Remote Claude Code Setup via OpenClaw for Server-Side Development
5-Min Setup, VS Code + JetBrains Dual IDE Support 💻
The Story
A remote developer needed to set up a cloud server for development work but wanted to avoid the tedious manual configuration process. They turned to OpenClaw to automate the installation and setup of Claude Code with full IDE integration. The challenge was clear: Configure a remote server with Claude Code, enable VS Code and JetBrains integration, set up MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers, and ensure all the advanced features work seamlessly - without spending hours on documentation and troubleshooting. By leveraging OpenClaw's automation capabilities and access to up-to-date documentation, the entire setup was completed in minutes rather than hours.
"OpenClaw set up my entire dev environment on the server 10x faster than manual config. Claude Code with VS Code and JetBrains works flawlessly."
— Remote Developer
🔧 How It Works
OpenClaw automated the complete Claude Code installation on a cloud server, including VS Code and JetBrains IDE integration, MCP server configuration, and authentication setup.
1. Server Preparation
OpenClaw accessed the remote server and prepared the environment.
Verified system requirements (2+ CPU cores, 2GB+ RAM, 30GB SSD), installed necessary dependencies, and configured network settings for optimal performance.
2. Claude Code Installation
Installed Claude Code CLI and configured authentication.
Used npm to install Claude Code globally, set up authentication via setup-token, and verified the installation with test commands.
3. VS Code Integration
Configured VS Code Remote SSH with Claude Code extension.
Installed the Claude Code VS Code extension, configured Remote SSH connection, and enabled inline diffs, @-mentions, and keyboard shortcuts.
4. JetBrains Setup
Set up JetBrains IDEs (PyCharm, WebStorm, IntelliJ) with ACP support.
Configured JetBrains AI Assistant plugin with custom ACP (Agent Client Protocol), enabled MCP server integration, and tested code completion features.
5. MCP Server Configuration
Enabled Model Context Protocol servers for extended capabilities.
Configured filesystem access, database connections, and web scraping MCP servers. Tested context sharing between IDE and Claude Code.
Tech Stack Used
📊 Results
🛠️ OpenClaw Skills Used
Remote Server Setup
Configures cloud servers for development
IDE Integration
Sets up VS Code and JetBrains with Claude Code
Package Management
Installs and configures npm packages globally
MCP Configuration
Configures Model Context Protocol servers
💡 Tips for Implementation
Use a cloud server with at least 2 CPU cores and 2GB RAM for optimal performance
Test Claude Code CLI installation first before configuring IDE integrations
Set up SSH keys for secure remote server access
Configure MCP servers that match your development workflow
Keep Claude Code and IDE extensions updated for latest features
💻 Example Configuration
# User's request to OpenClaw
Help me set up Claude Code on my cloud server for remote development.
Server Details:
- OS: Ubuntu 22.04 LTS
- RAM: 4GB
- CPU: 2 cores
- Access: SSH with keys
Requirements:
1. Install Claude Code CLI
2. Set up authentication (I have setup-token)
3. Configure VS Code Remote SSH integration
4. Enable JetBrains (PyCharm) support with ACP
5. Set up MCP servers for filesystem and database
6. Test everything works
Make it as automated as possible - I don't want to manually configure each IDE.
---
# What OpenClaw did:
✓ Connected to server via SSH
✓ Installed Node.js and npm
✓ Installed Claude Code CLI globally
✓ Configured authentication with setup-token
✓ Installed VS Code extension configuration
✓ Set up Remote SSH connection
✓ Configured JetBrains with ACP support
✓ Enabled 3 MCP servers (filesystem, postgres, web-search)
✓ Tested all integrations
✓ Generated setup documentation
Time taken: 5 minutes
Status: All systems operationalReady to Build Your Own Automation?
Join thousands of users transforming their workflows with OpenClaw. Start with simple automations and scale to complex workflows.