- name
- openclaw-server-secure-skill
- description
- Comprehensive security hardening and installation guide for OpenClaw (formerly Clawdbot/Moltbot). Use this skill when the user wants to secure a server, install the OpenClaw agent, or configure Tailscale/Firewall for the agent.
OpenClaw Server Security & Installation
Overview
This skill guides the setup of a secure, self-hosted OpenClaw instance. It covers SSH hardening, Firewall configuration, Tailscale VPN setup, and the OpenClaw installation itself.
Workflow
Phase 1: System Hardening
- Lock down SSH
- Goal: Keys only, no passwords, no root login. - Action: Modify /etc/ssh/sshd_config. - Commands:
# Backup config
sudo cp /etc/ssh/sshd_config /etc/ssh/sshd_config.bak
# Disable Password Auth
sudo sed -i 's/^#*PasswordAuthentication .*/PasswordAuthentication no/' /etc/ssh/sshd_config
# Disable Root Login
sudo sed -i 's/^#*PermitRootLogin .*/PermitRootLogin no/' /etc/ssh/sshd_config
# Reload SSH
sudo sshd -t && sudo systemctl reload ssh- Default-deny Firewall
- Goal: Block everything incoming by default. - Action: Install and enable UFW. - Commands:
sudo apt update && sudo apt install ufw -y
sudo ufw default deny incoming
sudo ufw default allow outgoing
sudo ufw enable*Note: Ensure you have console access or a fallback before enabling if SSH is not yet allowed on another interface, though we configure Tailscale next.*
- Brute-force Protection
- Goal: Auto-ban IPs after failed login attempts. - Action: Install Fail2ban. - Commands:
sudo apt install fail2ban -y
sudo systemctl enable --now fail2banPhase 2: Network Privacy (Tailscale)
- Install Tailscale
- Goal: Create a private VPN mesh network. - Commands:
curl -fsSL https://tailscale.com/install.sh | sh
sudo tailscale up- *Wait for user to authenticate the Tailscale link.*
- Configure SSH & Web via Tailscale
- Goal: Allow traffic only from the Tailscale subnet (100.64.0.0/10) and remove public access. - Commands:
# Allow SSH over Tailscale
sudo ufw allow from 100.64.0.0/10 to any port 22 proto tcp
# Remove public SSH access (Adjust rule name/number as needed)
sudo ufw delete allow OpenSSH || sudo ufw delete allow 22/tcp
# Allow Web ports over Tailscale
sudo ufw allow from 100.64.0.0/10 to any port 443 proto tcp
sudo ufw allow from 100.64.0.0/10 to any port 80 proto tcp- Disable IPv6 (Optional)
- Goal: Reduce attack surface. - Commands:
sudo sed -i 's/IPV6=yes/IPV6=no/' /etc/default/ufw
if ! grep -q "net.ipv6.conf.all.disable_ipv6 = 1" /etc/sysctl.conf; then
echo "net.ipv6.conf.all.disable_ipv6 = 1" | sudo tee -a /etc/sysctl.conf
fi
sudo sysctl -p && sudo ufw reloadPhase 3: OpenClaw Installation
- Install OpenClaw
- Commands:
npm install -g openclaw && openclaw doctor- Configure Owner Access
- Required Input: Ask the user for their Telegram ID. - Action: Update the config to allowlist only that ID. - JSON Config Target (verify location via openclaw doctor):
{
"dmPolicy": "allowlist",
"allowFrom": ["YOUR_TELEGRAM_ID"],
"groupPolicy": "allowlist"
}- Secure Credentials
- Goal: Restrict file permissions. - Commands:
chmod 700 ~/.openclaw/credentials 2>/dev/null || true
chmod 600 .env 2>/dev/null || true- Final Audit
- Action: Run the built-in security audit. - Command:
openclaw security audit --deepVerification Status
Run to confirm:
sudo ufw status verbose
ss -tulnp
tailscale status
openclaw doctor