# Move from Portkey Portkey keeps its routing rules in a config that a request names in the `x-portkey-config` header. The exchange has no config object and reads no `x-portkey-*` header. It takes its rules in an `exchange` object in the request body, or from a preset. The move is more than a new base URL. ## Change these four things 1. Issue a `spend` key on the **API keys** page. See [API keys](https://inference.ai.exchange/docs/keys.md). 2. Use a client that sends the OpenAI format. Set its base URL to `https://router.inference.ai.exchange/v1`, and send the key as `Authorization: Bearer sk-liquid-…`. See [OpenAI SDK](https://inference.ai.exchange/docs/connect-openai-sdk.md). 3. Remove the `x-portkey-*` headers. The `x-liquid-job-id` response header gives the id of each job. 4. Change each `model` to a name that `GET /v1/models` lists. See [Model names](#model-names). Then: 1. Move each config to an `exchange` object or a preset. See [Settings that change](#settings-that-change) and [Portkey features](#portkey-features). 2. Run a dry run. See [Check a request without a purchase](https://inference.ai.exchange/docs/move-from-openrouter.md#check-a-request-without-a-purchase). 3. Read [What is different about money](https://inference.ai.exchange/docs/move-from-openrouter.md#what-is-different-about-money). The exchange never lowers an output limit that you set. See [Output limits](https://inference.ai.exchange/docs/errors.md#output-limits). ## What differs - **Providers.** You hold no provider key. A name such as `@provider-slug/model-name` does not work. To limit the providers, use `exchange.candidates.providers.allow` with provider handles. - **Fallback.** If the awarded provider fails before any output, the exchange tries the next offer. It never does so after output starts. To compete several models, send `architect.basket`. - **Retries, load balancing, guardrails and cache.** See [Portkey features](#portkey-features). ## Example A Portkey config with a fallback, a retry and a cache: ```json { "strategy": { "mode": "fallback", "on_status_codes": [429, 503] }, "targets": [ { "override_params": { "model": "@openai-prod/gpt-4o" } }, { "override_params": { "model": "@anthropic-prod/claude-sonnet-4-6" } } ], "retry": { "attempts": 3 }, "cache": { "mode": "simple", "max_age": 600 } } ``` The same rules for the exchange. The basket replaces the targets: the two models compete, and the lowest estimated charge wins. The cache headers replace `cache`. One failure returns one error. The model names are illustrations. ```bash curl https://router.inference.ai.exchange/v1/chat/completions \ -H "Authorization: Bearer $LIQUID_API_KEY" \ -H "x-liquid-cache: true" \ -H "x-liquid-cache-ttl: 600" \ -H "x-liquid-tag: support" \ -H "Content-Type: application/json" \ -d '{ "model": "architect.basket", "messages": [{"role": "user", "content": "Say hello."}], "exchange": { "candidates": { "models": { "allow": ["gpt-oss-120b", "gpt-oss-20b"] } }, "rank": { "strategy": { "kind": "price" } }, "cap_usd": 0.05 } }' ``` To save these rules, make a preset on the **Presets** page and send its name as `model`. ## Reference ### Settings that change | Portkey setting | Exchange setting | | --------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `x-portkey-provider`, `provider`, `x-portkey-virtual-key` and `virtual_key` | No equal. Use `exchange.candidates.providers.allow` or `exchange.candidates.providers.exclude` with provider handles. A Portkey slug is not a handle. | | `x-portkey-config` and `config` | An `exchange` object in the body, or a preset that you name as `model`. See [Purchasing rules](https://inference.ai.exchange/docs/rules.md) and [Presets](https://inference.ai.exchange/docs/rules.md#presets). | | `x-portkey-metadata` | `x-liquid-tag` with one label. See [Cost tags](https://inference.ai.exchange/docs/rules.md#cost-tags). | ### Model names The exchange does not use the `@provider-slug/model-name` form. Send a name that `GET /v1/models` returns, a router model, a basket or a preset. See [Connect an app](https://inference.ai.exchange/docs/connect-overview.md). ### Portkey features | Portkey feature | What the exchange does | | --------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `strategy.mode` `fallback`, `targets`, `on_status_codes` | Not read. Send `architect.basket` with `exchange.candidates.models.allow`, and rank with `exchange.rank.strategy`. See [Errors](https://inference.ai.exchange/docs/errors.md#auction). | | `strategy.mode` `loadbalance`, `weight`, `conditional` | Not read or not available. The exchange awards each job to one offer by rank. Choose the `model` in your own code. See [Purchasing rules](https://inference.ai.exchange/docs/rules.md#strategy). | | `retry` with `attempts` | Not read. If your code retries, send the same `idempotency-key` on each try, so that no second job runs. See [Purchasing rules](https://inference.ai.exchange/docs/rules.md#headers). | | `x-portkey-request-timeout` | Not read. `exchange.limits.ttft_ms` and `exchange.limits.completion_ms` limit which offers compete. A job that misses the deadline is still charged, and its receipt shows `missed`. See [Purchasing rules](https://inference.ai.exchange/docs/rules.md#service). | | `cache` with `mode` `simple` | Send `x-liquid-cache: true`, or set `exchange.cache.response` in the rules. An identical request from the same key gets the stored answer. The entry lives 1 to 86,400 seconds. See [Response caching](https://inference.ai.exchange/docs/response-caching.md). | | `cache` with `mode` `semantic` | Not available. Only an identical request matches. | | `x-portkey-cache-force-refresh`, `x-portkey-cache-namespace` | Not read. `x-liquid-cache-clear: true` deletes the entry and runs the request again. A key never shares an entry with another key. | | `input_guardrails`, `output_guardrails`, `before_request_hooks` | Not read. The workspace guardrails apply to every call. There is no output check. See [Guardrails](https://inference.ai.exchange/docs/guardrails.md). | | `override_params`, `default_params`, `drop_params` of a target | Not available. Put the `model` and the parameters in the request. | | `tools`, `response_format`, `stream` | Applied. See [Other OpenRouter fields](https://inference.ai.exchange/docs/move-from-openrouter.md#other-openrouter-fields). | ### Troubleshooting For `402 insufficient_balance` and `400 no_eligible_offer` with `param` set to `exchange.cap_usd`, see [What is different about money](https://inference.ai.exchange/docs/move-from-openrouter.md#what-is-different-about-money). | Error | Cause | Fix | | ----------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | `404 model_not_found` | The `model` has a `@provider-slug/` prefix, or is not on the exchange. | Pick a name from `GET /v1/models`. | | `400 invalid_request`, message names a field of `exchange` | The `exchange` object has a Portkey key or an unknown field. | Use only the fields in [Purchasing rules](https://inference.ai.exchange/docs/rules.md). | | `no_eligible_offer`, `binding_rule` is `allowed_providers` | No provider in the allowlist quotes the model. A Portkey slug causes this. | Use provider handles. See [Market data](https://inference.ai.exchange/docs/market.md). | | `400 unsupported_parameter`, `param` is a parameter you set | No offer for the model supports that parameter. | Remove the parameter, or select another model. See [Errors](https://inference.ai.exchange/docs/errors.md). | | `402 insufficient_balance` | The cheapest eligible cap is more than the balance. | Add funds, or send a lower output limit. |