How to Install OpenClaw AI on a VPS | Telegram + FREE NVIDIA API Setup 2026
Learn how to build a personal AI agent from scratch! In this 24-minute step-by-step tutorial, we set up OpenClaw AI on a DigitalOcean VPS and connect it directly to Telegram using a free Nvidia API key.
Deploy OpenClaw, the powerful open-source personal AI assistant, on a Linux VPS using DigitalOcean. In this step-by-step tutorial, we cover everything from setting up an Ubuntu server to connecting Nvidia's free LLM API keys and integrating a custom Telegram bot for remote execution.
We also dive into a critical configuration fix—adjusting the script timeout thresholds—to ensure your AI agent doesn't crash during long, complex automation workflows. Stay tuned until the end to see a live demo of OpenClaw interacting with GitHub to automatically configure and deploy a DevOps web server load-balancing lab!
Commands Used in This Video:
1. OpenClaw DigitalOcean Docs: https://docs.openclaw.ai/install/digi...
2. Access Config: nano ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json
3. Extend Timeout: openclaw config set models.providers.ollama.timeoutSeconds 300
🔗 Official Resources
📖 OpenClaw Documentation
https://docs.openclaw.ai/install
☁️ DigitalOcean Installation Guide
https://docs.openclaw.ai/install/digi...
🤖 NVIDIA NIM Models (Free API)
https://build.nvidia.com/models
📚 What You'll Learn
✅ Deploy OpenClaw on an Ubuntu VPS (DigitalOcean)
✅ Install all required dependencies
✅ Configure NVIDIA's FREE NIM API models
✅ Create and connect a Telegram bot using BotFather
✅ Run your AI agent remotely from Telegram
✅ Fix OpenClaw timeout issues for long-running tasks
✅ Watch a real-world automation demo using GitHub and DevOps
By the end of this tutorial, you'll have a fully functional personal AI assistant capable of executing commands remotely through Telegram.
🎯 Who Is This Video For?
AI Engineers
DevOps Engineers
Software Developers
Linux Users
Self-Hosting Enthusiasts
Open Source AI Users
Students Learning AI Automation
Anyone Interested in Personal AI Agents
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⏱️ Video Chapters (Timestamps)
0:00 - Introduction to OpenClaw AI Assistant & Video Overview
0:55 - Reviewing Official Installation Instructions & System Requirements
2:30 - Why You Should Use a VPS Instead of a Local PC (Security Warning)
3:45 - DigitalOcean Setup: Creating a New Ubuntu 24.04 Virtual Machine
11:15 - Installing Node.js & Necessary OpenClaw Dependencies
13:30 - Running the Official OpenClaw Installation Script
16:15 - Model Selection: Why We Are Using Nvidia's Free NIM API
17:30 - Step-by-Step: Getting Your Free Nvidia LLM API Key
19:10 - Telegram Integration: Creating Your AI Bot using BotFather
22:00 - Testing the AI: Sending Your First Command via Telegram
23:15 - Crucial Fix: Modifying Task Timeout Settings for Complex Prompts
24:10 - Live Demo: Instructing OpenClaw to Set Up a GitHub Lab
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