Purchase a Self-Managed VPS with Paperclip Installation

Paperclip is a versatile library used across multiple platforms for managing file attachments. It is mainly used for web development purposes and can be described as an easy way to add file attachment capability to any application. The library was first introduced as a Ruby on Rails plug-in, but it has many more uses.

Why Use Paperclip?

File manipulation happens to be a common requirement for many applications, such as uploading user profiles and document management systems. Paperclip offers a great platform for manipulating files through its ease of use, flexibility, efficiency, and security features. Its significance can be attributed to the fact that it saves time, ensures data safety, manages different file formats, and simplifies things for all concerned.

Uses of Paperclip

Paperclip’s functionality is widely applicable in web development projects:

• User Profile Management: Upload and manage profile pictures or avatars.
• Document Handling: Upload, validate, and store PDFs, Word documents, and other file formats.
• Image Processing: Generate thumbnails, resize images, and convert formats automatically.
• Content Management Systems (CMS): Attach various media files to posts or pages.
• E-commerce Platforms: Manage product images and downloadable resources.

How to Purchase a Self-Managed VPS with Paperclip Installation

To deploy and manage Paperclip efficiently, start by purchasing a Self-Managed VPS Hosting from Bluehost. Follow these steps:

Pre-configured Setup

New to VPS or not sure where to start? No worries! At the top of the Self-Managed VPS purchase page, you’ll see the Pre-configured Setup section. This handy feature is perfect if you’re feeling a bit unsure—just pick the type of project you want, like WordPress Site, AI Agent/Claude Code, Dev/Staging, or eCommerce Store. We’ll take care of the rest by automatically filling in the best plan, operating system, and template for you.

• Super simple for beginners or anyone who just wants a quick setup
• Instantly get the recommended settings for your project
• Skip the guesswork and save time
• You can still customize things later if you want

Give the Pre-configured Setup a try and get your Bluehost Self-Managed VPS up and running in no time!

1. In your browser, go to https://www.bluehost.com/vps-hosting.
2. Click the Choose Plan button under your preferred VPS hosting plan.

   
    

   Important: Pricing is subject to change—please visit https://www.bluehost.com/vps-hosting for the current introductory/sign-up offer for Bluehost VPS Hosting. For the most up-to-date renewal pricing, visit your Bluehost Portal Renewal Center.

3. Select your preferred Data Center location.

   
    

4. On the Cart page, you can configure your server to fit your needs in the following section:
   1. Hardware:
      1. Pre-selected:

         You can select a different Self-Managed VPS plan in this section.

         
          

      2. Configure:

         Click Configure to customize your package.

         Note that your changes help customize your plan, and the overall cost will adjust accordingly to fit your needs.

         
          

   2. Software:
      1. Click on the Application Tab.
      2. Choose Paperclip.

         
          

      3. Click Confirm to continue.

         
          

5. Add-Ons:
   • Premium Support:

     This service provides you with priority access to our expert team for faster responses and personalized assistance whenever you need it.

     
      

6. In the Advanced options:
   • Extra IP's: You can add extra IP addresses for an additional fee.
     Pricing changes based on how many IPs you add.
   • Hostname: Assign a custom hostname to easily identify your server. This is optional.

   
    

7. Select your preferred billing term and view your Order Summary. Click the Continue to Checkout button to proceed.

   
    

8. Do the following on the Checkout page:

   If you're new with Bluehost:

   1. Create your Bluehost account by using your email address or by connecting with your Google, Apple, or GitHub account — whichever you prefer!

      
       

   2. Select your preferred payment method: credit card, Google Pay, or PayPal. Enter your billing information.

      
       

   If you have an account with us, you will see your Bluehost login details when you are logged into your Bluehost Portal. If you are not logged in, please click the Log In link.

   
    

9. In the Shopping Cart section, you can still adjust your billing term if needed.

   
    

10. Review the items in your cart, add a Promo Code if you have one, and then click Submit Payment to complete the purchase.

