{"id":139691,"date":"2026-01-28T10:19:05","date_gmt":"2026-01-28T10:19:05","guid":{"rendered":"\/tutorials\/?p=139691"},"modified":"2026-03-09T19:16:01","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T19:16:01","slug":"how-to-set-up-openclaw","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"\/ng\/tutorials\/how-to-set-up-openclaw","title":{"rendered":"How to set up OpenClaw on a private server"},"content":{"rendered":"<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><p>Setting up OpenClaw (formerly known as Moltbot\/Clawdbot) on a private server involves preparing your VPS (Virtual Private Server) environment, cloning the OpenClaw repository, running the Docker setup script, configuring your AI provider credentials, and connecting to a messaging platform.<\/p><p>It&rsquo;s a straightforward process that takes about 30 minutes from start to finish, and by the end, you&rsquo;ll have your own AI assistant responding to messages 24\/7.<\/p><p>You can technically run OpenClaw on your own laptop, but that has limits. If you close your computer or lose internet connection, your bot goes offline.<\/p><p>That&rsquo;s why running it on a private server is so helpful. It provides consistent availability and background execution, even when you&rsquo;re offline, so your bot runs 24\/7 without you needing to babysit it.<\/p><p>\n\n\n\n<\/p><p>Prefer watching instead of reading? This video walks you through the OpenClaw setup step by step.<\/p><figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The ONLY OpenClaw (Moltbot\/Clawdbot) Guide You Need! Setup on VPS and Best Workflows\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/pjiuQnEVges?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure><p>\n  <div class=\"youtube-shortcode\">\n    <div class=\"row\">\n      <div class=\"col-7 col-sm-8 d-flex align-items-center\">\n        <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"channel-logo\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ng\/tutorials\/wp-content\/themes\/tutorialsthemeuplift\/public\/images\/youtube-channels\/hostinger-academy.jpg\" alt=\"youtube channel logo\">\n        <div class=\"d-flex flex-column justify-content-between\">\n          <span class=\"slogan d-none d-sm-block\">Subscribe For more educational videos!<\/span>\n          <span class=\"channel-name\">Hostinger Academy<\/span>\n                    <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n      <div class=\"col-5 col-sm-4 d-flex align-items-center justify-content-end\">\n          <a class=\"subscribe-button\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCbNIC-svDbtUOH2qsLnPQPg?sub_confirmation=1\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ng\/tutorials\/wp-content\/themes\/tutorialsthemeuplift\/public\/images\/icons\/youtube.svg\" alt=\"subscribe\">\n            <span>Subscribe<\/span>\n          <\/a>\n      <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n  <\/div>\n\n    \n\n\n\n<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-prepare-a-private-server-for-openclaw\">1. Prepare a private server for OpenClaw<\/h2><p>To prepare a private server for <a href=\"\/ng\/tutorials\/what-is-moltbot\">OpenClaw<\/a>, you need a Linux VPS with full administrative access. This is the foundation of your project because an always-on server ensures your bot never sleeps.<\/p><p>You don&rsquo;t need a supercomputer for this, but you do need specific OpenClaw server requirements to ensure stability.<\/p><p>Here is your checklist for the server:<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Linux operating system (Ubuntu 22.04 or 24.04 works great).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Administrative access (root or sudo privileges).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Docker and Docker Compose.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>At least 2GB RAM (4GB recommended for better performance).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>10GB+ disk space for Docker images, application data, and logs.<\/li>\n<\/ul><p>We&rsquo;ll be using <a href=\"\/ng\/vps\/docker\/openclaw\">Hostinger OpenClaw hosting<\/a> for this setup, because our Docker Manager makes things easier, but the same principles apply to any other VPS provider.<\/p><p>If you&rsquo;re brand new to VPS setup, learn <a href=\"\/ng\/tutorials\/how-to-set-up-vps\">how to set up VPS<\/a> first. Follow the initial setup there to make sure you can SSH into your server.<\/p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a class=\"hgr-tutorials-cta hgr-tutorials-cta-vps-hosting\" href=\"\/ng\/vps-hosting\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/VPS-hosting-banner.png\/public\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-77934\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/VPS-hosting-banner.png\/w=1024,fit=scale-down 1024w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/VPS-hosting-banner.png\/w=300,fit=scale-down 300w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/VPS-hosting-banner.png\/w=150,fit=scale-down 150w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/02\/VPS-hosting-banner.png\/w=768,fit=scale-down 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-make-sure-docker-is-available-on-the-vps\">2. Make sure Docker is available on the VPS<\/h2><p>Docker is how we&rsquo;ll run OpenClaw. Think of Docker as a container that packages everything OpenClaw needs into one tidy unit. Instead of manually installing dependencies and configuring different details, Docker handles it all. It&rsquo;s cleaner, more reliable, and way easier to manage.