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1. Log into [DigitalOcean](https://cloud.digitalocean.com/).
2. Click **Create > Droplets**.
3. Choose:
   * **Region:** Closest to you
   * **Image:** Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
   * **Size:** Basic, Regular, 1 vCPU / 1 GB RAM / 25 GB SSD
   * **Authentication:** SSH key (recommended) or password
4. Click **Create Droplet** and note the IP address.

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apt update && apt upgrade -y

# Install Node.js 24
curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_24.x | bash -
apt install -y nodejs

# Install OpenClaw
curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash
openclaw --version
```

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The wizard walks you through model auth, channel setup, gateway token generation, and daemon installation (systemd).

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**Option A: SSH tunnel (simplest)**

```bash}
# From your local machine
ssh -L 18789:localhost:18789 root@YOUR_DROPLET_IP
```

Then open `http://localhost:18789`.

**Option B: Tailscale Serve**

```bash}
curl -fsSL https://tailscale.com/install.sh | sh
tailscale up
openclaw config set gateway.tailscale.mode serve
openclaw gateway restart
```

Then open `https://<magicdns>/` from any device on your tailnet.

**Option C: Tailnet bind (no Serve)**

```bash}
openclaw config set gateway.bind tailnet
openclaw gateway restart
```

Then open `http://<tailscale-ip>:18789` (token required).