> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.opus-host.de/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Run a Discord Bot Around the Clock on Your Free VPS

> Deploy and keep a Discord bot running continuously on your Opus Host VPS using Node.js or Python — no need to leave your PC on all day.

Running a Discord bot on your Opus Host VPS means it stays online 24/7 even when your computer is off. This guide covers deploying a Node.js or Python bot and keeping it alive using PM2 or systemd, so your bot automatically restarts after crashes or reboots.

## Choose Your Language

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Node.js">
    <Steps>
      <Step title="Install Node.js">
        Add the NodeSource repository and install Node.js 20:

        ```bash theme={null}
        curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_20.x | bash -
        apt install nodejs -y
        node --version
        ```
      </Step>

      <Step title="Upload or clone your bot files">
        You can upload files using the [File Manager](/panel/file-manager) in the Opus Host panel, transfer them with SCP, or clone directly from GitHub:

        ```bash theme={null}
        apt install git -y
        git clone https://github.com/yourusername/your-bot.git ~/mybot
        cd ~/mybot
        ```
      </Step>

      <Step title="Install dependencies">
        ```bash theme={null}
        npm install
        ```
      </Step>

      <Step title="Test the bot">
        Run the bot once to make sure it connects and responds correctly before setting it up as a background service:

        ```bash theme={null}
        node index.js
        ```

        Press **Ctrl + C** to stop it when you're ready to move on.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Python">
    <Steps>
      <Step title="Install Python and pip">
        ```bash theme={null}
        apt install python3 python3-pip -y
        python3 --version
        ```
      </Step>

      <Step title="Upload or clone your bot files">
        Transfer your files via the [File Manager](/panel/file-manager), SCP, or clone from GitHub:

        ```bash theme={null}
        git clone https://github.com/yourusername/your-bot.git ~/mybot
        cd ~/mybot
        ```
      </Step>

      <Step title="Install dependencies">
        ```bash theme={null}
        pip3 install -r requirements.txt
        ```
      </Step>

      <Step title="Test the bot">
        Run the bot to confirm it starts without errors:

        ```bash theme={null}
        python3 bot.py
        ```

        Press **Ctrl + C** to stop it when you're satisfied.
      </Step>
    </Steps>
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Keep Your Bot Running with PM2 (Node.js)

PM2 is a process manager for Node.js applications. It restarts your bot automatically if it crashes and can start it on system boot.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Install PM2 globally">
    ```bash theme={null}
    npm install -g pm2
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start your bot with PM2">
    ```bash theme={null}
    pm2 start index.js --name my-bot
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enable auto-start on reboot">
    Generate and apply the startup hook so PM2 and your bot survive a server restart:

    ```bash theme={null}
    pm2 startup
    pm2 save
    ```

    Run the command that `pm2 startup` prints (it will look like `sudo env PATH=... pm2 startup systemd -u root --hp /root`).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Monitor your bot">
    Check the current status of all PM2 processes:

    ```bash theme={null}
    pm2 status
    ```

    Tail the live logs for your bot:

    ```bash theme={null}
    pm2 logs my-bot
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Keep Your Bot Running with systemd (Python or Node.js)

systemd is built into every modern Linux system and is a great choice if you prefer not to install PM2, or if your bot is written in Python.

Create a service unit file at `/etc/systemd/system/mybot.service`:

```ini theme={null}
[Unit]
Description=My Discord Bot
After=network.target

[Service]
User=root
WorkingDirectory=/root/mybot
ExecStart=/usr/bin/python3 bot.py
Restart=always

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target
```

For a Node.js bot, change `ExecStart` to `/usr/bin/node /root/mybot/index.js`.

Then enable and start the service:

```bash theme={null}
systemctl daemon-reload
systemctl enable mybot
systemctl start mybot
```

Check that the service is running:

```bash theme={null}
systemctl status mybot
```

<Tip>
  Store your bot token in a `.env` file rather than hard-coding it in your source code. Use the `dotenv` npm package for Node.js or `python-dotenv` for Python to load the file automatically at startup.
</Tip>

<Warning>
  Never share or commit your bot token to a public repository. If your token is ever exposed, regenerate it immediately in the [Discord Developer Portal](https://discord.com/developers/applications) to prevent unauthorized access to your bot.
</Warning>