<\/p><p>Within Hostinger&rsquo;s hPanel dashboard, look for Docker Manager. It should show Docker as installed or give you an option to enable it. That&rsquo;s the easiest path.<\/p><p>If you&rsquo;re on a different VPS or want to verify from the command line, SSH into your server and run:<\/p><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">docker --version<br><br>docker compose version<\/pre><p>You should see version numbers for both Docker and Docker Compose. If you get &ldquo;command not found,&rdquo; Docker isn&rsquo;t installed yet.<\/p><p>A proper OpenClaw Docker setup relies on the Docker container system being healthy, so to install it manually, learn <a href=\"\/ng\/tutorials\/how-to-install-docker-on-ubuntu\">how to install Docker on Ubuntu<\/a>, and then verify it again.<\/p><p>Once Docker is confirmed and running, you&rsquo;re ready for the actual OpenClaw deployment.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-clone-the-openclaw-repository\">3. Clone the OpenClaw repository<\/h2><p>Now we&rsquo;re getting to the good stuff. We&rsquo;re going to clone the OpenClaw repository and use the official Docker setup script to build and deploy everything.<\/p><p>First, you need to get the OpenClaw code on your server:<\/p><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\"># Install git if you don't have it<br><br>sudo apt install git -y<br><br># Clone the repository<br><br>git clone https:\/\/github.com\/openclaw\/openclaw.git<br><br># Navigate into the directory<br><br>cd openclaw<\/pre><p>Then run the Docker setup script. OpenClaw includes a setup script that handles everything automatically:<\/p><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">.\/docker-setup.sh<\/pre><p>This setup script is your one-stop shop for getting OpenClaw running. Here&rsquo;s what it does:<\/p><ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Builds the OpenClaw Docker image locally (from the included Dockerfile).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Runs the onboarding wizard inside a Docker container.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Generates a gateway token for accessing the Control UI.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Creates necessary configuration directories.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Starts the OpenClaw gateway via Docker Compose.<\/li>\n<\/ol><p>The entire process is automated. Unlike many Docker applications, where you pull a pre-built image, OpenClaw builds the image locally on your server. This means:<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>You&rsquo;re always running the exact version from the repository.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The first build takes a few minutes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Subsequent rebuilds are faster thanks to Docker&rsquo;s layer caching.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You have full control over what&rsquo;s included.<\/li>\n<\/ul><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-configure-openclaw-credentials-and-settings\">4. Configure OpenClaw credentials and settings<\/h2><p>The Docker setup script launches an interactive onboarding wizard that configures OpenClaw for you. This is where you&rsquo;ll set up your AI provider credentials and other essential settings.<\/p><p>When you run <strong>.\/docker-setup.sh<\/strong>, after building the image, you&rsquo;ll see the onboarding wizard. It asks several important questions:<\/p><p><strong>Gateway mode:<\/strong><\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Local (run on this machine)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Remote (connect to existing gateway)<\/li>\n<\/ul><p>Choose <strong>Local<\/strong>. This means the gateway runs on your VPS.<\/p><p><strong>Authentication method:<\/strong><\/p><p>This is the most critical part. You need to tell OpenClaw how to access AI models:<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Anthropic API Key (recommended)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>OpenAI API Key<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>OAuth (Claude Pro\/Max subscription)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>OpenAI Code (Codex subscription)<\/li>\n<\/ul><p>If you go with the recommended option of Anthropic API Key, then you need to sign up or log in to Anthropic, navigate to API Keys, create a new key, copy it, and paste it into the setup wizard.<\/p><p>Keep this key secure. Anyone with this key can use Claude on your account and you&rsquo;ll be charged for their usage.<\/p><p>The process is the same with the other options &ndash; you get a key from the AI platform, and add it into the setup. The wizard stores these credentials as <a href=\"\/ng\/tutorials\/linux-environment-variables\">Linux environment variables<\/a> in your configuration files.<\/p><p>You then choose the model for the selected AI platform and pick security settings.