---
name: iblai-router
description: Cost-optimizing model router for OpenClaw. Automatically routes each request to the cheapest capable model (LIGHT/MEDIUM/HEAVY tiers) using weighted scoring. Defaults to the latest Claude models (Haiku 4.5 / Sonnet 5 / Opus 4.8) and supports per-tier routing to other providers (OpenAI, Google, DeepSeek, z.ai, Moonshot) via Anthropic-compatible gateways. Use when setting up smart model routing, reducing API costs, or configuring multi-tier LLM routing.
---

# iblai-router

A zero-dependency proxy that sits between OpenClaw and the Anthropic API, routing each request to the cheapest capable model using a 14-dimension weighted scorer (<1ms overhead).

## Install

Run the install script to set up everything automatically:

```bash
bash "$(dirname "$0")/scripts/install.sh"
```

This will:
1. Copy `server.js` and `config.json` to `~/.openclaw/workspace/router/`
2. Create and start a systemd service (`iblai-router`) on port 8402
3. Register `iblai-router/auto` as an OpenClaw model provider

After install, `iblai-router/auto` is available anywhere OpenClaw accepts a model ID.

## Verify

```bash
curl -s http://127.0.0.1:8402/health | jq .
curl -s http://127.0.0.1:8402/stats | jq .
```

## Use

Set `iblai-router/auto` as the model for any scope:

| Scope | How |
|---|---|
| Cron job | Set `model` to `iblai-router/auto` in job config |
| Subagents | `agents.defaults.subagents.model = "iblai-router/auto"` |
| Per-session | `/model iblai-router/auto` |
| All sessions | `agents.defaults.model.primary = "iblai-router/auto"` |

**Tip:** Keep the main interactive session on a fixed model (e.g. Opus). Use the router for cron jobs, subagents, and background tasks where cost savings compound.

## Customize

All config lives in `~/.openclaw/workspace/router/config.json` and hot-reloads on save — no restart needed.

### Models

Change the models per tier:

```json
{
  "models": {
    "LIGHT":  "claude-haiku-4-5",
    "MEDIUM": "claude-sonnet-5",
    "HEAVY":  "claude-opus-4-8"
  }
}
```

### Models from other providers (per tier)

Each tier can point at a different provider. A `providers` map defines the
upstream (`baseUrl`, `apiKeyEnv`, `auth`), and any tier can be an object
`{ "provider": "...", "model": "..." }` instead of a bare string. Providers
must speak the **Anthropic Messages API** format (native, or via an
Anthropic-compatible gateway such as OpenRouter, z.ai, or Moonshot):

```json
{
  "defaultProvider": "anthropic",
  "providers": {
    "anthropic":  { "baseUrl": "https://api.anthropic.com",      "apiKeyEnv": "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY",  "auth": "x-api-key" },
    "openrouter": { "baseUrl": "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1",   "apiKeyEnv": "OPENROUTER_API_KEY", "auth": "bearer" },
    "zai":        { "baseUrl": "https://api.z.ai/api/anthropic", "apiKeyEnv": "ZAI_API_KEY",        "auth": "x-api-key" }
  },
  "models": {
    "LIGHT":  { "provider": "openrouter", "model": "google/gemini-2.5-flash" },
    "MEDIUM": { "provider": "openrouter", "model": "openai/gpt-5.1" },
    "HEAVY":  "claude-opus-4-8"
  }
}
```

Set the matching `apiKeyEnv` in the systemd service (the install script passes
through `OPENROUTER_API_KEY`, `OPENAI_API_KEY`, `GOOGLE_API_KEY`, `ZAI_API_KEY`,
`MOONSHOT_API_KEY` if present), then `systemctl daemon-reload && systemctl restart iblai-router`.

### Scoring

Keyword lists control which tier handles a request:

- `simpleKeywords`, `relayKeywords` → push toward **LIGHT** (cheap)
- `imperativeVerbs`, `codeKeywords`, `agenticKeywords` → push toward **MEDIUM**
- `technicalKeywords`, `reasoningKeywords`, `domainKeywords` → push toward **HEAVY** (capable)

Tune boundaries and weights in `config.json` to match your workload. See the [full README](https://github.com/iblai/iblai-openclaw-router) for details.

## Uninstall

```bash
bash "$(dirname "$0")/scripts/uninstall.sh"
```

Stops the service, removes the systemd unit, and deletes router files. Reminder: switch any workloads using `iblai-router/auto` back to a direct model first.