🖥️ Mac Mini Server

Complete guide to running OpenClaw on a Mac Mini as an always-on AI server. From hardware selection to monitoring.

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1. Hardware Recommendations

Mac Mini M4 (2024) — $499 base

Spec	Base	Upgraded
CPU	10-core	10-core
GPU

10-core | 10-core | | RAM | 16GB | 32GB (+$200) | | Storage | 256GB | 512GB (+$200) |

Best for: Personal assistant, small team, cloud API-only usage.
Recommendation: Upgrade to 32GB RAM ($699 total) — worth it for Docker overhead + future local models.

Mac Mini M4 Pro — $1,399 base

Spec	Base	Upgraded
CPU	12-core	14-core
GPU

16-core | 20-core | | RAM | 24GB | 48GB (+$200) / 64GB (+$400) | | Storage | 512GB | 1TB (+$200) |

Best for: Local model inference (Ollama), multiple clients, heavy workloads.
Recommendation: 48GB RAM ($1,599) for running 7B-13B models locally alongside OpenClaw.

Which One?

Use Case	Pick	Why
Cloud APIs only (Claude, GPT)	M4 32GB	Plenty of power, great value
Local + cloud hybrid

M4 Pro 48GB | Run Ollama + OpenClaw together | | Multi-client server | M4 Pro 64GB | Headroom for multiple agents | | Budget-conscious | M4 16GB | Works fine for single user |

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2. macOS Initial Setup

Disable Sleep & Energy Settings

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System Settings UI path: System Settings → Energy → set all to Never.

Enable Auto-Login

1. 1. System Settings → Users & Groups → Automatic Login → select your user
2. System Settings → Lock Screen → disable "Require password"

⚠️ Only do this on a physically secure machine. The Mac Mini should be in a locked location.

Disable Automatic Updates Reboots

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Update manually on your schedule instead.

Enable Remote Access

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3. Homebrew + Docker Desktop

Install Homebrew

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Install Docker Desktop

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Docker Desktop Settings:

• - Resources → CPUs: leave 2 for macOS, give rest to Docker
• Resources → Memory: leave 4GB for macOS, give rest to Docker
• General → Start Docker Desktop when you sign in: ✅

Install Essential Tools

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4. OpenClaw Docker Compose Setup

Clone and Build

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Configure

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docker-compose.yml

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⚠️ ALWAYS use 127.0.0.1: prefix on ports. Never expose to 0.0.0.0.

Launch

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5. Launchd Service (Auto-Start on Boot)

Create ~/Library/LaunchAgents/com.openclaw.gateway.plist:

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6. Tailscale for Remote Access

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Access from Anywhere

• - SSH: INLINECODE3
• OpenClaw: INLINECODE4
• No port forwarding needed
• End-to-end encrypted

Tailscale ACLs (recommended)

In the Tailscale admin console, restrict who can access the Mac Mini:

{
  "acls": [
    {"action": "accept", "src": ["your-devices"], "dst": ["mac-mini:*"]}
  ]
}

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7. Telegram Bot Configuration

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Add to config:
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8. Port Forwarding Alternatives

If Tailscale isn't an option:

Method	Pros	Cons
Tailscale (recommended)	Zero config, encrypted, free	Requires client on each device
Cloudflare Tunnel

Free, no open ports | Slight latency, CF dependency |
| ngrok | Easy setup | Free tier limited, costs for production |
| Router port forwarding | Direct access | Security risk, dynamic IP issues |
| WireGuard | Fast, self-hosted | Manual setup, maintain yourself |

Cloudflare Tunnel (alternative to Tailscale)

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9. UPS Recommendations

A UPS prevents data corruption during power outages and gives time for graceful shutdown.

Model	Capacity	Runtime	Price	Best For
APC BE425M	425VA	~15min	$55	Budget, Mac Mini only
CyberPower CP685AVRG

685VA | ~20min | $80 | Mac Mini + router |
| APC BR700G | 700VA | ~25min | $120 | Mac Mini + monitor + router |
| CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD | 1500VA | ~45min | $220 | Full setup with margin |

Recommendation: CyberPower CP685AVRG — enough for Mac Mini + router, good price-to-runtime ratio.

Auto-Shutdown on Power Loss

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10. Monitoring and Alerts

Basic Health Check Script

Save as ~/{baseDir}/scripts/health_check.sh:

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Cron-Based Monitoring

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System Metrics

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Uptime Monitoring (External)

Consider free external monitors:

• - UptimeRobot — ping your Tailscale Serve URL
• Healthchecks.io — cron job monitoring (ping on success)

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11. Cost Comparison

Mac Mini M4 32GB ($699 one-time)

Item	Monthly Cost
Electricity (~15W average)	~$2
Internet (existing)

$0 | | Tailscale | Free | | AI APIs | $50-500 | | Total | $52-502/mo | | Year 1 (with hardware) | $1,323-6,723 | | Year 2+ | $624-6,024 |

VPS (Hetzner CX32 — 4 vCPU, 8GB RAM)

Item	Monthly Cost
Server	$15
AI APIs

$50-500 | | Total | $65-515/mo | | Year 1 | $780-6,180 |

Cloud (AWS t3.large)

Item	Monthly Cost
EC2	$60
Storage

$10 | | Bandwidth | $5-20 | | AI APIs | $50-500 | | Total | $125-590/mo | | Year 1 | $1,500-7,080 |

Verdict

Factor	Mac Mini	VPS	Cloud
Upfront cost	$699	$0	$0
Monthly cost

Lowest | Low | Highest | | Performance | Best (M4 chip) | Good | Good | | Latency | Depends on internet | Consistent | Consistent | | Maintenance | You handle | Managed | Managed | | Local models | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ Expensive | | Break-even vs VPS | ~4 years | — | — |

TL;DR: Mac Mini wins if you want local model capability or plan to run 2+ years. VPS wins for simplicity and no upfront cost. Cloud is for enterprises with compliance needs.

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Quick Start Checklist

• - [ ] Buy Mac Mini (M4 32GB recommended)
• [ ] macOS setup (disable sleep, auto-login, SSH)
• [ ] Install Homebrew, Docker, tools
• [ ] Clone and build OpenClaw
• [ ] Configure INLINECODE6
• [ ] INLINECODE7
• [ ] Set up launchd auto-start
• [ ] Install and configure Tailscale
• [ ] Set up Telegram bot
• [ ] Connect UPS
• [ ] Configure health monitoring
• [ ] Test reboot recovery

Credits

Built by M. Abidi | agxntsix.ai YouTube | GitHub Part of the AgxntSix Skill Suite for OpenClaw agents.

📅 Need help setting up OpenClaw for your business? Book a free consultation