<\/p><p>The most common OpenClaw config mistake is a missing API key. Without a valid Anthropic or OpenAI API key, OpenClaw won&rsquo;t work. Both Anthropic and OpenAI require a payment method on file for API access, so make sure your API key is active and has billing set up.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-start-openclaw-and-verify-it-is-running\">5. Start OpenClaw and verify it is running<\/h2><p>Once the setup script completes, OpenClaw should already be running.<\/p><p>To verify everything is working correctly, check the container status:<\/p><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\"># Make sure you're in the openclaw directory<br><br>cd ~\/openclaw<br><br># Check running containers<br><br>docker compose ps<\/pre><p>You should see <strong>openclaw-gateway<\/strong> with status &ldquo;Up&rdquo; or &ldquo;Running&rdquo;. Other signs that everything is working correctly include seeing:<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A &ldquo;OpenClaw initialized&rdquo; message<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Model provider connected (Anthropic\/OpenAI)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>No authentication errors<\/li>\n<\/ul><p>On the other hand, if you see &ldquo;Invalid API key,&rdquo; &ldquo;Authentication failed,&rdquo; &ldquo;Connection refused,&rdquo; or if the container just keeps restarting, then you&rsquo;ve got an error.<\/p><p>Stop here and fix them before continuing by checking the logs:<\/p><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">docker compose logs openclaw-gateway<\/pre><p>This is important for troubleshooting. The OpenClaw logs tell you what the bot is actually doing, so you can address the issues.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-6-access-the-openclaw-interface\">6. Access the OpenClaw interface<\/h2><p>OpenClaw dashboard is accessible via your VPS IP address on port 18789:<\/p><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">http:\/\/your-vps-ip:18789<\/pre><p>For example: <strong>http:\/\/45.123.45.67:18789<\/strong><\/p><p>When you first visit the Control UI, you&rsquo;ll need the gateway token that was generated during setup. Find it in:<\/p><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">cat ~\/.clawdbot\/.env | grep CLAWDBOT_GATEWAY_TOKEN<\/pre><p>Or check the output from when you ran <strong>.\/docker-setup.sh<\/strong> &ndash; it displays the token at the end.<\/p><p><strong>Note: <\/strong>While the project has been renamed to OpenClaw, configuration files and directories still use &ldquo;clawdbot&rdquo; naming (like <strong>~\/.clawdbot\/<\/strong> and <strong>CLAWDBOT_GATEWAY_TOKEN<\/strong>). This is normal during the transition and doesn&rsquo;t affect functionality.<\/p><p>Once you&rsquo;re in the dashboard, go to Settings &rarr; Token (or you may be prompted immediately). Paste your gateway token, then click Save or Authenticate.<\/p><p>This OpenClaw interface is your control center. You don&rsquo;t need to configure everything right now &ndash; just confirm you can access it and that OpenClaw shows as healthy.<\/p><p>If you can&rsquo;t reach the interface, follow these troubleshooting steps:<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check that the container is actually running: <strong>docker compose ps<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Verify your firewall isn&rsquo;t blocking the port<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make sure you&rsquo;re using HTTP, not HTTPS<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Try accessing from the server itself in the command line: <strong>curl http:\/\/localhost:18789<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-7-connect-a-messaging-channel-to-openclaw\">7. Connect a messaging channel to OpenClaw<\/h2><p>The web dashboard we just configured is for management, but you&rsquo;ll interact with OpenClaw via a messaging app where AI conversations take place.<\/p><p>We&rsquo;ll go through how to set things up with Telegram since it&rsquo;s straightforward, but the process is similar for other platforms.<\/p><p>Here is how to handle a OpenClaw Telegram setup:<\/p><p><strong>Step 1: Create a Telegram bot<\/strong><\/p><ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Open Telegram and search for <strong>@BotFather<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Start a chat and send <strong>\/newbot<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Follow the prompts:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Choose a name (for example, My OpenClaw Assistant)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Choose a username (must end in &ldquo;bot&rdquo;, like &ldquo;myawesomemoltbot&rdquo;)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>BotFather will give you a bot token. Copy this.<\/li>\n<\/ol><p><strong>Step 2: Add Telegram to OpenClaw<\/strong><\/p><p>Back on your server, run:<\/p><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\"># Make sure you're in the openclaw directory<br><br>cd ~\/openclaw<br><br># Add Telegram with your bot token<br><br>docker compose exec openclaw-gateway node dist\/index.js providers add --provider telegram --token YOUR_BOT_TOKEN<\/pre><p>Replace <strong>YOUR_BOT_TOKEN<\/strong> with the actual token from BotFather.