    
     

After checkout, your Self-Managed VPS will begin setting up. Once it’s ready, you can find it under the Hosting tab in your Bluehost Portal.

How to Set Up and Configure Paperclip

Welcome to Paperclip! Follow this step-by-step guide to set up your AI orchestration platform, configure your server, and launch your first agent team.

Step 1: Connect to Your Server

After installation completes:

Connect to your VPS via SSH.

Use your VPS IP and credentials with an SSH client, follow the prompts, and enter your Root Password when asked:

ssh root@your_server_ip

Example Output:

Welcome to Ubuntu 24.04.4 LTS (GNU/Linux 6.8.0-111-generic x86_64)
********************************************************************************

Paperclip AI coding assistant is running on this server.

The UFW firewall is enabled.
All ports are BLOCKED except 22 (SSH) and 3100 (Paperclip).

Web UI:
  http://12.1.1.123:3100

First-time setup (run once after provisioning):

  1. Reload the service (this helps refreshing the env vars):
     systemctl restart paperclip

  2. Configure the server:
     sudo -u paperclip env HOME=/opt/paperclip bash -c "cd /opt/paperclip/app && pnpm paperclipai configure"

     When prompted, use these settings:
       Section          → Server
       Reachability     → Custom
       Port             → 3100
       Auth mode        → Authenticated
       Exposure profile → Public internet
       Bind host        → 12.1.1.123
       Public base URL  → http://12.1.1.123:3100

  3. Bootstrap the CEO account:
     sudo -u paperclip env HOME=/opt/paperclip bash -c "cd /opt/paperclip/app && pnpm paperclipai auth bootstrap-ceo"


Service management:
  systemctl status paperclip        # check service status
  systemctl restart paperclip       # restart the service
  journalctl -u paperclip -f        # follow service logs

File locations:
  Application:  /opt/paperclip/app
  Service unit: /etc/systemd/system/paperclip.service
  Runtime env:  /etc/systemd/system/paperclip.service.d/override.conf

For more details please refer /root/README.md

To delete this message of the day: rm -rf /etc/update-motd.d/99-paperclip

Step 2: Complete the Instance Setup

Once you log in, run these commands to complete the core configuration.

1. Restart the Paperclip Service:

   Refresh the system environment variables by restarting the service.

   systemctl restart paperclip

2. Run the Interactive Configuration:

   Initialize your server settings by running the configuration wizard.

   sudo -u paperclip env HOME=/opt/paperclip bash -c "cd /opt/paperclip/app && pnpm paperclipai configure"

   Example Output:

   Last login: Tue Jun 23 17:10:23 2026 from 182.74.165.114
   root@123456:~# systemctl restart paperclip
   root@123456:~# sudo -u paperclip env HOME=/opt/paperclip bash -c "cd /opt/paperclip/app && pnpm paperclipai configure"
   
   > paperclip@ paperclipai /opt/paperclip/app
   > node cli/node_modules/tsx/dist/cli.mjs cli/src/index.ts "configure"
   
   
   ██████╗  █████╗ ██████╗ ███████╗██████╗  ██████╗██╗     ██╗██████╗
   ██╔══██╗██╔══██╗██╔══██╗██╔════╝██╔══██╗██╔════╝██║     ██║██╔══██╗
   ██████╔╝███████║██████╔╝█████╗  ██████╔╝██║     ██║     ██║██████╔╝
   ██╔═══╝ ██╔══██║██╔═══╝ ██╔══╝  ██╔══██╗██║     ██║     ██║██╔═══╝
   ██║     ██║  ██║██║     ███████╗██║  ██║╚██████╗███████╗██║██║
   ╚═╝     ╚═╝  ╚═╝╚═╝     ╚══════╝╚═╝  ╚═╝ ╚═════╝╚══════╝╚═╝╚═╝
    ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────
    Open-source orchestration for zero-human companies
   
   ┌   paperclip configure
   │
   ◆   Which section do you want to configure?
   │  ● LLM Provider
   │  ○ Database
   │  ○ Logging
   │  ● Server
   │  ○ Storage
   │  ○ Secrets
   └

3. When the wizard prompts you, select or type the following exact settings:

   Learn how to configure your Bootstrap admin dashboard for executive access in this setup guide.

