Installing and Configuring a Telegram Bot with OpenClaw

‍‌​openclaw is A powerful AI-driven bot framework that supports integration with multiple models and platforms. This guide provides a detailed walkthrough on how to deploy OpenClaw on a Tencent Cloud Lighthouse server and integrate it with the Telegram platform, enabling you to build a reliable AI assistant service for your projects.

Environment Preparation

Server Requirements

• Recommended Configuration: Tencent Cloud Lighthouse (minimum 2 vCPUs, 2 GB RAM)

• Operating System: Ubuntu 20.04 LTS or newer

• Network Environment: A server located outside mainland China (to ensure smooth access to GitHub and other international services)

• Disk Space: At least 10 GB of free storage

Prerequisites

Ensure your server can:

• Access GitHub without restrictions

• Connect to the OpenRouter API

• Communicate with the Telegram bot API

installation Steps

Step 1: Download and Run the Installation Script

Use the official installation script for quick deployment:

curl -fsSL https://openclaw.bot/install.sh | bash

Step 2: Accept the Disclaimer

After installation, the system will display a disclaimer. Carefully read it and type yes to proceed.

Step 3: Choose Installation Mode

We recommend selecting QuickStart mode for rapid setup.

Configuration Phase

Step 4: Configure the Model Provider

Select openrouter as your model provider and complete the following:

1. Enter your OpenRouter API Key: Obtain this key from your OpenRouter dashboard.

2. Choose a Model: We recommend moonshotai/Kimi-k2.5—a well-balanced option in terms of performance and cost.

Step 5: Configure the Telegram Platform

Select Telegram as your target platform:

1. Enter Your Bot Token: Use the token issued by @BotFather when you created your Telegram bot.

2. Confirm Configuration: The system will validate your token automatically.

Step 6: Complete Remaining Settings

For all other options, we recommend accepting the default settings—the installer will handle them automatically.

Pairing & Authentication

Step 7: Establish Telegram Connection

1. Generate a Pairing Code: Send any message to your Telegram bot. The system will generate a unique pairing code.

2. Approve the Pairing on the Server: Run the following command on your server, replacing [pairing-code] with the actual code:

openclaw pairing approve telegram [pairing-code]

Upon successful pairing, you’ll see a confirmation message indicating that the system is running properly.

Usage

Now you can start chatting with your AI bot directly in Telegram! Just send a message to your bot, and it will reply using the configured AI model.

Troubleshooting

Issue 1: Unable to Access GitHub

# Check network connectivity
ping github.com

# If needed, configure a proxy
export https_proxy=http://your-proxy:port

Issue 2: API Key Validation Failed

• Verify that your OpenRouter API key is correctly formatted.

• Check your OpenRouter account balance and permissions.

• Ensure the model name (e.g., moonshotai/kimi-k2.5) is spelled correctly.

Issue 3: Telegram Bot Fails to Connect

• Confirm that your Bot Token is valid and hasn’t been revoked.

• Make sure the bot has been started (send it a /start command).

• Check your server’s firewall settings to ensure outbound HTTPS traffic (port 443) is allowed.

Viewing Logs

Check the service status and real-time logs:

openclaw status
openclaw logs --follow

Performance Optimization Recommendations

Server Tuning

1. Memory: For high-concurrency scenarios, use at least 4 GB RAM.

2. Network: Consider using a CDN or proxy to accelerate API responses.

3. Storage: Use SSD storage to improve I/O performance.

Model Selection Guidance

• Cost-sensitive: Use models like moonshotai/kimi-k2.5 (Chinese-developed, affordable).

• Performance-first: Opt for advanced models such as GPT-5.2 or claude-4-5-Opus (if available via OpenRouter).

Monitoring & Maintenance

Daily Monitoring

• System Resources: Regularly monitor CPU and memory usage.

• API Health: Track OpenRouter API availability and latency.

• Log Review: Periodically inspect error and access logs for anomalies.

Backup Strategy

• Configuration Backup: Regularly back up your OpenClaw configuration files.

• Data Backup: If storing conversation history or user data, implement a backup routine.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You’ve successfully deployed OpenClaw on your Tencent Cloud server and integrated it with Telegram. You can now:

• Chat with your AI assistant directly in Telegram

• Leverage multi-model support for flexible AI interactions

• Extend and customize the open-source framework for your own needs

Next Steps & Extensions

1. Multi-Platform Support: Integrate with Discord, Slack, and more.

2. Custom Plugins: Develop your own modules for specialized functionality.

3. Group Management: Enable group chat support and role-based permissions.

Useful Resources

• OpenClaw Official Documentation

• OpenRouter API Documentation

• Telegram Bot API Documentation

With these steps, you now have a robust, self-hosted AI bot service ready for production. If you encounter issues, consult the official documentation or join the community for support.