Remote File Finder
Instant file location
The Story
A system administrator managing 50+ remote servers was wasting hours manually SSH-ing into each server to search for specific files, configurations, or logs. The process was tedious, error-prone, and inefficient. They needed a way to search across all remote servers simultaneously, locate files instantly, and get results in a unified, searchable format without manually logging into each machine.
"What used to take all day now takes seconds. I can search 50 servers as easily as searching my local machine."
— @sysadmin_ninja
🔧 How It Works
OpenClaw connects to multiple remote servers via SSH, executes parallel searches for files or content, and aggregates results in a unified interface.
1. Server Inventory Setup
Created an inventory of all remote servers with connection details (hostnames, credentials, ports).
Stored SSH keys and connection parameters securely, organized by environment (production, staging, development).
2. Parallel Search Execution
OpenClaw connects to all servers simultaneously and executes search commands in parallel.
Uses optimized SSH connections and concurrent execution to search dozens of servers in seconds, not hours.
3. Intelligent Query Building
Natural language queries are converted into appropriate find/grep commands for each OS.
AI understands search intent and generates optimal commands: find by name, content, size, or modification time.
4. Result Aggregation
Results from all servers are collected, deduplicated, and presented with context.
Shows file path, size, permissions, modification date, and content preview in a unified table.
Tech Stack Used
📊 Results
🛠️ OpenClaw Skills Used
SSH Automation
Connects to remote servers
Parallel Processing
Searches simultaneously
Command Generation
Builds optimal find/grep
Result Aggregation
Combines and formats results
💡 Tips for Implementation
Use SSH keys instead of passwords for security
Limit search scopes to avoid performance issues
Cache frequently accessed file locations
Set up search templates for common queries
Include file metadata in results for better context
💻 Example Configuration
# Search across all servers
openclaw remote-search \
--pattern "*.log" \
--content "ERROR" \
--modified-within "24h" \
--servers production \
--max-size 100M
# Find config files
openclaw remote-search \
--pattern "nginx.conf" \
--path "/etc/nginx" \
--servers all \
--output tableReady to Build Your Own Automation?
Join thousands of users transforming their workflows with OpenClaw. Start with simple automations and scale to complex workflows.