   • Self-Managed VPS - How to Fix the Paperclip Dashboard Black Page Issue on Ubuntu 24.04
   • Section: Server
   • Reachability: Custom
   • Port: 3100
   • Auth mode: Authenticated
   • Exposure profile: Public internet
   • Bind host: Enter your server's IP address
   • Public base URL: http://your_server_ip:3100
4. Create the Admin (CEO) Account:

   Create your primary administrative account by running the bootstrap command.

   sudo -u paperclip env HOME=/opt/paperclip bash -c "cd /opt/paperclip/app && pnpm paperclipai auth bootstrap-ceo"

   Example Output:

   Last login: Tue Jun 23 19:29:23 2026 from 180.190.7.66
   root@123456:~# sudo -u paperclip env HOME=/opt/paperclip bash -c "cd /opt/paperclip/app && pnpm paperclipai auth bootstrap-ceo"
   
   > paperclip@ paperclipai /opt/paperclip/app
   > node cli/node_modules/tsx/dist/cli.mjs cli/src/index.ts "auth" "bootstrap-ceo"
   
   │
   ●  Deployment mode is local_trusted. Bootstrap CEO invite is only required for authenticated mode.

5. Copy the unique Invite URL from the terminal output. The output will resemble the following format:

   > paperclip@ paperclipai /opt/paperclip/app
   > node cli/node_modules/tsx/dist/cli.mjs cli/src/index.ts "auth" "bootstrap-ceo"
   
   │
   ◆  Created bootstrap CEO invite.
   │
   │  Invite URL: http://12.1.1.123:3100/invite/pcp_bootstrap_caff3cd4dd81126a9dd0a15ea0040139e5bfb8a2e07ad73f
   │
   │  Expires: 2026-06-26T21:12:13.183Z

6. Open your preferred web browser and paste the unique invite URL.
7. Create your account.

   
    

8. Fill out the initialization form.

   
    

9. From here, you can log into your newly created Admin/CEO account and start managing your AI agents.

   
    

http://your-server-ip:3100

cd /opt/paperclip/app
git pull
pnpm install
systemctl restart paperclip

root@123456:~# cat /root/README.md
# Paperclip

## Description

Paperclip is an open-source AI orchestration platform that helps you
run teams of AI agents to automate complex tasks and workflows. It
organizes agents into structured roles with shared goals, allowing
them to collaborate and execute tasks turning individual AI tools into
a coordinated system that can manage projects and processes with
minimal manual effort.


## Services

Service       | Ports   | Purpose
--------------|---------|---------
Paperclip     | 3100    | Web UI and API
Paperclip     | 13100   | Paperclip Vite HMR
OpenSSH       | 22      | SSH

All other ports are blocked by UFW.


## What Gets Installed

| Component | Version | Notes |
|-----------|---------|-------|
| Node.js   | 20.x    | Installed via NodeSource |
| pnpm      | latest  | Global package manager |
| Paperclip | latest  | Cloned from `paperclipai/paperclip` |

Paperclip is installed to `/opt/paperclip/app` and runs as the dedicated `paperclip` system user.


## First Boot - How the VM Starts

When the VM is first booted after provisioning, a one-time cloud-init script runs automatically
(`/var/lib/cloud/scripts/per-instance/001_onboot`). It performs the following steps:

1. Detects the server's primary IP address.
2. Generates a random `BETTER_AUTH_SECRET` and writes it (along with `BETTER_AUTH_BASE_URL`) to
   a systemd drop-in at `/etc/systemd/system/paperclip.service.d/override.conf`.
3. Starts the Paperclip service and waits for it to become ready.
4. Runs the following configuration commands as the `paperclip` user:
   ```bash
   pnpm paperclipai allowed-hostname server-ip
   pnpm paperclipai context set --api-base http://server-ip:3100
   pnpm paperclipai onboard --yes
   ```
5. Restarts the service with the updated configuration.

