{"id":227,"date":"2026-05-06T06:57:22","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T06:57:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog-origin.donely.ai\/blog\/how-to-install-openclaw-on-a-vps\/"},"modified":"2026-05-06T06:57:24","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T06:57:24","slug":"how-to-install-openclaw-on-a-vps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog-origin.donely.ai\/blog\/how-to-install-openclaw-on-a-vps\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Install OpenClaw on a VPS: A Step-by-Step Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>You\u2019ve probably reached the point where a local test install isn\u2019t enough anymore. You want OpenClaw reachable from the internet, isolated from the rest of your stack, restartable after a reboot, and secure enough that you won\u2019t regret exposing it later. That\u2019s where a plain VPS starts to make sense.<\/p>\n<p>The problem is that most guides stop right after \u201crun the installer.\u201d That\u2019s not the hard part. The hard part is getting permissions, persistent storage, reverse proxying, HTTPS, and operational hygiene right so the instance still works a week later. If you\u2019re learning how to install openclaw on a vps for a real workload, those details matter more than the first command.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"laying-the-groundwork-your-vps-server-preparation\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Table of Contents<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"#laying-the-groundwork-your-vps-server-preparation\">Laying the Groundwork Your VPS Server Preparation<\/a><ul>\n<li><a href=\"#pick-the-right-baseline-first\">Pick the right baseline first<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#harden-the-box-before-installing-anything\">Harden the box before installing anything<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#the-core-installation-using-docker-and-traefik\">The Core Installation Using Docker and Traefik<\/a><ul>\n<li><a href=\"#why-docker-and-traefik-are-the-production-path\">Why Docker and Traefik are the production path<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#run-the-installer-the-right-way\">Run the installer the right way<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#what-the-prompts-actually-mean\">What the prompts actually mean<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#post-install-configuration-and-environment-variables\">Post-Install Configuration and Environment Variables<\/a><ul>\n<li><a href=\"#treat-the-env-file-like-production-config\">Treat the env file like production config<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#the-token-you-cannot-afford-to-lose\">The token you cannot afford to lose<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#configuring-networking-ssl-and-public-access\">Configuring Networking SSL and Public Access<\/a><ul>\n<li><a href=\"#how-traffic-should-flow\">How traffic should flow<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#what-to-verify-when-https-does-not-come-up\">What to verify when HTTPS does not come up<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#running-as-a-service-and-security-hardening\">Running as a Service and Security Hardening<\/a><ul>\n<li><a href=\"#make-it-survive-reboots-cleanly\">Make it survive reboots cleanly<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#security-work-that-people-skip\">Security work that people skip<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#beyond-one-instance-scaling-and-management-with-donely\">Beyond One Instance Scaling and Management with Donely<\/a><ul>\n<li><a href=\"#where-manual-vps-installs-start-to-hurt\">Where manual VPS installs start to hurt<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#when-a-managed-control-plane-makes-more-sense\">When a managed control plane makes more sense<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Laying the Groundwork Your VPS Server Preparation<\/h2>\n<p>Production installs fail early for boring reasons. The VM is undersized, the admin logs in as root for convenience, SSH is left too open, or package updates are skipped because the app install feels more urgent. Those shortcuts create fragile systems.<\/p>\n<p>For OpenClaw on Ubuntu, use <strong>at least 4 GB RAM, 2 CPUs, and 100 GB SSD storage<\/strong> for smooth performance, and only start the automated install after hardening the server, using the documented installer command <code>curl -fsSL https:\/\/openclaw.ai\/install.sh | bash<\/code> as described in <a href=\"https:\/\/bitlaunch.io\/blog\/how-to-securely-set-up-openclaw-on-a-vps\/\">BitLaunch\u2019s OpenClaw VPS setup guide<\/a>. If you\u2019re still deciding whether a VPS is the right hosting shape at all, <a href=\"https:\/\/cloudvara.com\/vps-vs-dedicated\/\">Cloudvara&#039;s server solutions<\/a> give a useful comparison between VPS and dedicated infrastructure.<\/p>\n<p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blog-origin.donely.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/how-to-install-openclaw-on-a-vps-server-configuration.jpg\" alt=\"A technician configuring a server rack while working on a laptop computer in a server room.\" \/><\/figure><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"pick-the-right-baseline-first\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Pick the right baseline first<\/h3>\n<p>Ubuntu is the safe default for a first production deployment. It\u2019s predictable, well documented, and widely supported by VPS providers. Start from a fresh image rather than repurposing an old machine with leftover packages and unknown firewall rules.<\/p>\n<p>Keep your prep checklist short and disciplined:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Create a non-root user<\/strong> so daily administration doesn\u2019t happen as root. If a command goes wrong, the blast radius stays smaller.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Add your SSH public key<\/strong> to that user before you tighten access. Password logins are where a lot of avoidable trouble begins.