---

name: iblai-router description: Cost-optimizing model router for OpenClaw. Automatically routes each request to the cheapest capable Claude model (Haiku/Sonnet/Opus) using weighted scoring. Use when setting up smart model routing, reducing API costs, or configuring multi-tier LLM routing. Supports Anthropic models directly and OpenAI/Google models via OpenRouter.

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 "$(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

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:

{
  "models": {
    "LIGHT":  "claude-3-5-haiku-20241022",
    "MEDIUM": "claude-sonnet-4-20250514",
    "HEAVY":  "claude-opus-4-20250514"
  }
}

Non-Anthropic models (OpenAI, Google)

Set apiBaseUrl to route through OpenRouter:

{
  "models": {
    "LIGHT":  "openai/gpt-4.1-mini",
    "MEDIUM": "openai/gpt-4.1",
    "HEAVY":  "openai/o3"
  },
  "apiBaseUrl": "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1"
}

Update the API key in the systemd service when switching providers, 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 for details.

Uninstall

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.