Skip to content

OpenClaw: Claude, Codex, and DeepSeek configuration

Choose the OpenClaw adapter that matches the ScaleMax model family instead of mixing different endpoint contracts under one provider.

Open in ClaudeOpen in ChatGPT

On this page · 7 sections
Keep each transport in its own OpenClaw provider. Claude uses anthropic-messages, Codex uses openai-responses, and deepseek-v4-flash uses openai-completions.

Automatic configuration

bash
npm install -g scalemax@latest
scalemax

Select OpenClaw. The CLI reads the authenticated catalog, creates only the matching protocol providers, backs up ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json, installs file-backed SecretRefs, and validates the result. DeepSeek is kept out of the Responses provider automatically. Recheck the setup with scalemax doctor.

Shared SecretRefs for manual setup

bash
umask 077
mkdir -p "$HOME/.openclaw/secrets"
printf "ScaleMax API key: "
IFS= read -r -s SCALEMAX_API_KEY
printf "\n"
printf "%s\n" "$SCALEMAX_API_KEY" > "$HOME/.openclaw/secrets/scalemax-api-key"
unset SCALEMAX_API_KEY
chmod 600 "$HOME/.openclaw/secrets/scalemax-api-key"
printf "%s\n" "ScaleMax-OpenClaw/1.0" > "$HOME/.openclaw/secrets/scalemax-user-agent"
chmod 600 "$HOME/.openclaw/secrets/scalemax-user-agent"

Merge this SecretRef block into ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json (Windows: %USERPROFILE%\.openclaw\openclaw.json) once:

json5
secrets: {
  providers: {
    scalemax_cli: {
      source: "file",
      path: "~/.openclaw/secrets/scalemax-api-key",
      mode: "singleValue"
    },
    scalemax_cli_user_agent: {
      source: "file",
      path: "~/.openclaw/secrets/scalemax-user-agent",
      mode: "singleValue"
    }
  }
}

Manual configuration for Codex models in OpenClaw

Merge this alternative provider into the same JSON5 file. For an OpenAI token-pack key, change only baseUrl to https://api.scalemax.pro/token/v1.

json5
models: {
  mode: "merge",
  providers: {
    "scalemax-codex": {
      baseUrl: "https://api.scalemax.pro/v1",
      apiKey: { source: "file", provider: "scalemax_cli", id: "value" },
      api: "openai-responses",
      request: {
        headers: {
          "User-Agent": { source: "file", provider: "scalemax_cli_user_agent", id: "value" }
        },
        allowPrivateNetwork: false
      },
      models: [
        { id: "gpt-6.1-sol", name: "GPT-6.1 Sol" },
        { id: "gpt-6-sol", name: "GPT-6 Sol" },
        { id: "gpt-6-luna", name: "GPT-6 Luna" },
        { id: "gpt-6-astra", name: "GPT-6 Astra" },
        { id: "gpt-5.6-terra", name: "GPT-5.6 Terra" },
        { id: "gpt-5.6-sol", name: "GPT-5.6 Sol" },
        { id: "gpt-5.6-luna", name: "GPT-5.6 Luna" }
      ]
    }
  }
},
agents: {
  defaults: {
    model: { primary: "scalemax-codex/gpt-5.6-terra" },
    utilityModel: "scalemax-codex/gpt-5.6-luna"
  }
}

The openai-responses adapter is required for Codex tool events. Do not list these models under anthropic-messages.

Manual configuration for DeepSeek V4 Flash in OpenClaw

Merge this as a third provider. For a DeepSeek token-budget key, change only baseUrl to https://api.scalemax.pro/token/v1.

json5
models: {
  mode: "merge",
  providers: {
    "scalemax-deepseek": {
      baseUrl: "https://api.scalemax.pro/v1",
      apiKey: { source: "file", provider: "scalemax_cli", id: "value" },
      api: "openai-completions",
      maxTokens: 4096,
      request: {
        headers: {
          "User-Agent": { source: "file", provider: "scalemax_cli_user_agent", id: "value" }
        },
        allowPrivateNetwork: false
      },
      models: [
        {
          id: "deepseek-v4-flash",
          name: "DeepSeek V4 Flash",
          reasoning: true,
          input: ["text"],
          maxTokens: 4096,
          compat: {
            supportsTools: true,
            supportsToolChoice: false,
            supportsReasoningEffort: true,
            supportsUsageInStreaming: true,
            maxTokensField: "max_tokens",
            requiresReasoningContentOnAssistantMessages: true
          }
        }
      ]
    }
  }
},
agents: {
  defaults: {
    model: { primary: "scalemax-deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash" },
    utilityModel: "scalemax-deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash"
  }
}

