on schedule
• Monitor failed auth attempts and container anomalies

Common Mistakes When Installing OpenClaw

The biggest reliability issue is under-sizing. Teams use 2 GB nodes, then assume OpenClaw is unstable when tasks queue, logs fill disk, and system memory thrashes. Capacity planning should match workflow volume, not just first-day testing.

Another frequent mistake is deploying with no hardening and expecting platform-level protection to compensate. Raw infrastructure gives control, but managed operations reduce avoidable failures in patching, firewall maintenance, and runtime consistency.

• Using 2 GB RAM for API-heavy automations
• Skipping firewall and SSH hardening
• Running everything as root without policy
• No backup or rollback plan before launch
• No observability baseline for CPU, RAM, and logs

Is 4GB RAM Enough for OpenClaw?

Yes, 4 GB RAM is typically enough when OpenClaw calls external LLM providers and your workload is moderate. It is a practical entry point for proof-of-concept and early production if concurrency and retention settings are controlled.

If you plan larger workflow queues, more integrations, or additional services on the same host, move to 8 GB early. Capacity upgrades are easier when done proactively instead of during service impact.

Competitor and market references in this content use public snapshots as of February 12, 2026 and may change over time.