How to Deploy OpenClaw on Kamatera (AI Agent) – Complete VPS Installation Guide (2026)

Introduction

OpenClaw is a powerful open-source AI agent that can automate tasks, interact with external services, execute commands, and connect with large language models (LLMs) such as OpenAI GPT, Gemini, Claude, and others. Instead of running it on your personal computer, deploying OpenClaw on a cloud VPS provides 24/7 availability, better performance, and improved isolation. The OpenClaw project recommends treating it as privileged software because it can access tools, files, and external services. Running it on a dedicated VPS or in containers is considered a safer approach than installing it directly on your everyday workstation.

This guide walks you through deploying OpenClaw on a Kamatera Linux VPS.

Why Use Kamatera?

Kamatera is a cloud infrastructure provider that offers:

• High-performance cloud VPS
• SSD/NVMe storage
• Flexible CPU and RAM upgrades
• Global data centers
• Full root access
• Ubuntu, Debian, Rocky Linux, AlmaLinux, and other operating systems

Kamatera is a good choice for developers who want a reliable server for AI agents.

Minimum System Requirements

For testing:

• 2 vCPUs
• 4 GB RAM
• 40 GB SSD
• Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
• Root or sudo access

Recommended for production:

• 4+ vCPUs
• 8 GB RAM
• 80 GB+ SSD
• Static Public IP
• SSH Access

Step 1: Create a Kamatera VPS

1. Sign in to your Kamatera account.
2. Create a new server.
3. Select Ubuntu 24.04 LTS.
4. Choose your preferred data center.
5. Allocate CPU, RAM, and storage.
6. Deploy the server.

After deployment you’ll receive:

• Server IP Address
• SSH credentials

Step 2: Connect Using SSH

From Linux or macOS:

ssh root@YOUR_SERVER_IP

From Windows:

Use PuTTY or Windows Terminal.

Step 3: Update Ubuntu

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade -y

Reboot if required:

sudo reboot

Reconnect after reboot.

Step 4: Install Node.js

OpenClaw requires Node.js 22 or later.

curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_22.x | sudo -E bash -

sudo apt install nodejs -y

Verify:

node -v

npm -v

Step 5: Install OpenClaw

Install OpenClaw globally using npm:

sudo npm install -g openclaw

Step 6: Run the Onboarding Wizard

Start the interactive setup:

openclaw onboard

The onboarding process guides you through configuring the gateway, workspace, channels, skills, and other initial settings. This is the recommended setup method from the OpenClaw project.

Step 7: Configure Your AI Provider

Choose your preferred model provider.

Examples include:

• OpenAI
• Google Gemini
• Anthropic Claude
• Ollama
• DeepSeek

Enter the required API key when prompted.

Step 8: Start the Gateway

After onboarding completes, start the gateway service.

Verify that it is running correctly.

Step 9: Access the Dashboard

For better security, keep the OpenClaw gateway bound to the local interface and use SSH port forwarding to access the Control UI from your browser instead of exposing it directly to the public internet.

Step 10: Install Useful Skills

OpenClaw supports a growing ecosystem of skills that extend the agent’s capabilities.

Popular categories include:

• File Management
• Email Automation
• Calendar Integration
• GitHub
• Slack
• Telegram
• WhatsApp
• Google Drive
• Browser Automation

Only install skills from trusted sources and review what permissions they require.

Step 11: Keep OpenClaw Running

For production deployments, configure OpenClaw to start automatically using a process manager such as systemd or PM2 so the service restarts after reboots or failures.

Security Best Practices

OpenClaw can access local files, APIs, and connected services, so security is essential.

Recommendations:

• Use a dedicated VPS
• Keep the gateway private
• Use SSH authentication
• Enable a firewall
• Update Ubuntu regularly
• Rotate API keys when needed
• Install only trusted skills
• Limit access to sensitive accounts
• Create regular backups

Treat your AI agent like a privileged application rather than a simple chatbot.

Troubleshooting

Command Not Found

Verify Node.js and npm are installed correctly.

node -v

npm -v

Cannot Connect to Dashboard

Check:

• Gateway status
• SSH tunnel configuration
• Firewall rules

API Errors

Verify:

• API key
• Provider selection
• Billing status
• Network connectivity

Updating OpenClaw

Update to the latest version with:

sudo npm update -g openclaw

Why Host OpenClaw on a VPS?

Benefits include:

• 24/7 uptime
• Better performance
• Dedicated resources
• Remote access
• Improved security
• Easier backups
• Scalable infrastructure

Frequently Asked Questions

Is OpenClaw free?

Yes. OpenClaw is open-source software released under the MIT License.

Can I run it on Ubuntu?

Yes. Ubuntu is one of the recommended operating systems.

Does OpenClaw require Docker?

Not necessarily. The recommended setup uses Node.js and the onboarding command, though container-based deployments are also available depending on your workflow.

Which AI models are supported?

OpenClaw can integrate with multiple model providers, including OpenAI, Google Gemini, Anthropic Claude, Ollama, and others, depending on your configuration.

Is Kamatera suitable for production?

Yes. Kamatera offers scalable cloud infrastructure that is suitable for running OpenClaw continuously.

Conclusion

Deploying OpenClaw on a Kamatera VPS gives you a dedicated, always-on AI agent running under your control. With a modern Ubuntu server, Node.js, the OpenClaw onboarding process, and proper security practices, you can create a reliable environment for automating workflows, integrating external services, and experimenting with advanced AI capabilities.

Always follow the principle of least privilege, keep the gateway private, and review installed skills before granting them access to sensitive systems.