OpenClaw Proxy API Integration Guide: Autonomous Agent Framework Setup

A guide to connecting the OpenClaw autonomous agent framework: one-click installation via install.sh, configuration via onboard, or manually adding a model provider to openclaw.json to point to our gateway.

1. What is OpenClaw

OpenClaw is an open-source AI Agent framework: point it to a model (local or cloud gateway), and it can automate tasks on your computer—operating interfaces, running commands, managing files, and more. Its core feature is "configuring a model endpoint," making it perfectly suited for connecting to our gateway.

2. Installing OpenClaw

One-click installation script recommended:

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

You can also install via Docker or source code:

git clone https://github.com/openclaw/openclaw.git
cd openclaw
# Docker: ./scripts/docker/setup.sh
# Source (pnpm): corepack enable && pnpm install && pnpm openclaw setup

3. Connecting to Our Gateway (Two Methods)

Method 1: Interactive Onboarding

Run openclaw onboard, select the option that supports custom URLs when prompted for a Provider, and enter:

Base URL : https://www.relay-api.com
API Key  : sk-your-api-key
Model ID : claude-sonnet-5

(The openai / gemini endpoints correspond to https://www.relay-api.com/v1 and https://www.relay-api.com/v1beta)

Method 2: Manual Configuration File Edit

OpenClaw reads from ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json (Linux/macOS) or %USERPROFILE%\.openclaw\openclaw.json (Windows). Add a new Provider under models.providers:

{
  "gateway": {
    "mode": "local"
  },
  "agents": {
    "defaults": {
      "model": {"primary": "jizhi/claude-sonnet-5"}
    }
  },
  "models": {
    "providers": {
      "jizhi": {
        "baseUrl": "https://www.relay-api.com",
        "apiKey": "sk-your-api-key",
        "api": "openai-completions"
      }
    }
  }
}

Change primary to the model slug you are using to route all OpenClaw agent tasks through our gateway.

4. Startup and Common Commands

openclaw gateway --port 18789

After launching, visit http://localhost:18789 to access the console. Common commands:

openclaw doctor              # Diagnose issues
openclaw security audit      # Security check
openclaw config set key x    # Update configuration
openclaw channels add --channel telegram  # Add messaging channels

5. Troubleshooting

SymptomSolution
401 / 403Invalid key, disabled, or insufficient balance; verify sk- and top up.
404 / Model UnavailableModel slug mismatch or model not enabled; check Model ID.
Cannot connect to modelConfirm baseUrl is set to our portal.

Security Tip: Do not commit your sk- key to public repositories; AI agent tasks consume tokens rapidly, so keep an eye on your balance.