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.

Sizing OpenClaw correctly avoids most early production failures. This guide gives practical minimum and recommended specs based on workload shape, integration count, and growth expectations.

Focus topics: openclaw server requirements, openclaw ram requirement, openclaw cpu requirement, openclaw minimum requirements 2026

Minimum vs Recommended Requirements

A minimum node can run OpenClaw for low-volume use when external models handle inference. Typical baseline is Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, 4 GB RAM, 1-2 vCPU, and 40 GB NVMe storage with disciplined log retention.

Recommended production sizing starts at 8 GB RAM and 2 vCPU for better response stability under concurrent tasks. If teams plan heavy automation schedules, provisioning above minimum prevents early scaling pain.

Is 4GB RAM Enough for OpenClaw?

Yes, 4 GB can be enough for small-to-moderate workloads with external LLM APIs. It is a practical entry tier for validation and controlled production use where workflow concurrency is moderate.

No, 4 GB is usually not enough for mixed workloads that include high log retention, many connectors, or parallel background tasks. In those cases, 8 GB or 16 GB gives safer operating margins.

CPU, Storage, and Bandwidth Planning

CPU affects task throughput and runtime responsiveness. If automations are event-heavy or schedule bursts are common, extra vCPU reduces queueing and timeout risk.

Storage and bandwidth planning should reflect logs, backups, and connector traffic patterns. NVMe storage helps with faster I/O and operational consistency under sustained activity.

• Starter: 1 vCPU, 4 GB RAM, 40+ GB storage
• Growth: 2 vCPU, 8 GB RAM, 100 GB NVMe
• Scale: 4 vCPU, 16 GB RAM, 200 GB NVMe
• Bandwidth should match expected API traffic and sync jobs

Swap, Ubuntu Baseline, and Production Warning

Use Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and keep a conservative swap configuration so short memory bursts do not kill core services. A common baseline is 2 to 4 GB swap on smaller nodes.

Production warning: minimum specs are for controlled workloads only. If you expect concurrent jobs, long retention windows, or heavy connector traffic, start at recommended tiers instead of minimum.

• OS baseline: Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
• Swap baseline: 2-4 GB on 4 GB/8 GB nodes
• Enable monitoring for CPU steal, RAM pressure, and disk I/O
• Upgrade before saturation, not after incident

OpenClaw Requirements: Self-Hosted VPS vs Managed OpenClaw

Infrastructure requirements are not just hardware numbers. Setup time, operational skill, and incident ownership directly affect reliability and delivery speed.

When to Upgrade Your OpenClaw Node

Upgrade before incidents, not after. Sustained memory pressure, slow queue drain, and repeated timeout patterns are signs your node is undersized.

A planned upgrade path keeps workflows stable. If you monitor baseline metrics weekly, you can scale compute and storage before users feel impact.

Sizing by Team Type

Indie builders can start with a 4 GB node and move up once automation volume rises. Agencies and SaaS teams usually benefit from 8 GB+ earlier because multi-project usage increases operational load quickly.

Choose capacity based on workload behavior, not just current test traffic. Production-like staging tests are the best way to validate the right tier.

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