# Deploy OpenClaw on Quake AI

Source: https://docs.quake.ai/docs/compute/apps/openclaw
Markdown: https://docs.quake.ai/docs/compute/apps/openclaw.md

---

# Deploy OpenClaw on Quake AI

This guide walks you through deploying [OpenClaw](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw), the open-source AI agent framework with 337,000+ GitHub stars, on Quake AI using the Console Apps installer. You deploy OpenClaw by connecting to a new VM over SSH and running `openclaw onboard`.

OpenClaw connects AI models (GPT-5, Claude, Gemini, DeepSeek, local models via Ollama) to the messaging platforms you already use: Telegram, Discord, Slack, Signal, Microsoft Teams, and more. Running OpenClaw on your own Quake AI VM gives you full control over your data, 24/7 uptime, and the flexibility to choose any AI model provider.

## What gets deployed

The Console Apps installer provisions:

- **1 VM** running a pre-built OpenClaw image (Ubuntu with OpenClaw, nginx, and sslip.io TLS pre-installed)
- **HTTPS web interface** with auto-generated username and password
- **SSH access** as the `openclaw` user
- **Floating IP** for external access (auto-allocated)
- **Security group** configured for SSH (22), HTTP (80), and HTTPS (443)
- **25 GiB disk** (default, expandable via Advanced Options)
- **Interactive onboarding** via `openclaw onboard`: configures your AI provider, messaging platforms, and agent personality

## Prerequisites

- A Quake AI account with at least one project. If you have not created an account, sign up at [rumble.cloud](https://www.rumble.cloud).
- An API key from at least one AI model provider (OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, DeepSeek, or [OpenRouter](https://openrouter.ai/) for access to multiple providers with a single key)

## Recommended instance sizes

| Use case | Flavor | vCPU | RAM | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Getting started / personal | `s1a.medium` (default) | 4 shared | 4 GiB | Handles typical conversation volume for a single user |
| Team / multi-platform / skills | `m2a.xlarge` (select via Advanced Options) | 4 dedicated | 16 GiB | Recommended if running multiple skills or heavy browser automation |

OpenClaw requires a minimum of 2 GiB RAM for builds and 1 GiB at runtime.

## Install OpenClaw

### Step 1: Create your account and project

Log in to your account in the [Console](https://portal.rumble.cloud) and select the project where you want to install OpenClaw.

<Figure caption="Portal project selection">
  <img src="https://object.us-east-1.rumble.cloud/77e78aa9c0e04ed0b9d1a3f0626a8c4d:developer-platform-images/images/applications/openclaw/portal-project-selection-9de4b3ba.png" alt="Quake AI portal showing a project tile with Open Cloud Project and Install OpenClaw buttons" />
</Figure>

### Step 2: navigate to apps

From the Console, go to **Compute** > **Apps** and click **Spawn App**.

<Figure caption="Compute Apps page with Spawn App button">
  <img src="https://object.us-east-1.rumble.cloud/77e78aa9c0e04ed0b9d1a3f0626a8c4d:developer-platform-images/images/applications/openclaw/apps-spawn-app-9de4b3ba.png" alt="Console Compute Apps page showing the Spawn App button in the toolbar" />
</Figure>

### Step 3: Configure the app

Select the **OpenClaw** app. Assign it a name and select a keypair for SSH login. If you have not created a keypair, one is created for you automatically during the installation.
The default installation uses the `s1a.medium` flavor (4 shared vCPU, 4 GiB RAM) with 25 GiB disk and a web server for remote access. To customize the flavor, disk size, or other options, check **Configure Advanced Options**.

<Figure caption="App configuration form for OpenClaw">
  <img src="https://object.us-east-1.rumble.cloud/77e78aa9c0e04ed0b9d1a3f0626a8c4d:developer-platform-images/images/applications/openclaw/app-config-form-9de4b3ba.png" alt="OpenClaw app configuration form showing name, keypair selector, flavor selector, and Configure Advanced Options checkbox" />
</Figure>

### Step 4: Review and install

Review your selections and press **Install**.

