Multi-Provider Patterns

Overview

One of switchAILocal’s most powerful features is seamless multi-provider support. This guide demonstrates advanced patterns for leveraging multiple providers simultaneously.

Tiered Failover Strategy

Prioritize free/cheap providers, fall back to premium ones:

Configuration

# config.yaml
ollama:
  enabled: true
  base-url: "http://localhost:11434"

gemini:
  api-key: "your-gemini-api-key"

switchai:
  api-key: "your-switchai-api-key"

routing:
  strategy: "fill-first"  # Try providers in order
  fallback-enabled: true

Usage Pattern

from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI(
    base_url="http://localhost:18080/v1",
    api_key="sk-test-123",
)

# Tier 1: Try local Ollama first (free, private)
try:
    completion = client.chat.completions.create(
        model="ollama:llama3.2",
        messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Explain recursion"}],
        timeout=5,  # Fast timeout for local
    )
    print("✅ Used Ollama (local, free)")
except Exception as e:
    print(f"❌ Ollama failed: {e}")
    
    # Tier 2: Fall back to Gemini Flash (cheap, fast)
    try:
        completion = client.chat.completions.create(
            model="switchai:switchai-fast",
            messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Explain recursion"}],
        )
        print("✅ Used switchAI Fast (cheap)")
    except Exception as e:
        print(f"❌ switchAI Fast failed: {e}")
        
        # Tier 3: Last resort - premium model
        completion = client.chat.completions.create(
            model="switchai:switchai-reasoner",
            messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Explain recursion"}],
        )
        print("✅ Used switchAI Reasoner (premium)")

print(completion.choices[0].message.content)

Provider Pool with Round-Robin

Balance load across multiple providers:

from openai import OpenAI
import itertools

client = OpenAI(
    base_url="http://localhost:18080/v1",
    api_key="sk-test-123",
)

# Define provider pool
providers = itertools.cycle([
    "geminicli:gemini-2.5-pro",
    "switchai:switchai-fast",
    "ollama:llama3.2",
])

# Make requests using round-robin
for i in range(6):
    model = next(providers)
    print(f"Request {i+1} -> {model}")
    
    completion = client.chat.completions.create(
        model=model,
        messages=[{"role": "user", "content": f"Say 'Hello from request {i+1}'"}],
    )
    
    print(f"Response: {completion.choices[0].message.content}\n")

Output:

Request 1 -> geminicli:gemini-2.5-pro
Response: Hello from request 1

Request 2 -> switchai:switchai-fast
Response: Hello from request 2

Request 3 -> ollama:llama3.2
Response: Hello from request 3
...

Cost Optimization Pattern

Route based on task complexity:

from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI(
    base_url="http://localhost:18080/v1",
    api_key="sk-test-123",
)

def get_optimal_model(task_type: str, content_length: int) -> str:
    """Select the most cost-effective model for the task."""
    
    # Simple queries -> fast, cheap model
    if task_type == "simple" or content_length < 100:
        return "switchai:switchai-fast"
    
    # Code generation -> coding-optimized model
    elif task_type == "coding":
        return "geminicli:gemini-2.5-pro"
    
    # Complex reasoning -> premium model
    elif task_type == "reasoning" or content_length > 1000:
        return "switchai:switchai-reasoner"
    
    # Default: balanced model
    else:
        return "switchai:switchai-chat"

# Example usage
tasks = [
    {"type": "simple", "content": "What is 2+2?"},
    {"type": "coding", "content": "Write a binary search algorithm in Python"},
    {"type": "reasoning", "content": "Analyze the ethical implications of AI in healthcare"},
]

for task in tasks:
    model = get_optimal_model(task["type"], len(task["content"]))
    print(f"\nTask: {task['type']}")
    print(f"Model: {model}")
    
    completion = client.chat.completions.create(
        model=model,
        messages=[{"role": "user", "content": task["content"]}],
    )
    
    print(f"Response: {completion.choices[0].message.content[:100]}...")

