Deploying OpenClaw on DigitalOcean gives you a reliable, cloud-hosted AI agent accessible from anywhere. This guide covers creating a droplet, securing SSH access, installing Node.js, configuring a systemd service for automatic restarts, and setting up UFW firewall rules. You'll have a production-ready OpenClaw instance running in the cloud in under 2 hours.
Why This Is Hard to Do Yourself
These are the common pitfalls that trip people up.
Droplet sizing confusion
Choosing the right CPU/RAM tier for your workload
SSH key management
Setting up secure SSH access and disabling password authentication
Firewall configuration
UFW rules blocking necessary ports or leaving vulnerabilities open
Process management
Keeping OpenClaw running after crashes and server reboots
Step-by-Step Guide
Create a DigitalOcean Droplet
Choose Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, at least 2GB RAM.
Connect via SSH and update the system
SSH into your droplet and update packages.
Install Node.js 20+
Install Node.js from NodeSource repository.
Create a non-root user for OpenClaw
Run OpenClaw as a dedicated user for security.
Warning: Never run OpenClaw as root. Always use a dedicated non-root user to minimize security risks.
Clone and install OpenClaw
Clone the repository and install dependencies.
Configure environment variables
Set up API keys and gateway configuration.
Create a systemd service
Configure OpenClaw to auto-start on boot.
Configure UFW firewall
Allow SSH and OpenClaw gateway port.
Skip the Cloud Setup Headache
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