Overview
A model connection represents one upstream model in Dome. The connection stores the configuration and credentials Dome needs to call that model. An agent selects the connection by putting its name in the request’smodel field.
A pool groups multiple models behind one name. Dome selects one member for each request. Prefer a pool when you need routing, traffic distribution, or failover. Refer to Pools concept.
The typical workflow is:
- Choose a provider and model identifier.
- Add the model with its upstream credentials.
- Attach the model directly to a Gateway or add it to a model pool.
- Allow the Gateway on the agent.
- Verify the route with that agent’s API key.
Providers
The provider determines how Dome translates requests and where Dome places the upstream credential. You cannot change the provider after adding the model. Provider IDs fall into three groups.- Native providers. Dome translates between the Gateway request and the provider’s native wire format:
openai,anthropic,google,azure_openai, andbedrock. - Hosted OpenAI-compatible providers. Dome sends requests through the provider’s OpenAI-compatible API (for example
mistral,groq,together,openrouter,databricks). - Bring your own endpoint. Use
openai_compatiblefor an OpenAI-shaped endpoint such as vLLM or Ollama. Usecustomwhen Dome should forward provider-specific requests without translating them.
openai_compatible, and custom, you must provide an endpoint or the provider-specific details needed to locate the model. The full provider ID list is on the Models reference.
Credentials
Agent API keys authenticate inbound requests to Dome. Model credentials authenticate Dome’s outbound requests to the provider, and agents never receive them.
When the provider requires no authentication, set both the authentication method and credential type to
none. When the provider uses an API key or OAuth, the credential type must be shared or per-user. If you omit both settings, Dome uses api-key with shared.
With per-user credentials, Dome uses the verified act-as identity on each request to select the provider credential. If that end user has not connected a credential, Dome returns HTTP 401 with a short-lived provision_url. The end user opens the URL to enter an API key or complete OAuth consent, then retries the request. Refer to Errors and denials for runtime handling.
Google models with shared credentials use a service account. On a self-hosted gateway, Google and Bedrock models can instead use the gateway’s cloud-native identity. A Dome-hosted gateway cannot assume a role or workload identity from your cloud account.
Attributes
Attributes add trusted metadata to a model for rules to evaluate. For example, a rule can allow models withregion=eu for a European workload or deny models whose data_class does not match the request. Attributes do not change how Dome calls the provider.
You can set attributes when you add a model or change them later.
Filter window
A model can change how much streamed output Dome buffers before applying outbound Guards. Dome uses the largest window configured on the workspace, model, or request. A model can therefore increase inspection coverage but cannot reduce the workspace minimum. A value of0 uses the workspace setting. A model can buffer at most 1 MiB or 4,096 tokens.
You can set a filter window when you add a model or change it later.
Requirements
Before you begin:- Authenticate to Dome and select a workspace
- Have the provider, model identifier, and provider-specific configuration
- Have a provider credential unless the model uses no authentication or workload identity
- Have a Gateway ready when you want the model reachable
Permissions
Model connection operations require platform permissions. Each operation states its required permission inline.Add model
Add a model for one provider endpoint. You can attach the model directly to a Gateway during this operation. If you do not attach it, agents cannot call the model until you attach it later.Requires
gateway.manage.- CLI
- MCP
- API
- Agent
--endpoint or --provider-config when the provider requires more configuration.Reference:
dome model addUpdate model
Update a model to change its name, model identifier, endpoint, authentication, attributes, or filter window. You cannot change the provider after creating the model. To switch providers, add a new model and replace the old connection in any pools or Gateways.Requires
gateway.manage.- CLI
- MCP
- API
- Agent
--provider-config replaces the full provider configuration instead of merging with it.Reference:
dome model updateChange credentials
You can change the authentication method, credential type, or shared API key. Switching authentication methods deletes the previously stored provider credential.- CLI
- MCP
- API
- Agent
Reference:
dome model updateChange attributes
You can replace the trusted attributes that rules evaluate for this model. Send an empty object to clear them.- CLI
- MCP
- API
- Agent
Reference:
dome model updateChange filter window
You can change how much streamed output Dome buffers for outbound Guard inspection. A model can buffer at most 1 MiB or 4,096 tokens. Set both values to0 to use the workspace minimum.
- CLI
- API
Reference:
dome model updateGet model
Retrieve a model to inspect its provider configuration, authentication, attributes, filter window, and Gateway membership. Use this information before an update or when troubleshooting routing.Requires
gateway.view.- CLI
- MCP
- API
- Agent
Reference:
dome model getList models
Retrieve the models in a workspace with their providers and configurations. Use the list to find a model to inspect, update, add to a pool, or remove.Requires
gateway.view.- CLI
- MCP
- API
- Agent
Reference:
dome model listRemove model
Remove a model to delete its connection and provider credentials from the workspace.Requires
gateway.manage.- CLI
- MCP
- API
- Agent
Reference:
dome model rmAttach to a Gateway
Attach a model directly to a Gateway when its name should always route to that one connection. The attachment makes the model reachable at the Gateway endpoint but does not authorize an agent to call it. The agent must allow the Gateway, and rules must permit the request. When a route needs failover or weighted distribution across multiple models, add the model to a model pool and attach the pool instead.Requires
gateway.manage.- CLI
- MCP
- Agent
Reference:
dome gateway models addVerify model
Call the model through the Gateway with an agent API key. A successful response confirms the model is reachable, rules permit the request, and the upstream accepted the configured credential.OpenAI-compatible client
Manage OAuth
With shared OAuth, an administrator completes consent once and Dome uses the resulting provider tokens for every call. With per-user OAuth, each verified end user completes consent separately. When an end user has not connected OAuth, the first request returns aprovision_url where the user can complete consent.
Configure the OAuth client when you add or update the model. If the provider publishes OAuth metadata, Dome can discover the required endpoints. Otherwise, you must provide the authorization, token, revocation, and registration URLs. A manually registered client requires a client ID and secret. With dynamic client registration, Dome obtains them from the provider.
Connect OAuth
Connect OAuth after adding a model configured to use shared OAuth. Dome returns a one-time URL that remains valid for about ten minutes. Open the URL to complete consent at the provider.Requires
gateway.manage.- CLI
- MCP
- API
- Agent
Reference:
dome model oauth-connectDisconnect OAuth
Disconnect shared OAuth to revoke the stored provider tokens. The OAuth client configuration remains, so you can reconnect without configuring the client again. Disconnecting an already disconnected model has no effect.Requires
gateway.manage.- CLI
- MCP
- API
- Agent
Reference:
dome model oauth-disconnectNext steps
- Models concept for how connections and attributes work and Models reference for providers and credentials
- Create a model pool for routing, traffic distribution, and failover
- Manage membership and grants in Gateways
- Authenticate clients and route model traffic in Develop