> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.opal.dev/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connect Bifrost

> Set up a Bifrost gateway so Paladin and Opal's other AI features can send their Claude calls through it.

> [!NOTE]
>
> AI gateways are currently in beta. Contact Opal support to enable them for your organization. If you self-host Opal, you need version `1.1252.0` or later.

## Overview

[Bifrost](https://docs.getbifrost.ai/) works as an AI gateway for Opal through its Anthropic-compatible route, `/anthropic`. Opal authenticates with a Bifrost virtual key and sends the same model names it would send to Anthropic.

## Prerequisites

* A Bifrost gateway that Opal can reach. On Opal cloud, it needs a public HTTPS URL.
* An Anthropic API key added to Bifrost as a provider key.

## Configure Bifrost

Each of these steps matters. A missed one shows up in the connection check as a model or provider error.

**1. List every model on the Anthropic provider key**

On your Anthropic provider key, list every model in [the gateway requirements](https://docs.opal.dev/docs/paladin/ai-gateway.md#overview). Bifrost doesn't treat `*` as a wildcard here, and an empty list allows no models.

**2. Create a virtual key for Opal**

Create a virtual key scoped to the Anthropic provider, with the same models listed, and bind it to your Anthropic provider key by its key ID. If you skip either part, the check fails with:

* "could not auto resolve a provider", when the key isn't scoped to Anthropic, so Bifrost can't resolve plain model names.
* "no keys found for provider", when the key isn't bound to your provider key, so Bifrost has no Anthropic key to use.

## Connect it in Opal

Follow [Connect your gateway](https://docs.opal.dev/docs/paladin/ai-gateway.md#connect-your-gateway) with:

| Field | Value |
| - | - |
| **Gateway URL** | Your Bifrost URL with `/anthropic` at the end, such as `https://bifrost.example.com/anthropic` |
| **Gateway key** | The virtual key you created |
| **Headers** | None needed. Bifrost reads the virtual key from `x-api-key`. |

Bifrost's request log shows each call Opal makes, under the virtual key you created.


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