From Broken Docker Containers to a Working AI Agent: The Full OpenClaw Journey
The author shares their experience setting up the open-source AI agent gateway OpenClaw on a Hetzner VPS, including various blockers they encountered and how they resolved them.
Why it matters
This article provides a detailed, real-world account of the challenges involved in setting up a personal AI agent, which can be helpful for others looking to do the same.
Key Points
- 1Encountered issues with missing packages and environment variables during Docker setup
- 2Struggled to get browser control working due to a mental model mismatch between the Docker container and the host system
- 3Faced a 3-day crash loop caused by a stray line in the configuration file
Details
The author wanted to set up a personal AI agent using OpenClaw, which allows you to connect a Telegram or web chat to an AI model and have it perform actions. They started by setting up a Hetzner VPS and following the official Docker-based setup. However, they encountered several blockers, including a missing package, issues with environment variables, and problems with browser control. After resolving these initial issues, they faced a 3-day crash loop caused by a stray line in the configuration file. Eventually, they migrated to a bare metal setup, which resolved all the issues and allowed the AI agent to function as expected.
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