Openclaw reverse proxy ssl setup

This guide gives a direct, practical path to configure an openclaw reverse proxy ssl on an Ubuntu VPS using Nginx or Traefik with Docker. It includes working commands, a security checklist (least privilege and secret management), an update policy, and resource-tier guidance so you can get a hardened deployment quickly.

Prerequisites

• OpenClaw control plane access and an Ubuntu VPS (SSH + sudo).
• A registered domain and DNS A/AAAA record pointed at the VPS.
• Docker and Docker Compose on the VPS, or system Nginx if you prefer a non-containerized reverse proxy.
• Firewall (UFW) configured to limit management access.
• An account with any VPS provider that offers security features (private networking, automatic backups, snapshotting, and SSH key management).

Quick setup commands (Docker, UFW, basics)

Run these commands on Ubuntu to install Docker, enable the firewall, and open ports for HTTP/HTTPS and SSH.

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install -y apt-transport-https ca-certificates curl gnupg lsb-release
curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com -o get-docker.sh && sudo sh get-docker.sh
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER
sudo apt install -y docker-compose
# Basic UFW rules
sudo ufw default deny incoming
sudo ufw default allow outgoing
sudo ufw allow OpenSSH
sudo ufw allow 80/tcp
sudo ufw allow 443/tcp
sudo ufw enable

Openclaw reverse proxy ssl with Traefik example

Traefik automates ACME certificate issuance and integrates with Docker labels. Below is a minimal docker-compose example. Adjust resolver email and domain values before use.

version: '3.7'
services:
  traefik:
    image: traefik:v2.10
    command:
      - --api.insecure=false
      - --providers.docker=true
      - --entrypoints.web.address=:80
      - --entrypoints.websecure.address=:443
      - --certificatesresolvers.le.acme.email=you@example.com
      - --certificatesresolvers.le.acme.storage=/letsencrypt/acme.json
      - --certificatesresolvers.le.acme.tlschallenge=true
    ports:
      - 80:80
      - 443:443
    volumes:
      - /var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock:ro
      - ./letsencrypt:/letsencrypt
    restart: unless-stopped

Example application service labels (in the same compose file or separate):

  web:
    image: yourimage
    labels:
      - "traefik.http.routers.web.rule=Host(`app.example.com`)"
      - "traefik.http.routers.web.entrypoints=websecure"
      - "traefik.http.routers.web.tls.certresolver=le"
    restart: unless-stopped

System Nginx as reverse proxy (basic SSL flow)

If you prefer system Nginx (non-Docker), use Certbot to obtain certificates and configure a server block to proxy. Example workflow:

sudo apt install -y nginx certbot python3-certbot-nginx
# Obtain certificate (interactive first run):
sudo certbot --nginx -d app.example.com
# Certbot will update your nginx config and set up automatic renewals via cron/systemd
sudo systemctl reload nginx

Security

Security must be deliberate. Follow least-privilege principles and manage secrets outside images. Use the following checklist and link to additional guidance when hardening the host or auditing operations.

• Least privilege: run services as non-root inside containers and on the host; limit API sockets and bind mounts to readonly when possible.
• Secret management: do not bake secrets into images or compose files. Use Docker secrets, environment injection from OpenClaw secrets vault, or a dedicated secret manager.
• Firewall and network segmentation: restrict management ports to specific IPs and use private networks for internal services.
• SSH key management: use keys, disable password auth, and enable fail2ban for protection.
• Audit and monitoring: enable logs and integrate with your audit process; see audit skills for operational checks.
• Backups and snapshots: take regular snapshots before major changes.
• Use minimal base images and keep images scanned for vulnerabilities.

For host hardening, review how to harden your VPS and choose a provider with strong security controls; compare options on our best hosting guide.

Update policy and maintenance

Define an update policy that separates emergency patching from routine maintenance. Key items:

• Automated certificate renewal: Certbot and Traefik ACME handle renewal. Verify renewal with a dry run and monitor renewal logs.
• Container updates: pull and test images in staging before production. Typical commands:

# Pull updated images and recreate containers
docker-compose pull
docker-compose up -d --remove-orphans
# Optional: recreate a single service
docker-compose up -d --no-deps --build web

• Patch windows: schedule regular maintenance windows for kernel and package upgrades on the VPS and restart services as required.
• Rollback plan: keep snapshots or images to rollback quickly if an update causes issues.

Resource tiers and VPS guidance

Select a VPS tier based on concurrency, memory needs, and I/O. Guidance:

• Small tiers: suitable for low-traffic staging, small personal projects, or testing. Focus on SSD storage for speed.
• Medium tiers: typical for production web apps behind a reverse proxy; prioritize RAM and network throughput.
• Large tiers: required for high-concurrency, compute-heavy workloads—consider dedicated CPU and higher network limits.

Also evaluate provider security features (private networking, automatic backups, snapshots, managed firewalls, and SSH key management) when choosing any VPS provider.

Traefik vs Nginx — practical notes

• Traefik: integrates smoothly with Docker labels, automates ACME, and is convenient for dynamic container environments. Good for frequent deployments and many short-lived services.
• Nginx: mature, highly configurable, and robust for static routing and advanced HTTP features. Good when you need custom tuning or when not using Docker.

Checklist before going live

• Domain and DNS records validated for each hostname.
• Certificates obtained and auto-renewal tested.
• Firewall rules restrict management access; HTTP/HTTPS open to needed ports only.
• Secrets moved out of compose files into a secret manager.
• Non-root service accounts and least-privilege container settings applied.
• Monitoring and backups in place; snapshot available for rollback.

Recommendation

For a beginner on OpenClaw using Ubuntu and Docker, Traefik provides a quick, automated path to get TLS working with minimal manual certificate work; Nginx remains an excellent choice if you need explicit control. Choose a hardened VPS from any VPS provider that offers strong security features (SSH key management, snapshots, private networking) and follow the checklists above. To continue, review how to harden your VPS, compare providers via our best hosting page, and strengthen operations with audit skills. Secure your deployment by applying the least-privilege and secret management practices outlined here and keeping an explicit update policy.