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Update the operating system<\/strong> immediately after first login. You want current packages and security fixes before Docker and app dependencies land.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Set firewall rules with UFW<\/strong> so only the ports you need are reachable.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Confirm hostname and time settings<\/strong> because certificate issuance, logs, and troubleshooting get messy when the server identity is inconsistent.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong>Practical rule:<\/strong> if you wouldn\u2019t hand the server to another engineer in its current state, it isn\u2019t ready for the installer.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><a id=\"harden-the-box-before-installing-anything\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Harden the box before installing anything<\/h3>\n<p>The biggest mistake junior operators make is thinking security hardening is a later task. It isn\u2019t. If OpenClaw will be internet-facing, secure the OS first, then add containers.<\/p>\n<p>A sensible order looks like this:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Log in with your initial admin access.<\/li>\n<li>Create a dedicated non-root user.<\/li>\n<li>Install that user\u2019s SSH key and verify you can log in.<\/li>\n<li>Apply updates.<\/li>\n<li>Enable the firewall with only required access.<\/li>\n<li>Disable habits that keep root as the daily operator.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>If you want to skip this entire infrastructure layer for future deployments, <a href=\"https:\/\/donely.ai\/openclaw\">managed OpenClaw hosting<\/a> exists precisely because repeating these baseline steps across multiple instances gets tedious fast.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"the-core-installation-using-docker-and-traefik\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>The Core Installation Using Docker and Traefik<\/h2>\n<p>A production OpenClaw install should run in containers. Not because containers are fashionable, but because they solve practical problems: dependency isolation, repeatable deployment, and simpler rollback when you break something. Pair that with Traefik and you also get a clean edge layer for HTTPS and request routing.<\/p>\n<p>The architecture is easier to reason about when you picture the flow first.<\/p>\n<p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blog-origin.donely.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/how-to-install-openclaw-on-a-vps-installation-workflow.jpg\" alt=\"A diagram illustrating the OpenClaw installation workflow featuring a VPS, Docker engine, Traefik proxy, and application containers.\" \/><\/figure><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"why-docker-and-traefik-are-the-production-path\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Why Docker and Traefik are the production path<\/h3>\n<p>Production deployments rely on <strong>Docker plus a Traefik reverse proxy<\/strong>, and a critical requirement is configuring Docker daemon user-group permissions so you can run Docker without <code>sudo<\/code>, which avoids ownership conflicts in generated <code>.env<\/code> files and persistent data mounted to <code>~\/.openclaw<\/code>, as documented in QuantVPS\u2019s installation walkthrough.<\/p>\n<p>That one detail causes a disproportionate number of broken installs. If you run setup commands with <code>sudo<\/code>, files and directories under the mounted paths often end up owned by root. Later, the container tries to read or write them under a different user context and fails in ways that look like random app bugs.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Run Docker as the properly configured user, not as a shortcut through <code>sudo<\/code>. It saves hours of cleanup later.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>The other piece is networking. Traefik sits in front of the OpenClaw container, terminates SSL\/TLS, and forwards traffic internally over the Docker network. That gives you one clean place to manage public access instead of exposing the app container directly.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"run-the-installer-the-right-way\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Run the installer the right way<\/h3>\n<p>Before running the installer, make sure three things are true:<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tr>\n<th>Check<\/th>\n<th>Why it matters<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Your user can run Docker without sudo<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Prevents file ownership and volume permission issues<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>The proxy network exists as expected<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Lets Traefik and OpenClaw talk cleanly<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Persistent storage paths are writable<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Keeps config and workspace data durable across restarts<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table><\/figure>\n<p>The install flow itself is straightforward once the OS and Docker user permissions are correct. You\u2019ll run the official script from your non-root user session and let it scaffold the containerized deployment.<\/p>\n<p>Later in the process, remember the expected storage layout. OpenClaw uses <code>~\/.openclaw<\/code> for configuration and <code>~\/.openclaw\/workspace<\/code> for agent data. Treat those paths like application state, not scratch space.<\/p>\n<p>A quick visual walkthrough helps if you want to compare what you see on screen against a live example:<\/p>\n<iframe width=\"100%\" style=\"aspect-ratio: 16 \/ 9\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-aeR1cQktdM\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; encrypted-media\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n\n<p><a id=\"what-the-prompts-actually-mean\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>What the prompts actually mean<\/h3>\n<p>The interactive prompts matter more than they seem. They\u2019re not cosmetic.