<Figure caption="Review and install confirmation">
  <img src="https://object.us-east-1.rumble.cloud/77e78aa9c0e04ed0b9d1a3f0626a8c4d:developer-platform-images/images/applications/openclaw/review-install-9de4b3ba.png" alt="OpenClaw review and install screen with selection summary and Install button" />
</Figure>

### Step 5: Wait for the instance to become active

The Console redirects to the app page for your new OpenClaw VM. This page includes a summary of the basic steps to complete your installation, as well as the IP address and web URL.

The IP address is blank and the status shows **Build** when you first arrive. Refresh the page as the build progresses.

<Figure caption="App detail page showing Build status with no IP yet">
  <img src="https://object.us-east-1.rumble.cloud/77e78aa9c0e04ed0b9d1a3f0626a8c4d:developer-platform-images/images/applications/openclaw/build-status-9de4b3ba.png" alt="OpenClaw app detail page with Status: Build and IP address blank" />
</Figure>

After refreshing, you should see the status switch to **Active** and an IP address assigned.

<Figure caption="App detail page showing Active status and assigned IP">
  <img src="https://object.us-east-1.rumble.cloud/77e78aa9c0e04ed0b9d1a3f0626a8c4d:developer-platform-images/images/applications/openclaw/active-with-ip-9de4b3ba.png" alt="OpenClaw app detail page with Status: Active and assigned IP address" />
</Figure>

### Step 6: SSH into the VM

Using the SSH keypair you assigned (or the one that was auto-generated), log in to the new VM as the `openclaw` user:

```bash
ssh -i YOUR_SSH_PRIVATE_KEY.pem openclaw@YOUR_FLOATING_IP
```

On Windows, use an SSH client such as [PuTTY](https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/latest.html).

After connecting, you see an introduction message with setup instructions, your web access URL, and login credentials.

<Figure caption="SSH login banner showing onboarding instructions, web URL, and credentials">
  <img src="https://object.us-east-1.rumble.cloud/77e78aa9c0e04ed0b9d1a3f0626a8c4d:developer-platform-images/images/applications/openclaw/ssh-login-banner-9de4b3ba.png" alt="Terminal showing the OpenClaw welcome banner with quick-setup steps, web access URLs, and login credentials" />
</Figure>

## Configure OpenClaw

### Step 7: Run the onboarding wizard

Run `openclaw onboard` from the console. The wizard can take 10-30 seconds before the security banner appears.

### Step 8: Accept the security notice

Once the command starts, you see a banner with a security warning. Read the warning, select **Yes** with the arrow keys, and press **Enter**.

<Figure caption="Security warning prompt at the start of openclaw onboard">
  <img src="https://object.us-east-1.rumble.cloud/77e78aa9c0e04ed0b9d1a3f0626a8c4d:developer-platform-images/images/applications/openclaw/security-warning-9de4b3ba.png" alt="Terminal showing the OpenClaw security warning banner with Yes/No selection" />
</Figure>

### Step 9: select QuickStart

Select the **QuickStart** setup mode and press **Enter**.

<Figure caption="QuickStart setup mode selection">
  <img src="https://object.us-east-1.rumble.cloud/77e78aa9c0e04ed0b9d1a3f0626a8c4d:developer-platform-images/images/applications/openclaw/quickstart-selection-9de4b3ba.png" alt="OpenClaw setup mode menu with QuickStart highlighted" />
</Figure>

### Step 10: Config handling

Some settings are pre-configured in the image. If prompted about **Config Handling**, select **Use Existing Values**.

<Figure caption="Config Handling prompt with Use Existing Values selected">
  <img src="https://object.us-east-1.rumble.cloud/77e78aa9c0e04ed0b9d1a3f0626a8c4d:developer-platform-images/images/applications/openclaw/config-handling-9de4b3ba.png" alt="OpenClaw Config Handling prompt showing Use Existing Values selection" />
</Figure>

### Step 11: Select your AI provider

Select one model / auth provider. This guide uses OpenAI as an example, but any provider works.

<Figure caption="AI provider list">
  <img src="https://object.us-east-1.rumble.cloud/77e78aa9c0e04ed0b9d1a3f0626a8c4d:developer-platform-images/images/applications/openclaw/ai-provider-list-9de4b3ba.png" alt="OpenClaw provider selection menu listing OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, DeepSeek, and others" />
</Figure>

<Figure caption="OpenAI selected as the AI provider">
  <img src="https://object.us-east-1.rumble.cloud/77e78aa9c0e04ed0b9d1a3f0626a8c4d:developer-platform-images/images/applications/openclaw/openai-selected-9de4b3ba.png" alt="OpenClaw provider menu with OpenAI highlighted" />
</Figure>

### Step 12: Select your model

Choose your preferred model. If you do not have a preference, accept the default.

