# Advanced Guide: This guide targets Linux power users who run Arch Linux, Fedora, CentOS Stream, or Rocky Linux — distributions not covered by other OpenClaw guides focused on Ubuntu/Debian. Includes distro-specific package manager commands, systemd service configuration, SELinux handling (Fedora/RHEL), and VPN07 WireGuard setup for self-hosted AI agent servers.
The Linux ecosystem is home to some of the most sophisticated OpenClaw deployments. While most installation guides focus on Ubuntu and Debian (the most beginner-friendly distributions), a large portion of serious OpenClaw users run Arch Linux for its rolling release model and AUR packages, Fedora for the latest upstream software, or Rocky/CentOS for enterprise stability.
Each of these distributions has its own package manager, init system quirks, and security model. Arch uses pacman and the AUR. Fedora uses dnf with strict SELinux enforcement. Rocky and CentOS use dnf with enterprise-grade stability. This guide covers all three approaches in one comprehensive reference.
More importantly, this guide treats the network layer as infrastructure — not an afterthought. A self-hosted OpenClaw server on Linux is useless if its API connections are unstable. Whether you're running OpenClaw on a bare-metal home server, a VPS, or a workstation, VPN07's 1000Mbps service provides the network foundation that separates hobby experiments from production-quality AI agent deployments.
Choosing the Right Linux Distro for OpenClaw
Arch Linux — Best for Cutting-Edge Users
Rolling release · AUR access · Latest everythingArch Linux always has the latest Node.js and npm in its official repos. The AUR (Arch User Repository) may even have OpenClaw packages directly. Ideal for developers who want maximum control and the freshest software.
Fedora 41 — Best for Developers Who Want Stability
6-month release cycle · SELinux · Enterprise-adjacentFedora ships recent (though not bleeding-edge) Node.js. SELinux requires a few extra configuration steps for OpenClaw, but provides excellent security for a self-hosted AI server. The distro of choice for Red Hat developers.
Rocky Linux / CentOS Stream — Best for Servers
Enterprise stability · Long-term support · Production-gradeRocky Linux 9 and CentOS Stream 9 are RHEL-compatible, ideal for dedicated servers. Official repos may not have Node.js 22 — you'll use NodeSource. Best choice for always-on production deployments.
Installing OpenClaw on Arch Linux
# Step 1: Update system and install Node.js 22
sudo pacman -Syu
sudo pacman -S nodejs npm git curl
# Verify Node.js version (should be 22+)
node --version
# Optional: Install nvm via AUR for version management
# yay -S nvm (requires yay AUR helper)
# Or: paru -S nvm (requires paru)
# Step 2: Install OpenClaw globally
npm install -g openclaw
# Or use the official installer (recommended)
curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash
# Step 3: Create your agent
mkdir -p ~/openclaw-server && cd ~/openclaw-server
openclaw init arch-agent
cd arch-agent
openclaw onboard
Arch AUR Package (Community Maintained)
Check the AUR for a community-maintained OpenClaw package, which may simplify installation:
# With yay (AUR helper)
yay -S openclaw-git
# With paru
paru -S openclaw-git
# If no AUR package exists, use npm method above
Installing OpenClaw on Fedora 41
# Step 1: Install Node.js 22 via NodeSource (for Fedora)
curl -fsSL https://rpm.nodesource.com/setup_22.x | sudo bash -
sudo dnf install -y nodejs npm git curl
# Alternative: Use Fedora's built-in Node.js module
# sudo dnf module install nodejs:22
# Verify
node --version # v22.x.x
npm --version # 10.x.x
# Step 2: Handle SELinux for OpenClaw (Fedora-specific!)
# Allow Node.js to make outbound network connections
sudo setsebool -P httpd_can_network_connect 1
# Or create a custom SELinux policy if needed
sudo semanage port -a -t http_port_t -p tcp 18789
# Step 3: Install OpenClaw
curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash
# Step 4: Set up agent
mkdir -p ~/openclaw && cd ~/openclaw
openclaw init fedora-agent
cd fedora-agent
openclaw onboard
Fedora SELinux — Common OpenClaw Ports
# OpenClaw gateway default port: 18789
# Allow this port through SELinux
sudo semanage port -a -t http_port_t -p tcp 18789
# Allow Node.js network access (if denied)
sudo setsebool -P nis_enabled 1
# Check SELinux audit log for denied operations
sudo ausearch -m avc -ts recent | audit2why
Installing OpenClaw on Rocky Linux / CentOS Stream
# Step 1: Enable NodeSource for Node.js 22
curl -fsSL https://rpm.nodesource.com/setup_22.x | sudo bash -
sudo dnf install -y nodejs npm git curl wget
# Verify installation
node --version
# Step 2: Install required build tools
sudo dnf groupinstall -y "Development Tools"
sudo dnf install -y python3
# Step 3: Open firewall for OpenClaw gateway
sudo firewall-cmd --permanent --add-port=18789/tcp
sudo firewall-cmd --reload
# Step 4: Install OpenClaw
curl -fsSL https://openclaw.ai/install.sh | bash
# Step 5: Create agent
mkdir -p /opt/openclaw && cd /opt/openclaw
openclaw init rocky-agent
cd rocky-agent
openclaw onboard
Advanced: systemd Service Configuration (All Distros)
All three distributions use systemd, making service configuration consistent. Create a proper system-level service (not a user service) for production deployments:
[Unit]
Description=OpenClaw Personal AI Agent
Documentation=https://openclaw.ai/docs
After=network-online.target
Wants=network-online.target
[Service]
Type=simple
User=openclaw
Group=openclaw
WorkingDirectory=/opt/openclaw/my-agent
ExecStart=/usr/bin/node /usr/local/lib/node_modules/openclaw/bin/openclaw.js gateway start
Restart=always
RestartSec=10
StartLimitInterval=60
StartLimitBurst=5
# Security hardening
NoNewPrivileges=true
PrivateTmp=true
ProtectSystem=strict
ReadWritePaths=/opt/openclaw
# Resource limits
LimitNOFILE=65536
MemoryMax=2G
CPUQuota=80%
[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target
# Create dedicated system user (best practice)
sudo useradd -r -s /bin/false -d /opt/openclaw openclaw
sudo chown -R openclaw:openclaw /opt/openclaw
# Install and enable the service
sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable openclaw
sudo systemctl start openclaw
# Monitor service status
sudo systemctl status openclaw
sudo journalctl -u openclaw -f # Live log stream
# Check if service survived a reboot
sudo systemctl is-active openclaw
Security Note: Running OpenClaw as a dedicated openclaw system user (not root, not your personal user) is best practice for production Linux servers. The systemd hardening options above limit what the process can access if compromised.