<\/p>\n<p>Expect to make choices around:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Authentication provider<\/strong>. The installer offers provider selection, with an Anthropic API key presented as the recommended default in the documented setup flow.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Shell completion<\/strong>. Enable this if you\u2019ll manage the system regularly from the command line. It reduces operator error.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Package manager for skills<\/strong>. <code>npm<\/code> is the preferred package manager in the documented flow for skills installation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If a prompt feels ambiguous, stop and think about operations, not just day-one setup. Pick defaults that another engineer could understand later.<\/p>\n<p>Common failure modes at this stage usually come from one of four causes:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Wrong user context<\/strong> and Docker permission mismatch<\/li>\n<li><strong>Partially installed Docker<\/strong> from old experiments<\/li>\n<li><strong>Volume paths created by root<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Proxy network assumptions<\/strong> that don\u2019t match the generated config<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>When that happens, resist the temptation to patch around it. It\u2019s usually faster to clean up the broken container state and reinstall correctly than to chase permission drift for the rest of the deployment.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"post-install-configuration-and-environment-variables\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Post-Install Configuration and Environment Variables<\/h2>\n<p>The install gets the stack running. The <code>.env<\/code> file is what turns it into your stack. Most production mistakes become invisible at this stage, because the system starts, but authentication, dashboard access, or integrations don\u2019t behave the way you expect.<\/p>\n<p>Treat environment configuration like code. Review it carefully, store it securely, and keep changes intentional.<\/p>\n<p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blog-origin.donely.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/how-to-install-openclaw-on-a-vps-environment-configuration.jpg\" alt=\"A person typing on a computer keyboard in front of a monitor displaying configuration environment variables code.\" \/><\/figure><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"treat-the-env-file-like-production-config\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Treat the env file like production config<\/h3>\n<p>Open the generated <code>.env<\/code> file and validate each variable instead of assuming the installer got everything exactly how you want it. In a real deployment, this file controls provider credentials, runtime behavior, and how the instance identifies itself to the rest of the OpenClaw ecosystem.<\/p>\n<p>Focus on the variables that define:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Authentication settings<\/strong> for the provider you selected during install<\/li>\n<li><strong>Secrets used for sessions or application security<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Gateway-related values<\/strong> that tie the instance to its management surface<\/li>\n<li><strong>Domain and proxy assumptions<\/strong> if your generated setup expects public routing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>A good habit is to annotate your internal runbook with what each variable is for. Not inside the file if that increases risk, but in your operational notes. Six months from now, you won\u2019t remember which secret was rotated and why.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"the-token-you-cannot-afford-to-lose\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>The token you cannot afford to lose<\/h3>\n<p>The most important value in this stage is <strong><code>OPENCLAW_GATEWAY_TOKEN<\/code><\/strong>. The deployment process generates it, and it acts as the authentication key for connecting the VPS instance to the centralized OpenClaw dashboard. It must be stored securely, and if you lose it, you can\u2019t recover it. You\u2019ll need to redeploy the containerized instance to get a new one.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p><strong>Operational note:<\/strong> copy the gateway token once, store it in your secrets manager immediately, and verify that another authorized operator can retrieve it if you\u2019re unavailable.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>This token-based model is useful when you run isolated instances. It lets you control access per instance without handing out broader shared credentials. That\u2019s clean from a governance standpoint, but only if you manage the token like a real secret.<\/p>\n<p>Practical storage options include a team password manager, a secret vault, or an encrypted internal credential store. Don\u2019t leave it in shell history, a temporary note, or a local text file on your laptop.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"configuring-networking-ssl-and-public-access\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Configuring Networking SSL and Public Access<\/h2>\n<p>Once the containers are healthy, public access becomes the ultimate test. An internal app that only works over localhost is a lab exercise. A usable production deployment needs a domain, clean routing, and HTTPS that stays out of your way.<\/p>\n<p>Traefik excels in this role. Instead of wiring SSL into the app itself, you let the reverse proxy handle ingress, certificates, and routing policy.<\/p>\n<p><figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/blog-origin.donely.ai\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/how-to-install-openclaw-on-a-vps-secure-access.jpg\" alt=\"A stylized globe made of flowing colorful fibers connecting to a secure digital padlock symbol.