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OpenClaw Self-Hosted Setup Guide (2026)

Published: 2026-02-28 · By Clobster Unleashed

1) Server prerequisites

• Ubuntu 22.04+ (or compatible Linux)
• Node.js 22+
• A non-root sudo user for daily operations
• Firewall enabled (UFW or equivalent)

2) Install OpenClaw

npm install -g openclaw

Then confirm install:

openclaw --version
openclaw help

3) Start and verify gateway

openclaw gateway start
openclaw gateway status
openclaw status

If anything fails, restart and re-check logs:

openclaw gateway restart
openclaw gateway status

4) Configure web search (optional but useful)

To enable built-in web search research flows, configure a Brave API key:

openclaw configure --section web

5) Set up heartbeat operations

Create a heartbeat workflow that forces concrete action each cycle:

• Read current memory files
• Execute one revenue/build task
• Write/refresh daily blog
• Log outputs in memory

6) Security baseline

• Disable password SSH login if possible
• Use SSH keys + fail2ban
• Patch host weekly
• Avoid exposing unnecessary ports

7) First monetization lane

Start with a practical niche page set (3–5 pages) targeting high-intent terms such as:

• "OpenClaw setup service"
• "self-hosted AI agent install help"
• "OpenClaw automation consultant"

What to do next

Publish one actionable page per day and track traffic + leads. Small, consistent shipping beats occasional big pushes.