<\/p><p><strong>Step 3: Enable required bot permissions<\/strong><\/p><p>In the BotFather chat:<\/p><ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Send <strong>\/mybots<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Select your bot<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Go to Bot Settings &rarr; Group Privacy<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Disable group privacy (this allows the bot to read messages in groups)<\/li>\n<\/ol><p><strong>Step 4: Start chatting<\/strong><\/p><ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Open Telegram and search for your bot (by the username you chose)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Start a conversation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Send a message to test it<\/li>\n<\/ol><p>If you set up DM pairing during setup, you&rsquo;ll get a pairing code. On your server, approve it:<\/p><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">docker compose exec openclaw-gateway node dist\/index.js pairing approve telegram &lt;the-code-you-received&gt;<\/pre><p>After approval, send another message. OpenClaw should respond!<\/p><p>If messages aren&rsquo;t working in your OpenClaw Telegram setup:<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check the OpenClaw logs for errors.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Verify the API keys are still valid.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make sure the container didn&rsquo;t restart or crash.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Confirm your messaging platform credentials are correct.<\/li>\n<\/ul><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-set-up-openclaw-on-hostinger\"><strong>How to set up OpenClaw on Hostinger<\/strong><\/h2><p>Hostinger customers can skip the manual command-line OpenClaw setup.<\/p><p>Our team built a preconfigured template that installs OpenClaw automatically and handles all Docker dependencies and environment setup for you.<\/p><p>This option is faster and less error-prone than installing everything manually.<\/p><p>If you&rsquo;re new to Hostinger, visit the <a href=\"\/ng\/vps\/docker\/openclaw\">OpenClaw VPS hosting<\/a> page and choose your preferred plan, billing period, and server location.<\/p><p>You can also purchase nexos.ai credits. This add-on lets you connect to LLMs from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, and xAI without setting up individual APIs. Everything works out of the box.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure data-wp-context='{\"imageId\":\"69e16bf5687b1\"}' data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2128\" height=\"1466\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/openclaw-plan-cart.png\/public\" alt=\"Hostinger's OpenClaw cart window with Nexos AI credits add-on selected\" class=\"wp-image-140041\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/openclaw-plan-cart.png\/w=2128,fit=scale-down 2128w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/openclaw-plan-cart.png\/w=300,fit=scale-down 300w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/openclaw-plan-cart.png\/w=1024,fit=scale-down 1024w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/openclaw-plan-cart.png\/w=150,fit=scale-down 150w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/openclaw-plan-cart.png\/w=768,fit=scale-down 768w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/openclaw-plan-cart.png\/w=1536,fit=scale-down 1536w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/openclaw-plan-cart.png\/w=2048,fit=scale-down 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2128px) 100vw, 2128px\" \/><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div><p>After completing the purchase, copy the OpenClaw gateway token. You&rsquo;ll need it later to access the web interface. You&rsquo;ll also be asked to enter your WhatsApp number to connect your account to messaging channels.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure data-wp-context='{\"imageId\":\"69e16bf56b205\"}' data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1466\" height=\"1096\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/hpanel-openclaw-configuration.png\/public\" alt=\"Hostinger's OpenClaw configuration window with the gateway token and WhatsApp number fields\" class=\"wp-image-140042\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/hpanel-openclaw-configuration.png\/w=1466,fit=scale-down 1466w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/hpanel-openclaw-configuration.png\/w=300,fit=scale-down 300w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/hpanel-openclaw-configuration.png\/w=1024,fit=scale-down 1024w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/hpanel-openclaw-configuration.png\/w=150,fit=scale-down 150w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/hpanel-openclaw-configuration.png\/w=768,fit=scale-down 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1466px) 100vw, 1466px\" \/><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div><p>Hostinger then automatically deploys OpenClaw and redirects you to the <strong>Docker Manager<\/strong> page. Once it&rsquo;s ready, you should see your OpenClaw project running.<\/p><p>Click the link below your project name to open the OpenClaw web interface, then paste the gateway token you copied earlier.