\" \/><\/figure><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"how-traffic-should-flow\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>How traffic should flow<\/h3>\n<p>Think in layers:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>A user requests your OpenClaw domain.<\/li>\n<li>DNS points that domain at the VPS.<\/li>\n<li>Traefik receives the HTTPS request.<\/li>\n<li>Traefik applies routing rules and forwards traffic to the OpenClaw container on the internal Docker network.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>That separation is what keeps the deployment manageable. The app doesn\u2019t need to be directly exposed. Traefik becomes the single public entry point.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s the minimum routing model you want to confirm:<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tr>\n<th>Layer<\/th>\n<th>Responsibility<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>DNS<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Sends your domain to the VPS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Traefik<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Terminates TLS and routes requests<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>OpenClaw container<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Handles application logic only<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table><\/figure>\n<p>The important operational detail is that DNS records for your chosen domain must point to the VPS before certificate automation can work properly. If the public name doesn\u2019t resolve to the server, Traefik can\u2019t complete the normal SSL flow.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>Keep your edge simple. One reverse proxy, one public domain per instance, and explicit routing rules beat clever networking every time.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>If you\u2019d rather avoid managing reverse proxies and certificate lifecycle yourself, <a href=\"https:\/\/donely.ai\/hosting-for-openclaw\">hosted infrastructure for OpenClaw<\/a> is the category to look at when operational overhead starts outweighing control.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"what-to-verify-when-https-does-not-come-up\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>What to verify when HTTPS does not come up<\/h3>\n<p>When HTTPS fails, don\u2019t start by blaming the app. Start at the edge.<\/p>\n<p>Check these in order:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Domain resolution<\/strong>. Confirm your public hostname resolves to the VPS you configured.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Traefik container health<\/strong>. If the proxy isn\u2019t running, nothing behind it matters.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Network attachment<\/strong>. The app container and Traefik need to share the expected Docker network.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Router labels or dynamic config<\/strong>. A typo in host matching is enough to make the app appear offline.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Firewall exposure<\/strong>. If you\u2019ve locked things down correctly, make sure you didn\u2019t also block the traffic your proxy needs.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you want a broader checklist for edge exposure and app-level protection, this guide on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wondermentapps.com\/blog\/application-security-best-practices\/\">securing your web applications<\/a> is worth keeping nearby during review. It\u2019s not OpenClaw-specific, but the operational principles map cleanly to any public-facing service.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"running-as-a-service-and-security-hardening\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Running as a Service and Security Hardening<\/h2>\n<p>A VPS install isn\u2019t done when the container first starts. It\u2019s done when the service survives a reboot, logs useful errors, and doesn\u2019t leak secrets through sloppy operations.<\/p>\n<p>You need two things here: reliable startup behavior and boring, disciplined hardening.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"make-it-survive-reboots-cleanly\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Make it survive reboots cleanly<\/h3>\n<p>For a production setup, wrap your Docker Compose or equivalent container startup in a <code>systemd<\/code> service so the stack comes back automatically after host reboots. Keep the service owned by the same user context you used for the deployment. Mixing root-run service management with user-owned Docker files is how permission drift sneaks back in.<\/p>\n<p>A solid <code>systemd<\/code> approach gives you:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Automatic startup on boot<\/strong> so maintenance reboots don\u2019t become outages<\/li>\n<li><strong>Controlled restarts<\/strong> if the process exits unexpectedly<\/li>\n<li><strong>Readable status checks<\/strong> through the host\u2019s service manager<\/li>\n<li><strong>A single operational entry point<\/strong> for start, stop, and restart actions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Don\u2019t overcomplicate the unit file. The job is to run the container stack consistently, not to hide every possible edge case in shell logic.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"security-work-that-people-skip\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Security work that people skip<\/h3>\n<p>The next layer is mostly about restraint.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Keep secrets out of shell history<\/strong>. Exporting credentials interactively is convenient and risky.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Review container logs regularly<\/strong> for authentication failures, crash loops, or odd request patterns.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Limit who can read mounted data<\/strong> under the OpenClaw storage paths.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Patch the host on a schedule<\/strong> instead of waiting until a dependency breaks.