VPS headless AI agent with PicoClaw

A headless VPS (no desktop, SSH only) is a sweet spot for automation: always online, cheap, and easy to back up. PicoClaw’s small memory use means you can run an AI agent on entry-level instances where heavier runtimes struggle.

1. Choose the VPS shape

  • Pick a region close to your LLM provider or users to reduce latency.
  • 512 MB–1 GB RAM is often enough for PicoClaw plus OS overhead if you are not hosting the model on the same box.
  • Enable automated security updates and lock SSH to keys.

2. Install and configure

Follow Get Started for the binary or build. Place config under a dedicated directory, set provider keys per Configuration, and test with a one-off agent command before enabling long-running mode.

3. Keep it running

Use systemd for gateways or daemons. For purely scheduled work, cron plus picoclaw agent may suffice—see Linux cron AI jobs.

4. Webhooks and inbound traffic

If you expose HTTP, terminate TLS at nginx or Caddy, add basic auth or mTLS where appropriate, and rate-limit public endpoints. Internal-only agents can stay on private networks and VPNs.

5. Next steps