Why VPN07 is Essential for Linux OpenClaw Servers
A Linux server running OpenClaw is a production system. It needs production-grade network reliability. Whether you're hosting at home, on a VPS, or in a datacenter, the path from your server to Anthropic's APIs isn't guaranteed to be fast or stable without intervention.
Linux Server Without VPN
- ❌ Home ISP: Dynamic IP changes break webhook sessions
- ❌ VPS: Shared datacenter bandwidth gets throttled
- ❌ Overseas servers: Poor routing to US-based AI APIs
- ❌ No protection against API key exposure in transit
- ❌ ISP rate-limiting repeated API pattern traffic
Linux Server + VPN07
- ✅ Stable IP via VPN endpoint — webhooks stay persistent
- ✅ Dedicated 1000Mbps — no shared bandwidth throttling
- ✅ Optimized routing to US API datacenters globally
- ✅ Encrypted transit — API keys protected end-to-end
- ✅ No rate-limiting — clean IP not associated with bot traffic
VPN07 — Top Recommended VPN for Linux OpenClaw Servers
Linux administrators demand a VPN that works from the command line without a GUI. VPN07 supports WireGuard on Linux, which can be configured as a persistent network interface that stays up across reboots — perfect for server deployments. The 1000Mbps channel guarantees your OpenClaw server never becomes the network bottleneck, even under peak API load. With 10 years of operation and 70+ server locations, VPN07 is the enterprise-grade choice at a consumer price of $1.5/month.
Linux Server VPN Comparison:
2. ProtonVPN
7.5/10Good Linux CLI support and privacy track record. However, bandwidth limits on lower plans and higher pricing ($4+/mo) make it less competitive than VPN07 for always-on server use.
3. Mullvad
7.0/10Excellent WireGuard support and no-logging policy. Limited to fewer servers than VPN07's 70+ country network, which can impact routing quality for AI APIs in specific regions.
Install VPN07 WireGuard on Linux (CLI Method)
🏹 Arch Linux
sudo pacman -S wireguard-tools
sudo wg-quick up /etc/wireguard/vpn07.conf
sudo systemctl enable --now wg-quick@vpn07
🎩 Fedora
sudo dnf install -y wireguard-tools
# Copy your VPN07 WireGuard config to /etc/wireguard/vpn07.conf
sudo wg-quick up vpn07
sudo systemctl enable --now wg-quick@vpn07
🪨 Rocky Linux / CentOS Stream
sudo dnf install -y elrepo-release epel-release
sudo dnf install -y kmod-wireguard wireguard-tools
sudo wg-quick up vpn07
sudo systemctl enable --now wg-quick@vpn07
Download your WireGuard config file from your VPN07 account dashboard. Place it at /etc/wireguard/vpn07.conf (chmod 600). The config includes your private key and the VPN07 server endpoint automatically.
Production Monitoring for Linux OpenClaw Servers
Health Check Script
#!/bin/bash
# /opt/openclaw/health-check.sh
if ! systemctl is-active --quiet openclaw; then
echo "OpenClaw DOWN - restarting..."
systemctl restart openclaw
# Optionally notify via curl/webhook
fi
# Run every 5 minutes via cron
# */5 * * * * /opt/openclaw/health-check.sh
Network Quality Monitor
#!/bin/bash
# Check API connectivity
API_MS=$(curl -w "%{time_total}" -o /dev/null \
-s https://api.anthropic.com)
echo "Anthropic API: ${API_MS}s"
# Check VPN status
wg show vpn07 | grep "latest handshake"
# Alert if latency > 0.5s
if (( $(echo "$API_MS > 0.5" | bc) )); then
echo "ALERT: High API latency! Check VPN07."
fi
Useful systemd Monitoring Commands
# View live OpenClaw logs
journalctl -u openclaw -f --no-pager
# See last 100 lines of logs
journalctl -u openclaw -n 100
# Check service uptime and restart count
systemctl show openclaw --property=ActiveEnterTimestamp,NRestarts
# View resource usage
systemctl show openclaw --property=MemoryCurrent,CPUUsageNSec
# Full service status
systemctl status openclaw -l
Supercharge Your Linux OpenClaw Server with VPN07
Your production Linux OpenClaw server demands enterprise-grade networking. VPN07 delivers 1000Mbps dedicated bandwidth, full WireGuard CLI support, and 70+ global servers — everything your Arch, Fedora, or Rocky Linux AI server needs to run flawlessly 24/7. With 10 years of proven operation and just $1.5/month, VPN07 is the most cost-effective performance upgrade you can make. 30-day money-back guarantee.
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