ClawdBot Field Guide
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ClawdBot Hosting & Deployment: Local, VPS, AWS & Always-On Setup

How to keep ClawdBot running reliably: local vs cloud tradeoffs, home lab tips, budget VPS options, security for remote access, and always-on operation.

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ClawdBot Field Guide is an independent, third‑party site that curates practical explanations from the included article set. This page is a topic hub built from multiple focused write-ups, so you can read end-to-end or jump directly to the subsection you need.

If you’re new, skim the table of contents first. If you’re evaluating an implementation or making a purchase decision, pay attention to the tradeoffs and check the references at the end of each subsection.

Below: 5 subsections that make up “ClawdBot Hosting & Deployment: Local, VPS, AWS & Always-On Setup”.

Local vs Cloud Deployment: Which Should You Choose?

ClawdBot can run on your own machine or on a cloud VPS. The right choice depends on one question: do you want your assistant to be available only when your computer is on, or truly 24/7?

Local deployment (laptop / home server)

Best for:

  • fast experimentation and iteration
  • maximum privacy and minimal exposure
  • workflows tied to your local files and devices

Tradeoffs:

  • availability depends on your machine being awake
  • remote access requires extra setup (VPN/tunnel)

Cloud deployment (VPS)

Best for:

  • always-on assistants and scheduled jobs
  • consistent uptime and stable networking
  • separating your “assistant server” from your daily computer

Tradeoffs:

  • you now operate a server (updates, monitoring, backups)
  • security posture matters more (treat it like any internet-connected service)

A sensible migration path

  1. Start local until you have one workflow you use daily.
  2. Move to a small VPS for 24/7 only after you know it’s worth it.
  3. Keep remote access private (VPN) and tighten pairing/allowlists.

References

Home Lab Deployment

Running ClawdBot in a home lab gives you the “always-on” benefits of a server while keeping everything under your physical control. It’s a great middle ground: more reliable than a laptop, often cheaper than cloud long-term, and easier to integrate with local devices (NAS, Home Assistant, printers, local LLM rigs).

Home lab goals (keep them realistic)

For most users, the winning setup is:

  • one small machine that stays on 24/7
  • a secure way to reach it remotely (VPN)
  • automated restarts and basic monitoring

You don’t need Kubernetes to get value.

Recommended deployment pattern

  1. Dedicated host: run ClawdBot on a machine that isn’t constantly being rebooted for experiments.
  2. Separate identities: use a dedicated OS user for ClawdBot and lock down file permissions.
  3. Private networking: expose the gateway only on your LAN or VPN; avoid public ports.
  4. Backups: back up state/memory so a disk failure doesn’t erase your assistant’s context.

Common pitfalls

  • Mixing personal files and “automation” files without boundaries
  • Over-exposing the gateway to the internet
  • Turning on too many tools before you’ve set approvals and allowlists

References

Budget Cloud Hosting ($5-20/Month)

If you want ClawdBot to run 24/7, a small VPS is often the simplest path. In the $5–$20/month range, you can get a stable Linux box that runs the gateway continuously and handles scheduled jobs. The key is to keep the deployment boring: minimal services, private access, and clear backups.

What “budget hosting” is good for

  • always-on messaging (respond even when your laptop is asleep)
  • scheduled tasks (briefings, checks, monitoring)
  • separating work/personal automation from your daily machine

What it’s not good for

  • heavy local models (unless you pay for GPU instances)
  • large-scale scraping or high-volume automation (you’ll hit limits quickly)

A safe baseline setup

  1. Create a non-root user and update the system.
  2. Install ClawdBot and run the onboarding flow.
  3. Put the gateway behind a private access layer (VPN) and tighten pairing/allowlists.
  4. Run the gateway under a supervisor (systemd/pm2) so it restarts after reboots.
  5. Back up state/memory regularly.

References

Remote Access & Security

Remote access is where self-hosted assistants can go wrong. The gateway is effectively a “control plane” for tools: if someone can reach it, they may be able to trigger actions. The goal is simple: make remote access private by default and make actions reviewable by design.

The safest approach: private networking

Instead of exposing the gateway publicly, prefer:

  • a VPN (e.g., Tailscale)
  • SSH tunneling for occasional admin tasks
  • strict allowlists and pairing so only approved chats/users can interact

This keeps the assistant usable from anywhere without making it an internet-facing service.

Hardening checklist

  • Keep the gateway bound to localhost when possible.
  • Require pairing/approval flows for new chats/users.
  • Enable approvals for sensitive tools (browser, exec, file writes).
  • Store credentials with tight file permissions.
  • Monitor logs and rotate tokens/keys if you suspect leakage.

References

Background Service & Always-On Operation

ClawdBot becomes dramatically more useful when it’s always available: scheduled jobs run on time, messages get answered quickly, and automation doesn’t depend on your laptop being awake. Achieving “always-on” is mostly an operations problem: keep the gateway running, restart on failure, and keep access secure.

The core requirements

  • A stable host: home server or VPS
  • A process supervisor: systemd/launchd/pm2/Docker (pick one)
  • Private access: VPN or strict network boundaries
  • A backup plan: state and memory should be recoverable

Operating tips

  • Start with one agent and one channel; expand only after it’s stable.
  • Add monitoring later (uptime pings, log alerts) once you know what “normal” looks like.
  • Treat upgrades like any other service change: read notes, test, then deploy.

References

Related guides

These pages cover adjacent questions you’ll likely run into while exploring ClawdBot: