What is OpenClaw?
OpenClaw is agent software that runs on infrastructure you control. ClawKickstart helps you deploy and manage it on a VPS without doing the server setup by hand.
Dashboard FAQ
Answers for common setup, server management, agent configuration, and operations questions.
Getting started
What is Hermes Agent?
Hermes Agent is an AI agent framework from Nous Research. ClawKickstart can provision a Hermes Agent instance on your VPS and connect it to the supported setup flow.
Can I use an existing VPS?
Yes. Choose Manual VPS when creating an instance, then provide the host, SSH user, and SSH port for a server you already control.
What happens after provisioning?
After the server is ready, use Set up Agent to add your model provider credentials, Telegram bot token, starter pack, and personality settings.
Hetzner and VPS management
How do I create a Hetzner API token?
Log in to Hetzner Cloud, open your project’s Security area, and generate a Read & Write API token. In ClawKickstart, open Create Instance, choose Hetzner Cloud, and paste it into the Hetzner API Token field before clicking Verify token. See the step-by-step guide.
Why should I save my Hetzner API token?
Save the token somewhere safe because ClawKickstart asks for it again when you want to use Destroy Server to delete the Hetzner VPS from your account.
Why do I need the token again to Destroy Server?
The dashboard does not keep your Hetzner API token after provisioning. Asking for it again keeps the delete action intentional and avoids storing long-lived cloud credentials.
Does Remove Instance delete my VPS?
No. Remove Instance only removes the agent record from ClawKickstart. Use Destroy Server if you want ClawKickstart to delete the Hetzner VPS, or delete the server manually in your VPS provider dashboard.
What is the difference between Remove Instance and Destroy Server?
Remove Instance cleans up the dashboard record. Destroy Server is the provider-level action that deletes the underlying Hetzner server and helps stop future VPS billing.
How do I safely remove an instance?
Export the full bundle first if you may want the agent configuration or data later. Remove Instance deletes the ClawKickstart dashboard record and stops Care monitoring and alerts for that instance, but leaves your VPS, its agent files, and your cloud and agent-provider accounts under your control. To permanently delete a Hetzner VPS and its server data, choose Destroy Server, paste a Hetzner API token with permission to delete that server, and type DELETE to confirm; the dashboard does not retain that token. For a Manual VPS, delete the server in your provider dashboard or API. Removing or destroying an instance does not cancel a Care subscription automatically, so manage Care billing separately from Billing.
Agent setup and providers
Can I switch model providers later?
Yes. Reconfigure the agent from the dashboard when you need to change provider, model, API key, Telegram token, starter pack, or personality settings.
Why does switching providers show a stronger warning?
Changing providers replaces the active server configuration for that agent. The warning helps prevent accidentally removing working credentials or changing model behavior unintentionally.
Where do I find my Telegram bot token?
Create a bot with BotFather in Telegram, copy the token it gives you, then paste it into Set up Agent. The dashboard also links to the Telegram token help page.
Operations
When should I use diagnostics?
Run diagnostics when the agent is not responding, the gateway looks unhealthy, SSH was recently changed, or you want a quick snapshot of service status and recent logs.
What are backups and imports for?
Full exports preserve the live OpenClaw or Hermes folder from the server. Imports let you restore or move an existing agent bundle into a managed ClawKickstart instance.
What does Recent activity show?
Recent activity shows provisioning, setup, diagnostics, restart, export, import, update, remove, and destroy operations so you can see what changed and when.