name: openclaw-self-clone-everything description: Clone and deploy OpenClaw to a new VPS. Use when you need to install OpenClaw on a fresh remote server via SSH. Steps: (1) Verify SSH access (IP, user, password/key), (2) Install OpenClaw via official non-interactive script, (3) Copy ~/.openclaw data, (4) Prompt to update credentials (e.g., Telegram bot token).

OpenClaw Clone to New VPS

Overview: Deploy OpenClaw to a new VPS using SSH and a non-interactive installer, then copy your ~/.opencl workspace and verify/update credentials.

Prerequisites

• SSH access to the new VPS: IP address, username, and password (or SSH key)

• The new VPS runs a supported Linux distribution (verify with the official docs)

• Ensure outbound connectivity on the new VPS (to fetch the installer)

• Security: When prompted for passwords, avoid hardcoding them; prefer password prompts or SSH key-based auth.

Procedure

Step 1: Verify SSH connectivity

• Test access from the current environment to the new VPS.
• Example (interactive login test):

  ssh USER@VPS_IP
  

• Replace USER with the provided username and VPS_IP with the target IP.
• Exit the test SSH session once verified.

If auth uses an SSH key, ensure the private key is available and permissions are tightened (e.g., 600).

Step 2: Install OpenClaw via non-interactive script

• Run the official installer in non-interactive mode on the new VPS:

  ssh USER@VPS_IP 'bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh)" -- --no-onboard'
  

• Explanation:
  • --no-onboard skips the interactive onboarding wizard.
  • This command performs the installation over SSH without prompting.

If the new VPS blocks curl or https://openclaw.ai, download the installer locally and scp/transfer it before running bash install.sh -- --no-onboard.

Step 3: Copy ~/.openclaw from the source to the new VPS

• Source path (current environment): ~/.openclaw

• Target directory on the new VPS: ~/.openclaw

• Create a compressed archive, transfer it, and extract on the new VPS:

  # Compress (on source)
  cd ~ && tar czf openclaw-data.tar.gz --exclude='*.log' --exclude='cache' --exclude='node_modules/.cache' .openclaw
  
  # Transfer
  scp openclaw-data.tar.gz USER@VPS_IP:~/
  
  # Extract (on new VPS)
  ssh USER@VPS_IP 'rm -rf ~/.openclaw && tar xzf ~/openclaw-data.tar.gz -C ~/'
  
  # Cleanup (optional, on both sides)
  rm openclaw-data.tar.gz
  ssh USER@VPS_IP 'rm ~/openclaw-data.tar.gz'
  

Notes and cautions:

• Review the contents you intend to copy. Avoid copying local temporary files or caches that should not be restored on the target.
• The example excludes *.log, cache, and node_modules/.cache to reduce archive size; adjust based on your directory layout.
• No ongoing synchronization; this is a one-time transfer.

Step 4: Update or validate key credentials on the new VPS (Optional)