Install OpenClaw on Ubuntu 22.04 Guide | Generated by AI

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Question: How do I install OpenClaw on Linux kernel 6.8.0-90-generic (Ubuntu 22.04 x86_64)?

Answer:

Your system (6.8.0-90-generic #91~22.04.1-Ubuntu SMP) is running Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish) on x86_64 — this is fully supported by OpenClaw.

Prerequisites

Minimum system requirements:

Step 1 — Update System & Install Dependencies

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install -y git ca-certificates curl build-essential

Step 2 — Install Node.js 22 (Required)

OpenClaw requires Node.js 22+. Install it via the NodeSource repository:

# Add NodeSource repository
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_22.x | sudo -E bash -

# Install Node.js
sudo apt install -y nodejs

# Verify
node --version   # Should show v22.x.x
npm --version

Alternative: use nvm (recommended to avoid permission issues)

curl -o- https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nvm-sh/nvm/v0.39.0/install.sh | bash
source ~/.bashrc
nvm install 24
nvm use 24

Step 3 — Configure npm Global Path (if not using nvm)

To avoid permission issues with global npm packages:

mkdir -p ~/.npm-global
npm config set prefix '~/.npm-global'
echo 'export PATH=~/.npm-global/bin:$PATH' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

Step 4 — Install OpenClaw

Option A — Official Installer Script (recommended):

The installer script is the recommended way to install OpenClaw. It handles Node detection, installation, and onboarding in one step.

curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash

Option B — Git method (for full workspace/gateway support):

The Git method ensures you get the full source tree, including all workspace packages:

curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash -s -- --install-method git --no-prompt --no-onboard

Option C — npm global install:

npm install -g openclaw@latest

Step 5 — Verify Installation

openclaw --version

If the command is not found, add npm global bin to PATH:

echo 'export PATH=$(npm prefix -g)/bin:$PATH' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc

Step 6 — Run Onboarding (Mandatory)

You must run onboarding once. Follow the prompts carefully. This is not optional:

openclaw onboard

Step 7 — Install & Start the Gateway

openclaw gateway install
openclaw gateway start

Step 8 — Access the Dashboard

SSH tunneling is the only correct way to access the dashboard on a VPS or remote server:

# From your local machine:
ssh -N -L 18789:127.0.0.1:18789 your_user@YOUR_SERVER_IP

Then open in your browser: http://localhost:18789/

If a token is required:

openclaw dashboard --no-open
# Copy the tokenized URL and open it in your browser

Step 9 — Set Up as a systemd Service (Optional but Recommended)

Set up systemd so OpenClaw restarts automatically after crashes or reboots:

sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable openclaw
sudo systemctl start openclaw

# Check status
sudo systemctl status openclaw

# View real-time logs
sudo journalctl -u openclaw -f

Common Troubleshooting

Problem Fix
openclaw: command not found Add $(npm prefix -g)/bin to $PATH in ~/.bashrc
Dashboard won’t open Use SSH tunnel, not direct IP access
Crashes on startup Check RAM — minimum 2 GB required
Systemd using wrong Node version Reinstall using Git method

References:

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