<Figure caption="Model selection within the chosen provider">
  <img src="https://object.us-east-1.rumble.cloud/77e78aa9c0e04ed0b9d1a3f0626a8c4d:developer-platform-images/images/applications/openclaw/model-selection-9de4b3ba.png" alt="OpenClaw model selection menu with model options for the selected provider" />
</Figure>

### Step 13: Enter your API key

Enter the API key for your chosen provider when prompted.

### Step 14: Set up a messaging platform (optional)

You can connect a messaging platform to control your OpenClaw from your phone. For the easiest setup, select **Telegram**. Select **Skip for now** if you want to configure messaging later.

<Figure caption="Messaging platform selection">
  <img src="https://object.us-east-1.rumble.cloud/77e78aa9c0e04ed0b9d1a3f0626a8c4d:developer-platform-images/images/applications/openclaw/messaging-platform-selection-9de4b3ba.png" alt="OpenClaw messaging platform menu with Telegram, Discord, Slack, and other options" />
</Figure>

If you selected Telegram, the wizard prompts for a bot API key. Leave the wizard waiting and follow the steps below.

<Figure caption="Telegram bot API key prompt">
  <img src="https://object.us-east-1.rumble.cloud/77e78aa9c0e04ed0b9d1a3f0626a8c4d:developer-platform-images/images/applications/openclaw/telegram-api-key-prompt-9de4b3ba.png" alt="OpenClaw prompt asking for the Telegram bot API key" />
</Figure>

#### Create a telegram bot

1. Download Telegram on your phone and create an account if you do not have one. Send "Help" to [@BotFather](https://t.me/BotFather).

<Figure caption="BotFather help reply listing available commands">
  <img src="https://object.us-east-1.rumble.cloud/77e78aa9c0e04ed0b9d1a3f0626a8c4d:developer-platform-images/images/applications/openclaw/botfather-help-9de4b3ba.png" alt="Telegram chat with BotFather showing the available bot commands" />
</Figure>

2. Send `/newbot`. BotFather asks for a display name (for example, `Quake AI OpenClaw`) and then a username that ends in `bot` (for example, `QuakeOpenClawDemoBot`). BotFather replies with an API key.

<Figure caption="BotFather replying with the bot API key">
  <img src="https://object.us-east-1.rumble.cloud/77e78aa9c0e04ed0b9d1a3f0626a8c4d:developer-platform-images/images/applications/openclaw/botfather-api-key-9de4b3ba.png" alt="Telegram chat with BotFather showing the placeholder bot API key for the newly created bot" />
</Figure>

3. Copy the API key from Telegram and paste it at the prompt in your console.

<Figure caption="API key pasted into the OpenClaw wizard">
  <img src="https://object.us-east-1.rumble.cloud/77e78aa9c0e04ed0b9d1a3f0626a8c4d:developer-platform-images/images/applications/openclaw/telegram-key-pasted-9de4b3ba.png" alt="OpenClaw onboarding TUI showing the placeholder Telegram bot token entered" />
</Figure>

### Step 15: Web search provider

Select a web search provider, or skip for now unless you have a paid search plan.

<Figure caption="Web search provider selection">
  <img src="https://object.us-east-1.rumble.cloud/77e78aa9c0e04ed0b9d1a3f0626a8c4d:developer-platform-images/images/applications/openclaw/web-search-provider-9de4b3ba.png" alt="OpenClaw web search provider menu with skip option" />
</Figure>

### Step 16: Configure skills

You can configure skills for your OpenClaw. The Quake AI image includes the packages needed for most default skills. If this is your first install, skip this for now: you can configure skills later.

<Figure caption="Skills configuration menu">
  <img src="https://object.us-east-1.rumble.cloud/77e78aa9c0e04ed0b9d1a3f0626a8c4d:developer-platform-images/images/applications/openclaw/skills-configuration-9de4b3ba.png" alt="OpenClaw skills menu with default skills listed and skip option" />
</Figure>

### Step 17: Configure hooks

The hooks menu works differently from the previous menus. Press **Space** on **Skip for now** (the square to the left should be filled in), then press **Enter**.

