OpenClaw 24/7 Cloud Agent - One-Click RunPod Template
OpenClaw is one of the most powerful open-source AI agents available today. It can manage your emails, monitor Discord communities, interact on Telegram, and execute complex workflows autonomously. It is, quite literally, a digital employee.
But there is a massive problem with how most people use it: if you run it locally on your PC, your agent dies the second you close your laptop lid or turn off your machine. If an assistant isn't online 24/7, it isn't truly an assistant.
On the flip side, renting a dedicated cloud GPU just to run a text-based agent is massive overkill and can easily cost you $100+ a month.
I have engineered the perfect, low-cost solution.
I've built a custom One-Click RunPod Template specifically optimized for CPU deployment. By leveraging external APIs (like OpenAI, Anthropic, or Gemini) for the heavy lifting, we can run OpenClaw on a budget-friendly cloud VPS for as little as $0.07 per hour.
The Best Part? Total Persistence.
The biggest headache with cloud hosting is losing your data when you shut the server down. I've designed this specific deployment method to utilize a secure RunPod Network Volume. This means your agent's memory, settings, API keys, and connected channels are permanently saved to a dedicated drive.
You can pause your server to save pennies, and when you boot it back up, your agent resumes exactly where it left off. No messy reinstallations. No lost configurations.
This is the ultimate, hassle-free way to deploy a personal AI agent that works for you around the clock.
Phase 1: Creating the Persistent Drive (The Agent's Memory)
Before we launch the server, we need to create a secure, permanent hard drive. This is the secret to low-cost hosting: it ensures that if you ever stop or restart your server to save money, your OpenClaw agent remembers everything (your settings, API keys, and memory).
1. Create a New Network Volume
Log into your RunPod dashboard and navigate to the Storage > Network Volumes tab on the left menu. Click the purple + New Network Volume button.
2. Configure and Deploy the Storage
A new window will open. Here is exactly how to set it up:
Data Center Selection: Look at the "Availability" chart on the right side of the screen. You must select a Data Center region where "CPU" availability is listed as High (e.g., EU-RO-1, US-GA-2, etc.). Network volumes are locked to the region you choose.
Name: Give it a recognizable name (e.g., "OpenClaw_Brain").
Size: Set the size to 20 GB. (Note: You can always increase the size of your staorage later but cant decrease)
Click the Create Network Volume button.
Phase 2: Launching the Cloud Agent
3. Launch The Template & Claim Your Bonus
If you are new to RunPod, you can use my special referral link below to create your account. RunPod frequently offers free credits to new users who sign up through these links, which is a great way to test out your agent for free!*
>> Click Here to Launch the OpenClaw Template <<
(*Disclaimer: The exact amount of free credit awarded is determined entirely by RunPod's current promotions and may vary.)
Phase 3: Configuring the Hardware
Once you are on the deployment page, we need to select the right processing power and attach the brain (storage) we created earlier.
4. Select CPU & Attach Storage
First, click the "CPU" tab at the top left of the screen (OpenClaw runs efficiently on CPU when using external APIs).
CRITICAL STEP: Look at the top of the screen where it says "Network Volume". Click the dropdown and select the Volume you created in Phase 1 (e.g., OpenClaw_Brain).
Note: If you skip this, your agent will not save its memory!
5. Choose Your Instance
Scroll down to the instance types and select Compute-Optimized.
Look for an option with a 5+ GHz processor for the snappiest response times.
Select the efficient entry tier: 2 vCPUs and 4 GB RAM. This is perfect for running the agent 24/7.
Tip: You can always switch to a higher-performance CPU later if you decide to run complex, multi-agent tasks.
6. Deploy the Agent
Double-check that my template (midnightkidnaper/openclaw-launcher:v1) is loaded at the bottom. Then, simply click the purple "Deploy On-Demand" button.
Phase 4: Initialization & Access
Your server is now live, and my custom template is automatically building the environment for you.
7. The Automated Build
Once you click deploy, the template takes over. It will automatically download OpenClaw, install all necessary dependencies, and configure the backend. You don't need to do anything but wait.
8. The 10-Minute Wait
Click the "Logs" tab to watch the progress. The initial setup typically takes about 10 minutes.
Keep an eye on the log output.
You are waiting to see a specific message box that says "FIRST TIME SETUP".
Once you see that message, your agent is ready for you to take control.
Future Runs: Because we set up the persistent Network Volume in Phase 1, any time you start this pod in the future, it will be ready in just 1-3 minutes.
9. Open the Web Terminal
Now, go to the "Connect" tab.
Click the toggle switch to "Enable web terminal".
Once enabled, click the blue "Open web terminal" link that appears next to it. This will open a command line interface directly in your browser.
Phase 5: Onboarding & Activation (Crucial Steps)
You are now inside the brain of your new server. Let’s configure your agent.
10. Start the Onboarding Wizard
In the Web Terminal window that just opened, simply type the following command and hit Enter:
codeBash
openclaw onboard11. Configure Your Agent
The interactive wizard will guide you through the setup. Follow the prompts on the screen to:
Select your LLM: Choose the AI brain you want to use (e.g., OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini).
Connect Channels: Link your agent to where you want it to live (Discord, Telegram, Slack, etc.).
Enable Skills: Give your agent powers, like web browsing or file management.
Once finished, the wizard will confirm the setup is complete.
12. The Final Lock-In (Soft Reset)
This is the most important step to ensure your agent runs 24/7.
Go back to your main RunPod dashboard for this pod.
Click the "More Actions" (three dots) or the "Restart Pod" button.
Why? This soft reset initializes the "Gateway" in the background. When the pod turns back on, your agent will auto-start and run forever in the background, fully configured and ready to work.
Your personal AI agent is now online, persistent, and ready to serve.
The Power of Persistence: Stop & Start at Will
Congratulations. You haven't just installed software; you have deployed a flexible workforce.
The true power of this setup is the Network Volume we created. Your agent's "brain" lives on that permanent drive, not the temporary server.
đź’° Save Money: The "On-Demand" Strategy
You do not have to keep this running 24/7 if you don't need to.
Stop & Save: When you are done using your agent, simply click "Terminate" on the pod. This stops the hourly CPU billing immediately. You only pay the tiny fee for the storage volume (a few cents a month).
Instant Resume: When you need your agent again, just deploy a new pod, select your existing Network Volume, and your agent will wake up exactly as you left it—ready to work in under 3 minutes.
Whether you run it 24/7 for pennies or spin it up on-demand for specific tasks, you have total control.
Give Your Agent Something to Work On
Now you have the workforce. You need the tools.
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A subscription grants you immediate access to my entire library of flagship workflows:
The Influencer Studio: Create cinematic, camera-controlled videos.
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>> Join The Midnight Lab on Gumroad <<
Happy automating!