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure data-wp-context='{\"imageId\":\"69e16bf56dda5\"}' data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2218\" height=\"936\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/hpanel-vps-docker-manager-openclaw-link-highlighted.png\/public\" alt=\"An OpenClaw project with a link to access its web interface in hPanel's Docker Manager menu\" class=\"wp-image-140043\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/hpanel-vps-docker-manager-openclaw-link-highlighted.png\/w=2218,fit=scale-down 2218w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/hpanel-vps-docker-manager-openclaw-link-highlighted.png\/w=300,fit=scale-down 300w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/hpanel-vps-docker-manager-openclaw-link-highlighted.png\/w=1024,fit=scale-down 1024w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/hpanel-vps-docker-manager-openclaw-link-highlighted.png\/w=150,fit=scale-down 150w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/hpanel-vps-docker-manager-openclaw-link-highlighted.png\/w=768,fit=scale-down 768w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/hpanel-vps-docker-manager-openclaw-link-highlighted.png\/w=1536,fit=scale-down 1536w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/hpanel-vps-docker-manager-openclaw-link-highlighted.png\/w=2048,fit=scale-down 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2218px) 100vw, 2218px\" \/><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div><p>After that, finish the <a href=\"\/ng\/support\/how-to-install-openclaw-on-hostinger-vps\">OpenClaw post-configuration<\/a> and connect it to your preferred messaging channels.<\/p><p>If you already have a VPS on Hostinger, you can set up OpenClaw by switching your server to the Docker template and deploying OpenClaw from Docker Manager.<\/p><p><div><p class=\"important\"><strong>Important!<\/strong> Changing your operating system permanently deletes all data on your server. <a href=\"\/ng\/support\/1583232-how-to-back-up-or-restore-a-vps-at-hostinger\">Back up your VPS data<\/a>, including important files and configurations, before you continue.<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p><p>Follow these steps to install Docker and deploy OpenClaw:<\/p><ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Log in to hPanel and go to <strong>VPS &rarr; Manage<\/strong> next to your server.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In the left sidebar, select <strong>OS &amp; Panel &rarr; Operating System<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Scroll to the <strong>Change OS<\/strong> section, type <strong>Docker<\/strong> in the search bar, and select it from the results.<\/li>\n<\/ol><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure data-wp-context='{\"imageId\":\"69e16bf570ced\"}' data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2144\" height=\"1022\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/hpanel-vps-change-os-docker-highlighted.png\/public\" alt=\"The Docker template in hPanel's Change OS section\" class=\"wp-image-140044\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/hpanel-vps-change-os-docker-highlighted.png\/w=2144,fit=scale-down 2144w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/hpanel-vps-change-os-docker-highlighted.png\/w=300,fit=scale-down 300w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/hpanel-vps-change-os-docker-highlighted.png\/w=1024,fit=scale-down 1024w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/hpanel-vps-change-os-docker-highlighted.png\/w=150,fit=scale-down 150w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/hpanel-vps-change-os-docker-highlighted.png\/w=768,fit=scale-down 768w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/hpanel-vps-change-os-docker-highlighted.png\/w=1536,fit=scale-down 1536w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/hpanel-vps-change-os-docker-highlighted.png\/w=2048,fit=scale-down 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2144px) 100vw, 2144px\" \/><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div><ol start=\"4\" class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Click <strong>Change OS<\/strong> and confirm the installation.<\/li>\n<\/ol><p>Once Docker is ready, open <strong>Docker Manager &rarr; Catalog<\/strong>, search for <strong>OpenClaw<\/strong>, and click <strong>Deploy<\/strong>. Copy the gateway token and enter your WhatsApp number.