<Figure caption="Hooks menu with Skip for now selected via spacebar">
  <img src="https://object.us-east-1.rumble.cloud/77e78aa9c0e04ed0b9d1a3f0626a8c4d:developer-platform-images/images/applications/openclaw/hooks-spacebar-9de4b3ba.png" alt="OpenClaw hooks menu with Skip for now checkbox filled in" />
</Figure>

### Step 18: Hatch your agent

Finish setup by hatching your agent in the TUI.

<Figure caption="Hatch in TUI selection">
  <img src="https://object.us-east-1.rumble.cloud/77e78aa9c0e04ed0b9d1a3f0626a8c4d:developer-platform-images/images/applications/openclaw/hatch-in-tui-9de4b3ba.png" alt="OpenClaw onboarding TUI offering Hatch in TUI option" />
</Figure>


In some versions of OpenClaw, errors may appear and you drop directly to a prompt. If this happens, run `openclaw devices approve --latest` and then run `openclaw tui`.

<Figure caption="Approving the latest device with openclaw devices approve">
  <img src="https://object.us-east-1.rumble.cloud/77e78aa9c0e04ed0b9d1a3f0626a8c4d:developer-platform-images/images/applications/openclaw/devices-approve-9de4b3ba.png" alt="Terminal showing openclaw devices approve --latest output" />
</Figure>

<Figure caption="Manually launching the TUI with openclaw tui">
  <img src="https://object.us-east-1.rumble.cloud/77e78aa9c0e04ed0b9d1a3f0626a8c4d:developer-platform-images/images/applications/openclaw/openclaw-tui-9de4b3ba.png" alt="Terminal showing openclaw tui launching the OpenClaw interface" />
</Figure>


### Step 19: Name and personalize your agent

Give your agent a name and personality. Tell OpenClaw something like: "Hello, my name is YOUR_NAME. Your name should be YOUR_BOT_NAME. You are a witty ethereal robot that is eager to help out. You should use a cloud emoji to represent yourself. I am in the US Eastern time zone, so do not bother me between 10 PM and 6 AM. Can you finalize your bootstrapping and write what you need to disk, please."

<Figure caption="Agent name and personality prompt in the TUI">
  <img src="https://object.us-east-1.rumble.cloud/77e78aa9c0e04ed0b9d1a3f0626a8c4d:developer-platform-images/images/applications/openclaw/agent-personality-9de4b3ba.png" alt="OpenClaw TUI showing the agent being told a name, personality, and time zone preference" />
</Figure>

### Step 20: Exit the TUI

Type `/quit` to exit the TUI. You can restart it at any time by running `openclaw tui`.

<Figure caption="Exiting the TUI with /quit">
  <img src="https://object.us-east-1.rumble.cloud/77e78aa9c0e04ed0b9d1a3f0626a8c4d:developer-platform-images/images/applications/openclaw/tui-quit-9de4b3ba.png" alt="Terminal showing the OpenClaw TUI session ending after /quit" />
</Figure>
## Connect telegram

If you set up Telegram during onboarding, open your chat with BotFather and find the link to your bot (for example, `t.me/QuakeOpenClawBot`). Click the link: it opens a connection to your OpenClaw bot, which replies with instructions to pair.

<Figure caption="Telegram chat with your OpenClaw bot showing pairing instructions">
  <img src="https://object.us-east-1.rumble.cloud/77e78aa9c0e04ed0b9d1a3f0626a8c4d:developer-platform-images/images/applications/openclaw/telegram-pairing-instructions-9de4b3ba.png" alt="Telegram chat with the OpenClaw bot showing the access-not-configured message, Telegram user ID, and pairing code" />
</Figure>

From the command line, run the pair command from Telegram:

```bash
openclaw pairing approve telegram YOUR_PAIRING_CODE
```

<Figure caption="Approving the Telegram pairing from the SSH session">
  <img src="https://object.us-east-1.rumble.cloud/77e78aa9c0e04ed0b9d1a3f0626a8c4d:developer-platform-images/images/applications/openclaw/pairing-approval-9de4b3ba.png" alt="Terminal showing openclaw pairing approve telegram completing successfully with Approved telegram sender" />
</Figure>

## Access the web interface

Exit your current shell (type `exit`) and log back in. If external web access is enabled (the default), you see a **Web access via external HTTPS** section with a URL, username, and password. Open the URL in your browser and log in.

