Deploy OpenRouter - VPS Deployment

Overview

This guide walks you through deploying an AI assistant powered by OpenRouter using VPS Deployment. You'll configure the provider, set up the deployment environment, and get your assistant running.

Requirements

• Linux VPS: Ubuntu, Debian, or similar Linux distribution
• Node.js 22+: Node.js version 22 or higher
• SSH access: SSH access to the server
• systemd: For service management
• OpenRouter credentials: API key or authentication

Step 1: Configure OpenRouter

OpenRouter API key

1. Create account at openrouter.ai
2. Generate API key
3. Set OPENROUTER_API_KEY environment variable

Step 2: Prepare VPS Deployment Environment

1. Provision VPS: Create a VPS instance with your preferred provider (DigitalOcean, Hetzner, etc.)
2. Install Node.js: Install Node.js 22+ on the server

   curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_22.x | sudo -E bash - && sudo apt-get install -y nodejs

3. Install OpenClaw: Install OpenClaw globally

   npm install -g openclaw@latest

4. Run Onboarding: Complete setup and install systemd service

   openclaw onboard --install-daemon

5. Enable Service: Enable and start the systemd service

   systemctl --user enable --now openclaw-gateway.service

6. Configure Remote Access: Set up SSH tunnel or Tailscale for remote access

Step 3: Configuration

Create your openclaw.json configuration:

{
  "agents": {
    "defaults": {
      "model": {
        "primary": "openrouter/anthropic/claude-sonnet-4"
      }
    }
  },
  "models": {
    "providers": {
      "openrouter": {
  "models": {
    "providers": {
      "openrouter": {
        "apiKey": "${OPENROUTER_API_KEY}
    }
  }
}

Step 4: Deploy

{
  "gateway": {
    "mode": "remote",
    "bind": "loopback",
    "port": 18789,
    "auth": {
      "mode": "token"
    }
  }
}

Step 5: Verify

# Check deployment status
openclaw status

# View logs
openclaw logs --follow

# Test with a message
openclaw test "Hello, are you working?"

Connect to Channels

Now connect your deployed OpenRouter assistant to messaging channels: