OpenClaw on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Minimal

OpenClaw on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Minimal provides a lightweight Azure VM image with OpenClaw, Node.js, npm, Git, and essential system tools installed. It is designed for customers who want to run a self-hosted, always-available AI assistant without building the Linux environment from scratch.

What Is OpenClaw?

OpenClaw is a personal AI assistant and automation platform that connects supported AI models with messaging channels, agents, tools, schedules, workflows, and external services. It can act as a central control plane for conversations, task automation, notifications, development workflows, and multi-agent operations.

What Problems Does It Solve?

• Complex Installation: OpenClaw and its required Node.js runtime are already installed and ready for customer onboarding.
• Always-On Availability: Run the assistant continuously in Azure instead of relying on a personal computer remaining online.
• Scattered Communication: Connect supported channels such as Telegram, Slack, Discord, Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp, WebChat, and others from one environment.
• Repetitive Work: Create agents, scheduled tasks, notifications, workflows, and approved automation for personal or business use.
• Infrastructure Setup: Begin with an Azure-ready Ubuntu Minimal image using SSH, UFW, cloud-init, and the Azure Linux Agent.

Who Is It For?

• Individuals: Run a private, self-hosted AI assistant that remains available across devices and messaging channels.
• Developers: Use agents for coding tasks, repository workflows, scripts, research, testing, and development automation.
• IT Administrators: Operate a central assistant for approved server tasks, monitoring, notifications, and operational workflows.
• Small Businesses: Create assistants for internal support, task coordination, customer communication, reporting, and team workflows.
• Advanced Users: Build multi-agent environments with separate workspaces, tools, channels, permissions, and sessions.

Common Use Cases

• Personal AI assistant hosted continuously in Azure
• Telegram, Slack, Discord, Teams, WhatsApp, and WebChat assistants
• Scheduled reports, reminders, alerts, and recurring tasks
• Developer and DevOps assistance
• Multi-agent routing for different teams, channels, or projects
• Business workflow and notification automation
• Secure remote access to the OpenClaw dashboard

Getting Started

After deploying the VM, connect through SSH and start the guided configuration:

openclaw onboard --install-daemon

The onboarding process guides the customer through configuring the gateway, AI model provider, authentication, workspace, channels, agents, and optional skills.

After onboarding, useful commands include:

openclaw gateway status
openclaw doctor
openclaw security audit --deep
openclaw channels status
openclaw models status

Secure Dashboard Access

The OpenClaw gateway port is not exposed publicly by default. Customers can securely access the dashboard through an SSH tunnel:

ssh -L 18789:127.0.0.1:18789 USER@VM_PUBLIC_IP

Then open http://127.0.0.1:18789 on the local computer.

Included Software

• Ubuntu 24.04 LTS Minimal Server
• OpenClaw
• Node.js 24 and npm
• Git and curl
• OpenSSH Server
• UFW firewall
• Azure Linux Agent and cloud-init

Important Notes

This image does not include an AI model, API subscription, model-provider account, messaging credentials, channel tokens, customer data, or preconfigured agents. Customers must provide their own supported AI provider credentials and complete OpenClaw onboarding after deployment.

Only SSH is allowed through the operating-system firewall by default. Customers are responsible for configuring authentication, connected services, plugins, skills, agent permissions, backups, updates, monitoring, network security, and production hardening.

OpenClaw agents may be granted access to files, commands, services, and connected accounts. Customers should follow least-privilege practices, review permissions carefully, keep DM pairing enabled, and use sandboxing where appropriate.

No additional software licence fee is charged by this offer. Azure infrastructure charges and any third-party AI model, messaging, API, or service charges still apply.