<\/p><div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure data-wp-context='{\"imageId\":\"69e16bf5739e4\"}' data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2148\" height=\"934\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on-async--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on-async-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/hpanel-vps-catalog-deploy-highlighted.png\/public\" alt=\"The Deploy button for OpenClaw in hPanel's Docker Catalog menu\" class=\"wp-image-140045\" srcset=\"https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/hpanel-vps-catalog-deploy-highlighted.png\/w=2148,fit=scale-down 2148w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/hpanel-vps-catalog-deploy-highlighted.png\/w=300,fit=scale-down 300w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/hpanel-vps-catalog-deploy-highlighted.png\/w=1024,fit=scale-down 1024w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/hpanel-vps-catalog-deploy-highlighted.png\/w=150,fit=scale-down 150w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/hpanel-vps-catalog-deploy-highlighted.png\/w=768,fit=scale-down 768w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/hpanel-vps-catalog-deploy-highlighted.png\/w=1536,fit=scale-down 1536w, https:\/\/imagedelivery.net\/LqiWLm-3MGbYHtFuUbcBtA\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/01\/hpanel-vps-catalog-deploy-highlighted.png\/w=2048,fit=scale-down 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2148px) 100vw, 2148px\" \/><button class=\"lightbox-trigger\" type=\"button\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-label=\"Enlarge\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\" data-wp-on-async--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-style--right=\"state.imageButtonRight\" data-wp-style--top=\"state.imageButtonTop\">\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewbox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\"><\/path>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure><\/div><p>After the setup finishes, go to <strong>Docker Manager &rarr; Projects<\/strong> to find and access your OpenClaw project.<\/p><p>If you want to purchase nexos.ai credits, click <strong>Top up<\/strong> from the same page.<\/p><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-troubleshoot-common-openclaw-setup-issues\">How to troubleshoot common OpenClaw setup issues<\/h2><p>To troubleshoot common OpenClaw setup issues, check container status first, verify your gateway token, and examine the logs for specific error messages. Most problems fall into a few predictable categories, and once you know what to look for, they&rsquo;re quick to fix.<\/p><p>Here are the most common problems you might encounter with OpenClaw not working.<\/p><p><strong>Container keeps stopping<\/strong><\/p><p>If your container starts, then immediately stops:<\/p><ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check container status: <strong>docker compose ps<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>View logs for errors: <strong>docker compose logs openclaw-gateway<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Look for the specific error: <strong>docker compose logs openclaw-gateway | grep -i &ldquo;error&rdquo;<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol><p>Common causes include a missing or invalid API key, port 18789 already in use, Docker Compose configuration issues, or insufficient permissions.<\/p><p><strong>Authentication failures<\/strong><\/p><p>The most common problem by far. If you see &ldquo;authentication failed&rdquo;, &ldquo;invalid API key&rdquo;, or model requests failing, then check your API key:<\/p><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">cat ~\/.clawdbot\/.env<\/pre><p>Look for <strong>ANTHROPIC_API_KEY<\/strong> or <strong>OPENAI_API_KEY<\/strong>. Make sure:<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The key is present and not empty<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There are no extra spaces or quotes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The key hasn&rsquo;t been revoked or expired<\/li>\n<\/ul><p>You also need to verify the key is valid in the AI platform dashboard and check the billing status, as both Anthropic and OpenAI require active billing.<strong><\/strong><\/p><p>Then re-add your credentials:<\/p><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\"># Edit the .env file<br><br>nano ~\/.clawdbot\/.env<br><br># Add or update your API key<br><br>ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=your_actual_key_here<br><br># Restart the gateway<br><br>docker compose restart openclaw-gateway<\/pre><p><strong>Port conflicts<\/strong><\/p><p>If you get &ldquo;port already in use&rdquo; or &ldquo;address already in use&rdquo; errors:<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check what&rsquo;s using the port: <strong>sudo lsof -i :18789<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Change OpenClaw&rsquo;s port by editing <strong>docker-compose.yml<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Use a different port mapping: <strong>-p 18790:18789<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul><p><strong>Container restart loops<\/strong><\/p><p>If the container keeps restarting, this usually means there are missing environment variables, corrupted configuration files, invalid model configuration, or permission issues.<\/p><p>To fix this:<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Stop everything: <strong>docker<\/strong><strong> <\/strong><strong>compose<\/strong><strong> <\/strong><strong>down<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Remove old containers and volumes: <strong>docker compose down -v<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rebuild and restart: <strong>.