After first boot completes, Paperclip is fully accessible from the server's external IP.

### On instance setup (run once after provisioning):

  1. Reload the service (this helps refreshing the env vars):
   ```bash
     systemctl restart paperclip
   ```

  2. Configure the server:
   ```bash
     sudo -u paperclip env HOME=/opt/paperclip bash -c \
       "cd /opt/paperclip/app && pnpm paperclipai configure"
   ```
     When prompted, use these settings:
       Section            : Server
       Reachability       : Custom
       Port               : 3100
       Auth mode          : Authenticated
       Exposure profile   : Public internet
       Bind host          : $myip
       Public base URL    : http://$myip:3100

  3. Bootstrap the CEO account:
   ```bash
     sudo -u paperclip env HOME=/opt/paperclip bash -c \
       "cd /opt/paperclip/app && pnpm paperclipai auth bootstrap-ceo"
   ```

The one-time script removes itself on completion so it does not re-run on subsequent boots.


## Message of the Day (MOTD)

On every SSH login, the MOTD displays the server IP, port, and useful commands. To remove it:

```bash
rm /etc/update-motd.d/99-paperclip
```


## Firewall

UFW is enabled with the following rules:

| Port | Protocol | Description |
|------|----------|-------------|
| 22   | TCP      | SSH (rate-limited) |
| 3100 | TCP      | Paperclip |


## How to Use

### Connect via SSH

```bash
ssh root@server-ip
```

---

### Access the Web UI

Open a browser and navigate to:

```
http://server-ip:3100
```

Create your admin account on first visit.

---

### Service Management

```bash
# Check service status
systemctl status paperclip

# Start the service
systemctl start paperclip

# Stop the service
systemctl stop paperclip

# Restart the service
systemctl restart paperclip

# Follow live logs
journalctl -u paperclip -f
```

---

### Connecting an Editor

Point your editor's Paperclip extension to the server address:

```
http://server-ip:3100
```

Refer to the [Paperclip documentation](https://github.com/paperclipai/paperclip) for
editor-specific configuration steps (VS Code, JetBrains, Neovim, etc.).

---


## File Locations

| Path | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `/opt/paperclip/app` | Paperclip application source |
| `/opt/paperclip` | Home directory for the `paperclip` system user |
| `/etc/systemd/system/paperclip.service` | Systemd service unit |
| `/etc/systemd/system/paperclip.service.d/override.conf` | Runtime env vars (IP, secrets) |
| `/etc/update-motd.d/99-paperclip` | Login message of the day |


## Updating Paperclip

To pull the latest version of Paperclip:

```bash
cd /opt/paperclip/app
git pull
pnpm install
systemctl restart paperclip
```

## Environment Variables

The service unit sets the following environment variables. Static variables are set in the service
file; runtime variables (IP-dependent or secret) are written to the drop-in override on first boot.

| Variable | Set At | Description |
|----------|--------|-------------|
| `NODE_ENV` | Build time | Node.js environment (`production`) |
| `PORT` | Build time | Port Paperclip listens on (`3100`) |
| `HOME` | Build time | Home directory for the service user (`/opt/paperclip`) |
| `HOST` | Build time | Bind address (`0.0.0.0` - all interfaces) |
| `BETTER_AUTH_SECRET` | First boot | Randomly generated authentication secret |
| `BETTER_AUTH_BASE_URL` | First boot | Server's primary IP address |

To override any variable after first boot:

```bash
systemctl edit paperclip
# Add or change Environment= lines in the [Service] section
systemctl restart paperclip
```

## Links

Documentation: [https://github.com/paperclipai/paperclip?tab=readme-ov-file#what-is-paperclip](https://github.com/paperclipai/paperclip?tab=readme-ov-file#what-is-paperclip)

Manage: [http://{server_ip}:3100](http://{server_ip}:3100)