a

hosts/server/configuration.nix

@@ -23,9 +23,6 @@
 
   services.vscode-server.enable = true;
 
-  # Avoid clobber failures in Home Manager activations (e.g., openclaw user).
-  home-manager.backupFileExtension = "hmbackup";
-
   systemd.services.ocbwoy3-start-pm2 = {
     enable = true;
     description = "Start PM2";

hosts/server/slop/openclaw.nix

@@ -28,6 +28,8 @@ let
   });
 in
 {
+  imports = [ inputs.openclaw.nixosModules.openclaw-gateway ];
+
   users.users.openclaw = {
     isSystemUser = false;
     isNormalUser = true;
@@ -54,21 +56,14 @@ in
     ${pkgs.systemd}/bin/loginctl enable-linger openclaw || true
   '';
 
-  # Run OpenClaw gateway only under the dedicated openclaw user (user systemd service).
-  home-manager.users.openclaw = { pkgs, ... }: {
-    imports = [ inputs.openclaw.homeManagerModules.openclaw ];
-
-    home.stateVersion = "24.11";
-    programs.openclaw = {
-      enable = true;
-      package = openclawPatched;
-      instances.default = {
-        enable = true;
-        # Linux user service only; prevent accidental launchd usage.
-        launchd.enable = false;
-        systemd.enable = true;
-      };
-    };
+  # Run OpenClaw gateway as a NixOS system service under the dedicated user.
+  services.openclaw-gateway = {
+    enable = true;
+    package = openclawPatched;
+    createUser = false;
+    user = "openclaw";
+    group = "openclaw";
+    stateDir = "/home/openclaw/.local/share/openclaw";
   };
 
 }