VPS Deployment Guide

Data Privacy

Your AI conversations will be stored on your VPS provider's infrastructure. While you control the server, the physical hardware is owned by the provider. For maximum privacy, consider local deployment instead.

Server Location

Choose a data center close to your primary location for lower latency. All recommended providers have multiple global locations. Consider GDPR compliance if you're in the EU.

Backup Strategy

Enable automatic backups with your VPS provider (usually $1-2/month extra). This protects against data loss from hardware failure or accidental deletion.

Security Hardening

After deployment, consider: changing the SSH port, setting up fail2ban, configuring a firewall (ufw), and using SSH keys instead of passwords. We recommend using Cloudflare Tunnel for secure access.

Step 1: Create your VPS

Start with Hetzner CX22 (recommended default) or an equivalent VPS running Ubuntu 22.04/24.04. Make note of the IP address and root password.

Step 2: Connect via SSH

ssh root@your-server-ip

Step 3: Install Docker

curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh

Step 4: Run OpenClaw

docker run -d \
  --name openclaw \
  --restart unless-stopped \
  -p 8080:8080 \
  -e ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=your-key \
  openclaw/openclaw:latest

Step 5: Set up Cloudflare Tunnel (optional)

For secure access without opening ports, set up a Cloudflare Tunnel.