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Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs2.openclaw.ai/llms.txt

Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

Run a persistent OpenClaw Gateway on Upstash Box, a managed Linux environment with keep-alive lifecycle support. Use an SSH tunnel for dashboard access. Do not expose the Gateway port directly to the public internet.

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Prerequisites

  • Upstash account
  • Keep-alive Upstash Box
  • SSH client on your local machine

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Create a Box

Create a keep-alive Box in the Upstash Console. Note the Box ID, such as right-flamingo-14486, and your Box API key. Upstash maintains its current OpenClaw Box walkthrough at OpenClaw Setup.

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Connect with an SSH tunnel

Forward the OpenClaw dashboard port to your local machine. Use your Box API key as the SSH password when prompted: 
ssh -o ServerAliveInterval=15 -o ServerAliveCountMax=3 -L 18789:127.0.0.1:18789 <box-id>@us-east-1.box.upstash.com
The keepalive options reduce idle tunnel drops during onboarding.

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Install OpenClaw

Inside the Box: 
sudo npm install -g openclaw

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Run onboarding

openclaw onboard --install-daemon
Follow the prompts. Copy the dashboard URL and token when onboarding finishes.

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Start the Gateway

Configure the Gateway for the Box network and start it in the background: 
openclaw config set gateway.bind lan
nohup openclaw gateway > gateway.log 2>&1 &
With the SSH tunnel active, open the dashboard URL locally: 
http://127.0.0.1:18789/#token=<your-token>

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Auto-restart

Set this command as the Box init script so the Gateway restarts when the Box starts: 
nohup openclaw gateway > gateway.log 2>&1 &

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Troubleshooting

If SSH freezes during onboarding, reconnect with a clean SSH config and keepalives: 
ssh -F /dev/null -o ControlMaster=no -o ServerAliveInterval=15 -o ServerAliveCountMax=3 -L 18789:127.0.0.1:18789 <box-id>@us-east-1.box.upstash.com
This bypasses stale local ~/.ssh/config settings and keeps the tunnel active through idle network periods.