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Use least privilege for integrations<\/strong> so a compromised tool connection doesn\u2019t become a broad account problem.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<blockquote>\n<p>A secure deployment usually looks ordinary. Minimal privileges, clear ownership, patching discipline, and no mystery access paths.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>If you run more than one instance, document who owns each environment, who can restart it, and where its secrets live. Most operational failures come from ambiguity, not from lack of tools.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"beyond-one-instance-scaling-and-management-with-donely\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h2>Beyond One Instance Scaling and Management with Donely<\/h2>\n<p>A single VPS install is manageable. The second one is still fine. By the time you\u2019re running separate environments for personal workflows, a client project, staging, and production, the friction changes shape. You stop thinking about OpenClaw itself and start spending time on repeated infrastructure chores.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"where-manual-vps-installs-start-to-hurt\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>Where manual VPS installs start to hurt<\/h3>\n<p>The pain points are predictable:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Every instance has its own lifecycle<\/strong>. Updates, certificates, secrets, and restarts all need attention.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Isolation is your responsibility<\/strong>. You have to keep client workloads separated and permissions tight.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Access control gets messy<\/strong> when multiple operators need different levels of access.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Billing and monitoring scatter<\/strong> across providers, hosts, and hand-kept notes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>This is also where teams start looking at examples from the ecosystem. If you want another deployment perspective, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fluence.network\/blog\/clawify-case-study-openclaw-deployment\/\">learn about Clawify&#039;s Openclaw deployment<\/a> as a reference point for how others frame the operational problem.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"when-a-managed-control-plane-makes-more-sense\"><\/a><\/p>\n<h3>When a managed control plane makes more sense<\/h3>\n<p>Managed platforms like <strong>Donely<\/strong> reduce OpenClaw deployment time to <strong>under two minutes<\/strong>, support <strong>multi-instance architecture<\/strong> for isolated agents, offer plans from a <strong>free tier<\/strong> to enterprise options, include a <strong>99.9% uptime SLA<\/strong>, and support <strong>850+ tool integrations<\/strong>, according to this <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=lmZqacVbzHY\">Donely product overview video<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>That matters when you no longer want to rebuild the same stack for every new workload. The value isn\u2019t magic. It\u2019s the removal of repeated DevOps tasks you already understand but don\u2019t want to keep redoing. If you\u2019re evaluating that path, <a href=\"https:\/\/donely.ai\/blog\/ai-employee-agent-hosting\/\">this overview of AI employee agent hosting<\/a> is a practical next read.<\/p>\n<p>The trade-off is straightforward. Manual VPS deployment gives you direct infrastructure control and a good understanding of how the system works. Managed deployment gives you speed, easier governance, and a cleaner path once you need isolated environments for multiple clients or teams.<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>If you want to stop managing VPS setup, Docker permissions, reverse proxies, and per-instance overhead by hand, <a href=\"https:\/\/donely.ai\">Donely<\/a> provides a unified way to host and manage OpenClaw-powered AI employees from one dashboard while keeping instances isolated for different workloads.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You\u2019ve probably reached the point where a local test install isn\u2019t enough anymore. You want OpenClaw reachable from the internet, isolated from the rest of your stack, restartable after a reboot, and secure enough that you won\u2019t regret exposing it later. That\u2019s where a plain VPS starts to make sense. The problem is that most [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":226,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[62,58,60,61,59],"class_list":["post-227","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-ai-agents","tag-ai-agent-deployment","tag-install-openclaw-on-vps","tag-openclaw-docker","tag-openclaw-guide","tag-openclaw-vps-setup"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog-origin.donely.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/227","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog-origin.donely.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog-origin.donely.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog-origin.donely.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog-origin.donely.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=227"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/blog-origin.donely.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/227\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":232,"href":"https:\/\/blog-origin.donely.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/227\/revisions\/232"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog-origin.donely.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/226"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog-origin.donely.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=227"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog-origin.donely.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=227"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog-origin.donely.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=227"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}