openclaw-remote-minimax-setup

name: openclaw-remote-minimax-setup description: Deploy and configure OpenClaw on a remote Linux server over SSH with MiniMax M2.1 (China API) and a Telegram bot. Use when provisioning a fresh VPS, reproducing a working OpenClaw + MiniMax + Telegram setup, or debugging common first-boot failures such as gateway.mode=local, Telegram chat not found, and systemd user-service persistence after SSH disconnect.

OpenClaw Remote MiniMax Setup

Set up a remote OpenClaw host in a repeatable, low-surprise way.

Scope

Use this skill for remote Linux deployments where the user provides:

• SSH access
• A MiniMax API key
• A Telegram bot token
• A target model of minimax/MiniMax-M2.1

Prefer the official OpenClaw documentation first, then execute the deployment over SSH.

Read these references when needed

• Read references/workflow.md for the full deployment flow.
• Read references/config-template.md before writing or patching the remote OpenClaw config.
• Read references/failure-modes.md when Telegram does not reply, the gateway exits after install, or the service dies after SSH disconnect.

Core rules

• Do not publish or store user secrets in the skill, repo, or commit history.
• Replace all secrets in examples with environment placeholders.
• Validate the remote config before declaring success.
• Verify both the model path and the Telegram path.
• Treat a successful install as incomplete until the service survives SSH disconnect.

Minimal workflow

1. Read the relevant OpenClaw docs for installation, providers, and Telegram.
2. Inspect the remote host: OS, sudo availability, curl, node, and openclaw.
3. Install OpenClaw safely.
   • Prefer fetching the official installer locally, reviewing it, copying it to the remote host, and executing it there.
4. Write a minimal config using the MiniMax China endpoint and Telegram bot token.
5. Run openclaw config validate.
6. Ensure gateway.mode=local before first service start.
7. Install and start the gateway service.
8. Enable persistence for systemctl --user deployments.
   • On remote VPS installs, run sudo loginctl enable-linger <user>.
9. Verify with:
   • openclaw gateway status
   • openclaw status
   • a local smoke test against MiniMax-M2.1
   • a Telegram send test
10. If outbound Telegram send says chat not found, tell the user to open the bot DM and press Start, then retry.

Completion standard

Only call the deployment complete when all of the following are true:

• openclaw gateway status reports Runtime: running
• openclaw status shows Telegram ON and OK
• A local agent test returns through MiniMax-M2.1
• A Telegram test message can be delivered after the user has started the bot
• The service remains active after SSH disconnect because linger is enabled

Output style

When reporting progress or completion:

• State what was installed
• State the configured model and provider endpoint
• State the Telegram bot username
• State the last blocking issue, if any
• End with the exact next user action if a manual Telegram step is still required