<Figure caption="SSH re-login showing web access URL and credentials">
  <img src="https://object.us-east-1.rumble.cloud/77e78aa9c0e04ed0b9d1a3f0626a8c4d:developer-platform-images/images/applications/openclaw/web-credentials-relogin-9de4b3ba.png" alt="Terminal showing the OpenClaw welcome banner with the external HTTPS URL, username, and obscured password on SSH re-login" />
</Figure>

The URL uses the format `https://YOUR_FLOATING_IP_WITH_HYPHENS.sslip.io/`, where `YOUR_FLOATING_IP_WITH_HYPHENS` is your floating IP with each dot replaced by a hyphen. TLS comes from [sslip.io](https://sslip.io/).

<Figure caption="OpenClaw web interface in the browser">
  <img src="https://object.us-east-1.rumble.cloud/77e78aa9c0e04ed0b9d1a3f0626a8c4d:developer-platform-images/images/applications/openclaw/web-interface-9de4b3ba.png" alt="OpenClaw web interface showing an example conversation with the agent" />
</Figure>

You can now interact with your OpenClaw through the web interface, the TUI (`openclaw tui`), or your connected messaging platforms.

<Figure caption="OpenClaw agent answering a question over Telegram">
  <img src="https://object.us-east-1.rumble.cloud/77e78aa9c0e04ed0b9d1a3f0626a8c4d:developer-platform-images/images/applications/openclaw/telegram-conversation-9de4b3ba.png" alt="Telegram chat with the OpenClaw bot showing an example conversation" />
</Figure>
## Security considerations

**Change the generated web password.** The default password is generated at deploy time and displayed in plaintext on SSH re-login. Treat it as a temporary credential.

**Protect your API keys.** AI provider API keys are managed by the onboarding wizard and stored on the VM. They are not exposed to the internet, but treat them as sensitive: restrict file permissions and keep your SSH keypair secure.

**Keep OpenClaw updated.** Check the [OpenClaw release notes](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw/releases) for update instructions. Follow security best practices documented at [OpenClaw security](https://docs.openclaw.ai/gateway/security).

## Troubleshooting

**`openclaw onboard` takes a long time to start.** The wizard can take 10-30 seconds to initialize on first run. Wait for the security banner before proceeding.

**TUI drops to a command prompt instead of launching.** Run `openclaw devices approve --latest` to approve the device, then run `openclaw tui` to launch the TUI manually.

**Hooks menu does not respond to Enter.** Unlike other menus in the onboarding wizard, the hooks selection requires you to press **Space** to fill the checkbox before pressing **Enter**.

## What is OpenClaw

OpenClaw is a free, open-source AI agent framework created by Peter Steinberger (founder of PSPDFKit) and maintained by the OpenClaw Foundation under the MIT license. It acts as a gateway server between AI models and messaging platforms, giving your AI assistant persistent memory, tool-calling capabilities, and access to over 3,200 community-built skills on [ClawHub](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw).

Unlike browser-based AI assistants, OpenClaw runs 24/7 on your own server. It supports any AI model, from cloud providers like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google to locally hosted models via Ollama. With Quake AI, your OpenClaw instance runs on infrastructure you own, with your data never leaving your control.

For more details and help, see [openclaw.ai](https://openclaw.ai).

## See also

- [Self-hosted AI on Quake AI](/docs/compute/concepts/self-hosted-ai): overview of all AI workload options
- [Run a local LLM with Ollama](/resources/deployments/run-local-llm): self-hosted inference for any agent framework
- [Deploy an AI agent](/resources/deployments/deploy-ai-agent): general guide covering Flowise, n8n, and custom stacks
- [Apps concept](/docs/compute/concepts/apps): how the Console Apps feature works
- [OpenClaw GitHub repository](https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw): source code and documentation
- [Compute service overview](/docs/compute): VM instances, flavors, and images