The OpenClaw Deployment Playbook
The exact six-phase process I use to deploy OpenClaw for paying clients. VPS sizing, the non-interactive onboard, channel wiring for Telegram, Slack, and WhatsApp, skill credential isolation, production hardening, and the five pitfalls I see most on handoffs.
- Why 1 vCPU works in demos and stutters in production, and the VPS spec I actually deploy on
- The non-interactive onboard command I run so the gateway comes up clean on the first try
- The Slack app-level token everyone misses and why socket mode fails silently without it
- The skill credential isolation rule that limits blast radius when one skill gets compromised
- The six-item production hardening checklist that separates a running agent from a deployable one
- Real monthly cost numbers from my client deployments so you can price your own
Written for technical operators who want to run OpenClaw on their own infrastructure without spending a week fighting Slack tokens and systemd units. If you get stuck, reply to the email. I read every one.
Who wrote this
American-trained nuclear physicist. Founder of Express AI and Andrak.ai. Built three technology companies, including one that shipped products to 79 countries and one that ran a factory entirely through software. Has had OpenClaw running in production for multiple paying clients since the early versions.
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