122 lines
4.7 KiB
Markdown
122 lines
4.7 KiB
Markdown
---
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summary: "Remote access using SSH tunnels (Gateway WS) and tailnets"
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read_when:
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- Running or troubleshooting remote gateway setups
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---
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# Remote access (SSH, tunnels, and tailnets)
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This repo supports “remote over SSH” by keeping a single Gateway (the master) running on a dedicated host (desktop/server) and connecting clients to it.
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- For **operators (you / the macOS app)**: SSH tunneling is the universal fallback.
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- For **nodes (iOS/Android and future devices)**: prefer the Gateway **Bridge** when on the same LAN/tailnet (see [Discovery](/gateway/discovery)).
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## The core idea
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- The Gateway WebSocket binds to **loopback** on your configured port (defaults to 18789).
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- For remote use, you forward that loopback port over SSH (or use a tailnet/VPN and tunnel less).
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## Common VPN/tailnet setups (where the agent lives)
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Think of the **Gateway host** as “where the agent lives.” It owns sessions, auth profiles, channels, and state.
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Your laptop/desktop (and nodes) connect to that host.
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### 1) Always-on Gateway in your tailnet (VPS or home server)
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Run the Gateway on a persistent host and reach it via **Tailscale** or SSH.
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- **Best UX:** keep `gateway.bind: "loopback"` and use **Tailscale Serve** for the Control UI.
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- **Fallback:** keep loopback + SSH tunnel from any machine that needs access.
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- **Examples:** [exe.dev](/platforms/exe-dev) (easy VM) or [Hetzner](/platforms/hetzner) (production VPS).
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This is ideal when your laptop sleeps often but you want the agent always-on.
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### 2) Home desktop runs the Gateway, laptop is remote control
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The laptop does **not** run the agent. It connects remotely:
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- Use the macOS app’s **Remote over SSH** mode (Settings → General → “Clawdbot runs”).
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- The app opens and manages the tunnel, so WebChat + health checks “just work.”
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Runbook: [macOS remote access](/platforms/mac/remote).
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### 3) Laptop runs the Gateway, remote access from other machines
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Keep the Gateway local but expose it safely:
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- SSH tunnel to the laptop from other machines, or
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- Tailscale Serve the Control UI and keep the Gateway loopback-only.
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Guide: [Tailscale](/gateway/tailscale) and [Web overview](/web).
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## Command flow (what runs where)
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One gateway daemon owns state + channels. Nodes are peripherals.
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Flow example (Telegram → node):
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- Telegram message arrives at the **Gateway**.
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- Gateway runs the **agent** and decides whether to call a node tool.
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- Gateway calls the **node** over the Bridge (`node.*` RPC).
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- Node returns the result; Gateway replies back out to Telegram.
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Notes:
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- **Nodes do not run the gateway daemon.** Only one gateway should run per host unless you intentionally run isolated profiles (see [Multiple gateways](/gateway/multiple-gateways)).
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- macOS app “node mode” is just a node client over the Bridge.
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## SSH tunnel (CLI + tools)
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Create a local tunnel to the remote Gateway WS:
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```bash
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ssh -N -L 18789:127.0.0.1:18789 user@host
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```
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With the tunnel up:
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- `clawdbot health` and `clawdbot status --deep` now reach the remote gateway via `ws://127.0.0.1:18789`.
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- `clawdbot gateway {status,health,send,agent,call}` can also target the forwarded URL via `--url` when needed.
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Note: replace `18789` with your configured `gateway.port` (or `--port`/`CLAWDBOT_GATEWAY_PORT`).
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## CLI remote defaults
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You can persist a remote target so CLI commands use it by default:
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```json5
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{
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gateway: {
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mode: "remote",
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remote: {
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url: "ws://127.0.0.1:18789",
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token: "your-token"
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}
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}
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}
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```
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When the gateway is loopback-only, keep the URL at `ws://127.0.0.1:18789` and open the SSH tunnel first.
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## Chat UI over SSH
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WebChat no longer uses a separate HTTP port. The SwiftUI chat UI connects directly to the Gateway WebSocket.
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- Forward `18789` over SSH (see above), then connect clients to `ws://127.0.0.1:18789`.
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- On macOS, prefer the app’s “Remote over SSH” mode, which manages the tunnel automatically.
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## macOS app “Remote over SSH”
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The macOS menu bar app can drive the same setup end-to-end (remote status checks, WebChat, and Voice Wake forwarding).
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Runbook: [macOS remote access](/platforms/mac/remote).
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## Security rules (remote/VPN)
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Short version: **keep the Gateway loopback-only** unless you’re sure you need a bind.
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- **Loopback + SSH/Tailscale Serve** is the safest default (no public exposure).
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- **Non-loopback binds** (`lan`/`tailnet`/`auto`) must use auth tokens/passwords.
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- `gateway.remote.token` is **only** for remote CLI calls — it does **not** enable local auth.
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- **Tailscale Serve** can authenticate via identity headers when `gateway.auth.allowTailscale: true`.
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Set it to `false` if you want tokens/passwords instead.
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- Treat `browser.controlUrl` like an admin API: tailnet-only + token auth.
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Deep dive: [Security](/gateway/security).
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