\/docker-setup.sh<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul><p><strong>Can&rsquo;t access the interface<\/strong><\/p><p>If the container is running but you can&rsquo;t reach the dashboard:<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check firewall rules and allow port 18789: <strong>sudo ufw allow 18789\/tcp<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Verify the container is listening: <strong>curl http:\/\/localhost:18789<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check VPS provider settings since some providers require you to configure security groups to allow inbound traffic on port 18789<\/li>\n<\/ul><p><strong>Restarting safely<\/strong><\/p><p>You&rsquo;ll need to restart OpenClaw when you change environment variables, if the bot becomes unresponsive, or after specific configuration updates.<\/p><p>A restart is also useful for troubleshooting weird behavior, since a fresh start can clear up issues that don&rsquo;t show obvious errors in the logs.<\/p><p>If you need to restart OpenClaw quickly without stopping the container first:<\/p><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">docker restart openclaw-gateway<\/pre><p>Or for a clean restart where you manually stop and then start the container (useful when you want more control over the process or need to verify the container stops completely):<\/p><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">docker stop openclaw-gateway<br><br>docker start openclaw-gateway<\/pre><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-are-the-best-practices-for-running-openclaw\">What are the best practices for running OpenClaw?<\/h2><p>Best practices for running OpenClaw include keeping your gateway token secure, monitoring resource usage regularly, and staying current with updates.<\/p><p>Running an AI bot on a server comes with responsibilities, but they&rsquo;re manageable if you establish good habits early in specific areas.<\/p><p><strong>Security practices<\/strong><\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Never share your gateway token<\/strong>. Treat it like a password because anyone who has it can control your bot.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Use a firewall<\/strong>. Only expose the ports you actually need (like port 18789 for the interface).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Keep SSH secure<\/strong>. Use key-based authentication instead of passwords for server access.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Restrict interface access<\/strong>. Consider using a VPN or IP whitelist if you don&rsquo;t need public access to the dashboard.<\/li>\n<\/ul><p><strong>Resource management<\/strong><\/p><p>OpenClaw is relatively lightweight, but you should still keep an eye on:<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Memory usage<\/strong>. Check occasionally with <strong>docker stats openclaw-gateway<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Disk space<\/strong>. Logs can accumulate. Consider log rotation if running long-term.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>CPU usage<\/strong>. Spikes are normal during active conversations, but sustained high usage might indicate a problem.<\/li>\n<\/ul><p>If you notice resource issues, you might need to upgrade your VPS or investigate what&rsquo;s causing excessive usage.<\/p><p><strong>Update strategy<\/strong><\/p><p>New OpenClaw versions are released periodically with improvements and fixes.<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Check for updates monthly (or subscribe to OpenClaw announcements).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Test updates in a non-production environment first if possible.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep a backup of your current working configuration before updating.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Read release notes to understand what changed.<\/li>\n<\/ul><p><strong>Monitoring uptime<\/strong><\/p><p>Set up basic monitoring so you know if OpenClaw goes down:<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Docker&rsquo;s restart policy helps with automatic recovery.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Consider a simple uptime monitor (many free services exist).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check logs periodically for unusual errors or warnings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Test your messaging channels occasionally to confirm functionality.<\/li>\n<\/ul><p><strong>Backup configuration<\/strong><\/p><p>Your environment variables (especially that gateway token) are essential to the setup. Document them securely:<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Store your token in a password manager.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Keep notes on your configuration settings.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Document any custom environment variables you&rsquo;ve added.<\/li>\n<\/ul><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-manage-openclaw-after-setup\">How to manage OpenClaw after setup<\/h2><p>To manage OpenClaw after setup, monitor logs regularly, update the container when new versions are released, and keep an eye on performance metrics.<\/p><p>Day-to-day management is minimal once everything is running smoothly, but a little ongoing attention keeps things healthy. Here&rsquo;s what you need to do.