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Setup Guide

Detailed instructions for network configuration and OpenClaw onboarding.

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Overview

Rawk setup happens in two phases:

  1. Network Setup — Connect Rawk to your WiFi

  2. OpenClaw Configuration — Set up your AI assistant

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Phase 1: Network Setup

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How It Works

On first boot, Rawk operates in Access Point (AP) Mode:

  • It broadcasts its own WiFi network: RAWK-XXXX (unique 4-character ID)

  • It runs a captive portal at 192.168.4.1

  • You connect to this network to configure your home WiFi

After WiFi is configured:

  • Rawk connects to your home network

  • The temporary RAWK-XXXX network disappears

  • You access Rawk via http://rawk.local on your home network

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Step-by-Step

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1. Power On Your Rawk

  • Plug in USB-C power (5V/3A)

  • Green LED will blink during boot

  • Wait ~30-60 seconds for WiFi network to appear

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2. Connect to RAWK-XXXX

  • Open WiFi settings on your device

  • Find the network: RAWK-XXXX (e.g., RAWK-E87A)

  • Connect (no password required)

  • Your device may say "No Internet" — this is normal

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3. Open the Setup Portal

Your device should automatically open a captive portal. If not:

  • Open a browser

  • Navigate to: http://192.168.4.1

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4. Select Your Home WiFi

  • The portal will scan for available networks

  • Click your home WiFi network from the list

  • Enter your WiFi password

  • Click Connect

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5. Wait for Connection

Rawk will:

  • Attempt to connect to your WiFi

  • Show a success message

  • Display instructions to reconnect

This takes 10-30 seconds.

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6. Reconnect to Home WiFi

  • Disconnect from RAWK-XXXX

  • Reconnect to your home WiFi

  • The RAWK-XXXX network will no longer be visible

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Phase 2: OpenClaw Configuration

Once connected to your home network, access the OpenClaw setup wizard.

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Access the Wizard

  1. Open a browser

  2. Navigate to: http://rawk.local

Can't connect?

  • Check your router's DHCP client list for "rawk" and use its IP address

  • Try http://rawk without .local

  • Wait a minute — mDNS (for .local addresses) takes time to propagate

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Setup Screens

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Screen 1: Welcome

Introduction to Rawk and what it can do. Click Next.

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Screen 2: Name Your Assistant

Choose a name for your AI assistant.

Default: Rawk

Suggestions:

  • Jarvis (Iron Man)

  • Alfred (Batman)

  • Friday (Tony Stark's second AI)

  • Claude (the brain behind it)

  • HAL (if you're feeling dangerous)

This name will appear in chat interfaces and logs.

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Screen 3: Connect the Brain

Your Rawk needs an AI model to think. You have three options:

Option 1: Claude API (Recommended)

  • Get an API key: console.anthropic.comarrow-up-right

  • Paste your key: sk-ant-api03-...

  • Model used: claude-sonnet-4 (best balance of speed and capability)

  • Cost: ~$3-15/month depending on usage

Option 2: OpenAI

Option 3: Local LLM

  • Requires Ollama or LM Studio running on your network

  • Enter the base URL (e.g., http://192.168.1.100:11434)

  • Select a model from the dropdown

  • Cost: Free (but needs powerful hardware)

Privacy Note: OpenClaw runs locally, but inference happens via API unless you use a local LLM.

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Screen 4: Your Hotline (Primary Channel)

Pick one way to communicate with your Rawk:

WhatsApp (Personal Account)

  • Links your personal WhatsApp account

  • After setup, you'll scan a QR code to pair

  • Send messages like texting a friend

  • No bot account needed

Telegram (Bot)

Web Only (Skip for Now)

  • Use the web interface at http://rawk.local:18789

  • You can add WhatsApp/Telegram later

Recommended: WhatsApp (easiest for daily use)

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Screen 5: Power-Ups

Enable optional features:

✅ Web Browsing (Recommended)

  • Allows your assistant to search and fetch web content

  • Required for: "What's the weather?", "Find me a recipe", etc.

✅ File Access (Recommended)

  • Allows reading/writing files on Rawk

  • Required for: "Save this to a file", "Read my notes"

✅ Proactive Mode (Recommended)

  • Assistant can check things periodically (email, calendar, weather)

  • Sends unprompted updates when relevant

  • Can be tuned or disabled later

⬜ Smart Home (Optional)

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Screen 6: YOLO Mode 🎰

This is the nuclear option. Choose how much control your assistant has:

🎰 YOLO Mode (Default, Recommended)

  • Full shell access

  • Can run any command on Rawk

  • No safety rails, no permission prompts

  • Why? You bought a $99 rock so an AI could do things. Let it.

Risk: Your assistant could brick Rawk. But a bricked rock is just a fresh start away.

🛡️ Safe Mode

  • Assistant asks permission for risky commands

  • Good for learning or cautious users

  • Slows things down

🐳 Sandbox Mode

  • Assistant runs in a Docker container

  • Can't touch the real system

  • Limited functionality

Honest take: YOLO mode is why Rawk exists. If you want safety rails, use ChatGPT.

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Screen 7: You're Live 🎉

Setup complete! You'll see:

  • A success message

  • An embedded chat interface

  • Suggested first messages

Try this:

"Hey, who are you?"

Your assistant will respond. You're now live.

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Post-Setup: Linking WhatsApp

If you chose WhatsApp during setup, you'll need to pair your phone.

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Steps

  1. Visit the Control UI: http://rawk.local:18789

  2. Click Settings → Channels → WhatsApp

  3. Click Link WhatsApp

  4. A QR code will appear

  5. Open WhatsApp on your phone:

    • Android: Tap ⋮ (menu) → Linked Devices → Link a Device

    • iPhone: Settings → Linked Devices → Link a Device

  6. Scan the QR code

  7. Your phone is now linked!

Send a message to your assistant from WhatsApp. It should respond.

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Post-Setup: Testing Telegram

If you chose Telegram:

  1. Open Telegram

  2. Search for your bot (the username you gave to @BotFather)

  3. Click Start

  4. Send a message: "Hey Rawk!"

Your assistant should respond immediately.

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Changing Settings Later

All setup options can be changed later:

Via Control UI:

  • Visit: http://rawk.local:18789

  • Go to Settings

  • Edit channels, models, execution mode, etc.

Via SSH:

  • Edit ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json

  • Restart gateway: openclaw gateway restart

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Factory Reset

Need to start over? Reset your Rawk to factory state:

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Via SSH

This will:

  • Remove setup completion flag

  • Back up your config (preserves it)

  • Re-enable AP mode for next boot

  • Allow you to run through setup again

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Next Steps

🪨 You're ready to rock.

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