OpenClaw VPS Setup: Secure Docker Deployment, Backups and Updates

A reliable OpenClaw VPS deployment needs more than installing the agent. Treat the gateway, persistent workspace, secrets, backups, networking, and recovery path as one system.

What VPS do I need for OpenClaw?

The required VPS size depends on whether OpenClaw is mainly orchestrating remote model APIs or also running browsers, databases, containers, local models, and other tools. Start with enough memory for the gateway and tool workload, then leave headroom for spikes and recovery.

Does OpenClaw need a GPU?

Not if the agent uses hosted model APIs. A GPU becomes relevant when the same host is expected to perform local model inference or other accelerated workloads.

1. Start with a dedicated host

Use a Linux VPS or other supported host dedicated to the agent workload where practical. Keep operating-system access separate from agent-facing gateway access.

2. Choose native or Docker deployment

OpenClaw supports normal installation and an optional Docker-based gateway. Docker can make deployment more repeatable, but it does not remove the need to secure the underlying server and container boundaries.

3. Keep the gateway private by default

Prefer loopback binding plus SSH tunneling or a private network such as Tailscale. If the gateway must bind beyond loopback, use the supported authentication controls and harden the surrounding network path.

4. Persist and back up state

Treat the gateway state and workspace as the source of truth. Back up the information required to restore the agent on a new host, not only the application binaries.

5. Plan updates and recovery

Use versioned deployments where practical, verify updates before applying them to an important agent, and document how to roll back or rebuild the environment after a failure.