Memkeeper for OpenClaw

Install, configure, verify, or remove local-first Memkeeper memory for OpenClaw. Use when an OpenClaw user needs Memkeeper's local embedding and reranking models, a safe MCP tool profile, or diagnosis of a failed Memkeeper MCP connection.

Configure Memkeeper as a local stdio MCP server. Keep embedding and reranking local by default. Do not select an OpenClaw reasoning model, configure a model provider, install a Gateway service, or enable a messaging channel unless the user explicitly asks.

Set up local semantic memory

Use a user-level store unless the user requests project isolation.

bash

MEMKEEPER_BIN="${MEMKEEPER_BIN:-$HOME/.local/bin/memkeeper}"
MEMKEEPER_STORE="${MEMKEEPER_STORE:-$HOME/.memkeeper/store.sqlite}"

If MEMKEEPER_BIN is absent, download the public installer to a temporary file, inspect it, and run it. Do not paste secrets into a command or config file.

bash

curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/teflon07/memkeeper/main/install.sh \
  -o /tmp/memkeeper-install.sh
bash /tmp/memkeeper-install.sh

Download the local models, initialize the store, and require semantic retrieval:

bash

"$MEMKEEPER_BIN" pull-models
"$MEMKEEPER_BIN" init --store "$MEMKEEPER_STORE" --json
MEMKEEPER_REQUIRE_SEMANTIC=1 \
  "$MEMKEEPER_BIN" doctor --store "$MEMKEEPER_STORE" --json

Require the final doctor output to report semantic models as ready. Treat a missing model as a setup failure, not as permission to use lexical fallback.

Register the MCP server

Register Memkeeper through OpenClaw's MCP command. Expose the tested 12-tool profile first:

bash

openclaw mcp add memkeeper \
  --command "$MEMKEEPER_BIN" \
  --arg mcp \
  --env "MEMKEEPER_STORE=$MEMKEEPER_STORE" \
  --env "MEMKEEPER_REQUIRE_SEMANTIC=1" \
  --include "stats,search,get,memory_list,entity_search,graph_neighbors,graph_context,dream_graph,remember,pack,candidate_submit,candidate_list" \
  --timeout 30 \
  --connect-timeout 30

Keep forget, entity_upsert, relationship_upsert, and verify disabled until the operator explicitly needs deletion or direct graph/metadata mutation.

Verify and report

Prove the live stdio connection after registration:

bash

openclaw mcp doctor memkeeper --probe --json

Report the configured store path, enabled tool count, and probe result. Do not print stored memory contents, API keys, tokens, or other sensitive environment values.

The MCP connection test does not require an OpenClaw reasoning provider, a Gateway daemon, or messaging channels. Those are independent, user-selected choices.

Handle non-local embedding only on request

Do not change the local mxBai embedding and reranking defaults without explicit operator direction. An API embedding or reranking provider receives memory text outside the machine and changes the store's vector backend. Use a separate store or deliberately re-embed before switching.

For removal, unregister the MCP server with openclaw mcp unset memkeeper. Leave the local store and models in place unless the user explicitly requests their removal.