How to Run Claude Code on VPS with OpenClaw: Complete Setup Guide

How to Run Claude Code on VPS with OpenClaw

OpenClaw enables you to run Claude Code on any VPS and connect it to messaging platforms. Here's the complete setup guide.

Prerequisites

• VPS with Ubuntu 22.04+

• 2GB RAM minimum

• Anthropic API key

• Node.js 18+

Step 1: VPS Setup

bash
# Update system
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

# Install Node.js
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_18.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt install -y nodejs

# Install PM2 for process management
npm install -g pm2


Step 2: Install OpenClaw

bash
# Clone repository
git clone https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw.git
cd openclaw

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Create config
cp .env.example .env


Step 3: Configure Environment

Edit your `.env` file:


ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=your_key_here
CLAUDE_MODEL=claude-sonnet-4-5
MAX_TOKENS=4096


Step 4: Platform Integrations

WhatsApp
bash
# Install WhatsApp adapter
npm install @openclaw/whatsapp-adapter

# Configure in config.yaml
platforms:
  whatsapp:
    enabled: true
    phone_id: your_phone_id


Telegram
bash
# Install Telegram adapter
npm install @openclaw/telegram-adapter

# Configure
platforms:
  telegram:
    enabled: true
    bot_token: your_bot_token


Discord
bash
# Install Discord adapter
npm install @openclaw/discord-adapter

# Configure
platforms:
  discord:
    enabled: true
    bot_token: your_discord_token


Step 5: Run with PM2

bash
# Start OpenClaw
pm2 start npm --name "openclaw" -- start

# Enable auto-restart
pm2 startup
pm2 save


Step 6: Verify Installation

bash
# Check status
pm2 status

# View logs
pm2 logs openclaw


Security Best Practices

1. Use environment variables for secrets
2. Enable firewall (UFW)
3. Regular security updates
4. Monitor API usage

Troubleshooting

Connection Issues:
Check API key validity
Verify network connectivity
Review firewall rules
Performance Issues:
Increase VPS resources
Optimize max_tokens setting
Enable response caching
Cost Considerations

VPS: $5-20/month
Claude API: Usage-based
Typical usage: $10-50/month total
Conclusion

OpenClaw provides an efficient way to run Claude Code across multiple platforms. Follow this guide for a production-ready setup.