<\/p><p><strong>Check logs regularly<\/strong><\/p><p>Make it a habit to peek at the logs weekly using:<\/p><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">docker compose logs --tail 100 openclaw-gateway<\/pre><p>Look for repeated errors or warnings, performance issues, connection problems, or unusual patterns.<\/p><p>Most of the time, you&rsquo;ll see regular operation, but catching issues early prevents bigger problems.<\/p><p><strong>Update OpenClaw<\/strong><\/p><p>When a new version is released, use the setup script to pull the latest code:<\/p><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">git pull<\/pre><p>Then rerun setup (this preserves your config):<\/p><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">.\/docker-setup.sh<\/pre><p><strong>Monitor uptime<\/strong><\/p><p>Check container status periodically. It should show status as &ldquo;Up,&rdquo; but if it&rsquo;s restarting frequently, investigate the logs.<\/p><p><strong>Monitor performance<\/strong><\/p><p>Every few weeks, check resource usage:<\/p><pre class=\"wp-block-preformatted\">docker stats openclaw-gateway<\/pre><p>This shows CPU, memory, and network usage in real-time. If usage seems high, you might need to:<\/p><ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Investigate what&rsquo;s causing it (check logs)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Upgrade your VPS if you&rsquo;ve outgrown the current specs<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Optimize your configuration<\/li>\n<\/ul><p>You don&rsquo;t need to worry about scaling, clustering, or complex optimizations for most use cases. OpenClawruns well on a single VPS for personal or small team use.<\/p><p>Focus on keeping it running reliably, updating when needed, monitoring for errors, and maintaining security basics.<\/p><p>For quick reference to Docker commands you&rsquo;ll use while managing OpenClaw, see this <a href=\"\/ng\/tutorials\/docker-cheat-sheet\">Docker cheat sheet<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Setting up OpenClaw (formerly known as Moltbot\/Clawdbot) on a private server involves preparing your VPS (Virtual Private Server) environment, cloning the OpenClaw repository, running the Docker setup script, configuring your AI provider credentials, and connecting to a messaging platform. It&rsquo;s a straightforward process that takes about 30 minutes from start to finish, and by the [&#8230;]<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link\" href=\"\/ng\/tutorials\/how-to-set-up-openclaw\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":455,"featured_media":142925,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"How to set up OpenClaw","rank_math_description":"Learn how to set up OpenClaw on a private server using Docker. Follow step-by-step instructions to install, configure, and run your bot.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"how to set up openclaw","footnotes":""},"categories":[22644],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-139691","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-vps"],"hreflangs":[{"locale":"en-US","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/tutorials\/how-to-set-up-openclaw","default":0},{"locale":"en-PH","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ph\/tutorials\/how-to-set-up-openclaw\/","default":0},{"locale":"en-MY","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/my\/tutorials\/how-to-set-up-openclaw\/","default":0},{"locale":"en-UK","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/uk\/tutorials\/how-to-set-up-openclaw\/","default":0},{"locale":"en-IN","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/in\/tutorials\/how-to-set-up-openclaw\/","default":0},{"locale":"en-CA","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ca\/tutorials\/how-to-set-up-openclaw\/","default":0},{"locale":"en-AU","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/au\/tutorials\/how-to-set-up-openclaw\/","default":0},{"locale":"en-NG","link":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ng\/tutorials\/how-to-set-up-openclaw","default":0}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ng\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139691","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ng\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ng\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ng\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/455"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ng\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=139691"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ng\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139691\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":142924,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ng\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/139691\/revisions\/142924"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ng\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/142925"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ng\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=139691"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ng\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=139691"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hostinger.com\/ng\/tutorials\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=139691"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}