deepseek-v4-flash is available through ScaleMax's /v1/chat/completions contract, not /v1/responses. Use the agent flags above only when your authenticated /v1/models entry reports capabilities.tools=true. Thinking-mode tool loops require exact reasoning_content replay and reject tool_choice, which is why both compatibility flags are explicit.

If discovery reports tools=false, set reasoning: false and compat: { supportsTools: false }, or use Continue Chat/Edit. scalemax update performs this capability selection automatically. Use only the customer's ScaleMax key; no upstream credential belongs on their device.

Manual configuration for Claude models in OpenClaw

Use this alternative for Claude. For a Claude token-pack key, change only baseUrl to https://api.scalemax.pro/token. The Messages adapter appends /v1/messages, so its base URL must not end in /v1.

json5
models: {
  mode: "merge",
  providers: {
    "scalemax-claude": {
      baseUrl: "https://api.scalemax.pro",
      apiKey: { source: "file", provider: "scalemax_cli", id: "value" },
      api: "anthropic-messages",
      maxTokens: 4096,
      request: {
        headers: {
          "User-Agent": { source: "file", provider: "scalemax_cli_user_agent", id: "value" }
        },
        allowPrivateNetwork: false
      },
      models: [
        { id: "fable-5", name: "Fable 5", contextWindow: 1050000, maxTokens: 4096 },
        { id: "claude-haiku-4-5-20251001", name: "Claude Haiku 4.5", contextWindow: 200000, maxTokens: 4096 },
        { id: "claude-haiku-5-5", name: "Claude Haiku 5.5", contextWindow: 1000000, maxTokens: 128000 },
        { id: "claude-opus-4-6", name: "Claude Opus 4.6", contextWindow: 200000, maxTokens: 4096 },
        { id: "claude-opus-4-7", name: "Claude Opus 4.7", contextWindow: 200000, maxTokens: 4096 },
        { id: "claude-opus-4-8", name: "Claude Opus 4.8", contextWindow: 200000, maxTokens: 4096 },
        { id: "claude-opus-5", name: "Claude Opus 5", contextWindow: 1000000, maxTokens: 128000 },
        { id: "claude-opus-5-5", name: "Claude Opus 5.5", contextWindow: 1000000, maxTokens: 128000 },
        { id: "claude-sonnet-5", name: "Claude Sonnet 5", contextWindow: 200000, maxTokens: 4096 },
        { id: "claude-sonnet-5-5", name: "Claude Sonnet 5.5", contextWindow: 1000000, maxTokens: 128000 }
      ]
    }
  }
},
agents: {
  defaults: {
    model: { primary: "scalemax-claude/claude-opus-5" },
    utilityModel: "scalemax-claude/claude-haiku-4-5-20251001"
  }
}

The provider keeps a conservative 4096-token default for older entries. Claude Opus 5's per-model 128000 value overrides that default and reflects its native output limit; lower it if you want a smaller per-response budget.

Verify with the built-in probe

bash
openclaw config validate
openclaw secrets audit --check
openclaw models list
openclaw models status --probe --probe-max-tokens 1 --probe-timeout 60000 --json
openclaw infer model run --model scalemax-deepseek/deepseek-v4-flash --prompt "Reply with K only." --json
scalemax update

Run the DeepSeek model command only when that provider is configured. After a text probe passes, ask it to use one harmless read-only tool and confirm the tool result is returned before enabling write or shell tools. OpenClaw 2026.7.1 can materialize resolved SecretRefs in its private generated agent cache during a probe; the final scalemax update scrubs that generated copy and restores the file-backed source of truth.

Keep the key private

Never paste the real key into openclaw.json, a workspace environment file, or a support transcript. Keep the SecretRef files user-only and leave allowPrivateNetwork disabled for the public ScaleMax gateway.

See OpenClaw's custom-provider reference.