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Manifest integrates with OpenClaw as a plugin to provide smart LLM routing and real-time observability for your AI agents. This guide walks through installation and configuration.

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Installation

Install the Manifest plugin using OpenClaw’s plugin manager:
1

Install the plugin

openclaw plugins install manifest
This downloads and installs the latest version from npm.
2

Choose your mode

Manifest supports three operating modes:
  • Local mode (recommended for getting started) — Embedded server with SQLite, zero configuration
  • Cloud mode — Connect to Manifest Cloud with your API key
  • Dev mode — Connect to a self-hosted Manifest backend
Configure the mode:
# Local mode (default, recommended)
openclaw config set plugins.entries.manifest.config.mode local

# Cloud mode (requires API key)
openclaw config set plugins.entries.manifest.config.mode cloud
openclaw config set plugins.entries.manifest.config.apiKey mnfst_YOUR_API_KEY

# Dev mode (self-hosted)
openclaw config set plugins.entries.manifest.config.mode dev
openclaw config set plugins.entries.manifest.config.endpoint http://localhost:38238/otlp
3

Restart the gateway

openclaw gateway restart
The gateway will load the plugin and start the Manifest server (in local mode) or connect to your configured endpoint.
4

Verify the installation

Check the plugin status:
/manifest
This command returns:
  • Current mode (local/cloud/dev)
  • Endpoint reachability
  • Auth validation status
  • Connected agent name (if applicable)

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Configuration Options

The plugin accepts the following configuration parameters:

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Mode

openclaw config set plugins.entries.manifest.config.mode <value>
  • local — Runs an embedded Manifest server on your machine (SQLite database, no API key required)
  • cloud — Connects to Manifest Cloud (requires API key from app.manifest.build)
  • dev — Connects to a self-hosted Manifest backend (requires endpoint URL)

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API Key (cloud mode only)

openclaw config set plugins.entries.manifest.config.apiKey mnfst_YOUR_KEY
You can also set it via environment variable: 
export MANIFEST_API_KEY=mnfst_YOUR_KEY
API keys must start with the mnfst_ prefix.

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Endpoint (cloud/dev mode)

openclaw config set plugins.entries.manifest.config.endpoint https://app.manifest.build/otlp
The OTLP endpoint where telemetry data is sent. Default for cloud mode: https://app.manifest.build/otlp

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Port (local mode only)

openclaw config set plugins.entries.manifest.config.port 2099
The port where the embedded server runs. Default: 2099

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Host (local mode only)

openclaw config set plugins.entries.manifest.config.host 127.0.0.1
The bind address for the embedded server. Default: 127.0.0.1

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Accessing the Dashboard

Once installed, access the Manifest dashboard:
  • Local mode: http://127.0.0.1:2099 (or your configured port)
  • Cloud mode: https://app.manifest.build
  • Dev mode: Your self-hosted instance URL
The dashboard shows:
  • Real-time message log
  • Token usage and cost analytics
  • Model routing decisions
  • Security events
  • Performance metrics

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Using LLM Routing

Manifest registers as an OpenAI-compatible provider in OpenClaw. To use smart routing: 
# Use manifest/auto as your model
openclaw chat --model manifest/auto "Explain quantum computing"
The manifest/auto model:
  1. Analyzes your conversation across 23 dimensions (complexity, reasoning depth, tool usage, etc.)
  2. Selects the optimal model from your configured providers
  3. Routes the request to the chosen model
  4. Records telemetry data for analytics
See the LLM Routing documentation for details on how routing decisions are made.

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Troubleshooting

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Plugin not loading

Check if the plugin is enabled: 
openclaw plugins list
If Manifest shows as disabled, enable it: 
openclaw plugins enable manifest
openclaw gateway restart

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Port already in use (local mode)

If port 2099 is occupied: 
openclaw config set plugins.entries.manifest.config.port 2100
openclaw gateway restart

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Connection failures

Run the connection check: 
/manifest
Look for specific error messages:
  • “Endpoint not reachable” — Check your network connection and endpoint URL
  • “Auth invalid” — Verify your API key starts with mnfst_ and is correct
  • “Invalid endpoint URL” — Ensure the endpoint starts with http:// or https://

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Resetting configuration

If the plugin gets into a bad state: 
# Reset to local mode
openclaw config set plugins.entries.manifest.config.mode local
openclaw config set plugins.entries.manifest.config.port 2099

# Force restart
openclaw gateway restart

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Conflicts with diagnostics-otel

Manifest uses OpenTelemetry and conflicts with OpenClaw’s built-in diagnostics-otel plugin. If you see OTel registration errors: 
openclaw plugins disable diagnostics-otel
openclaw gateway restart

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Next Steps

Local Mode

Learn about running Manifest in local mode with the embedded server

Cloud Mode

Connect to Manifest Cloud for team collaboration

Multi-Agent

Organize and track multiple agents in one workspace

Custom Providers

Add your own LLM provider API keys for routing

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