Privacy-Aware Routing

Keep sensitive data local:

from openai import OpenAI
import re

client = OpenAI(
    base_url="http://localhost:18080/v1",
    api_key="sk-test-123",
)

def contains_sensitive_data(text: str) -> bool:
    """Detect if text contains sensitive information."""
    patterns = [
        r'\b[A-Za-z0-9._%+-]+@[A-Za-z0-9.-]+\.[A-Z|a-z]{2,}\b',  # Email
        r'\b\d{3}-\d{2}-\d{4}\b',  # SSN
        r'\b\d{16}\b',  # Credit card
        r'\b(password|secret|api[_-]?key)\b',  # Keywords
    ]
    return any(re.search(pattern, text, re.IGNORECASE) for pattern in patterns)

def route_securely(content: str) -> str:
    """Route to local model if content is sensitive."""
    if contains_sensitive_data(content):
        print("🔒 Sensitive data detected -> using local model")
        return "ollama:llama3.2"
    else:
        print("✅ No sensitive data -> using cloud model")
        return "switchai:switchai-fast"

# Example usage
queries = [
    "What is machine learning?",
    "My email is john.doe@example.com and I need help",
    "Explain quantum computing",
]

for query in queries:
    model = route_securely(query)
    print(f"Query: {query[:50]}...")
    print(f"Model: {model}\n")
    
    completion = client.chat.completions.create(
        model=model,
        messages=[{"role": "user", "content": query}],
    )

A/B Testing Pattern

Compare responses from multiple providers:

from openai import OpenAI
import time

client = OpenAI(
    base_url="http://localhost:18080/v1",
    api_key="sk-test-123",
)

def ab_test_providers(prompt: str, providers: list) -> dict:
    """Test the same prompt across multiple providers."""
    results = {}
    
    for provider in providers:
        start = time.time()
        
        try:
            completion = client.chat.completions.create(
                model=provider,
                messages=[{"role": "user", "content": prompt}],
            )
            
            elapsed = (time.time() - start) * 1000
            results[provider] = {
                "success": True,
                "response": completion.choices[0].message.content,
                "latency_ms": elapsed,
                "tokens": completion.usage.total_tokens if completion.usage else 0,
            }
        except Exception as e:
            results[provider] = {
                "success": False,
                "error": str(e),
            }
    
    return results

# Run A/B test
prompt = "Explain the concept of recursion in programming"
providers = [
    "geminicli:gemini-2.5-pro",
    "ollama:llama3.2",
    "switchai:switchai-fast",
]

results = ab_test_providers(prompt, providers)

# Display results
for provider, result in results.items():
    print(f"\n{'='*60}")
    print(f"Provider: {provider}")
    
    if result["success"]:
        print(f"✅ Success")
        print(f"Latency: {result['latency_ms']:.0f}ms")
        print(f"Tokens: {result['tokens']}")
        print(f"Response: {result['response'][:150]}...")
    else:
        print(f"❌ Failed: {result['error']}")

Multi-Provider Consensus

Get answers from multiple providers and choose the best:

from openai import OpenAI
from collections import Counter

client = OpenAI(
    base_url="http://localhost:18080/v1",
    api_key="sk-test-123",
)

def get_consensus(prompt: str, providers: list) -> dict:
    """Get responses from multiple providers and find consensus."""
    responses = []
    
    for provider in providers:
        try:
            completion = client.chat.completions.create(
                model=provider,
                messages=[{"role": "user", "content": prompt}],
                temperature=0.1,  # Low temp for consistency
            )
            responses.append(completion.choices[0].message.content)
        except Exception as e:
            print(f"⚠️  {provider} failed: {e}")
    
    # Simple consensus: most common response
    if responses:
        response_counts = Counter(responses)
        consensus_response = response_counts.most_common(1)[0][0]
        confidence = response_counts.most_common(1)[0][1] / len(responses)
        
        return {
            "consensus": consensus_response,
            "confidence": confidence,
            "total_responses": len(responses),
            "all_responses": responses,
        }
    
    return None

# Example: Get consensus on a factual question
prompt = "What is the capital of France?"
providers = [
    "geminicli:gemini-2.5-pro",
    "ollama:llama3.2",
    "switchai:switchai-fast",
]

result = get_consensus(prompt, providers)

if result:
    print(f"Consensus: {result['consensus']}")
    print(f"Confidence: {result['confidence']:.1%}")
    print(f"Responses: {result['total_responses']}")

Geographic Distribution

Route to providers based on user location:

from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI(
    base_url="http://localhost:18080/v1",
    api_key="sk-test-123",
)

def get_regional_model(region: str) -> str:
    """Select provider based on geographic region."""
    regional_routing = {
        "us-east": "openai:gpt-4",
        "us-west": "openai:gpt-4",
        "eu": "gemini:gemini-2.5-pro",
        "asia": "claude:claude-3-5-sonnet",
        "local": "ollama:llama3.2",
    }
    return regional_routing.get(region, "switchai:switchai-fast")

# Example usage
users = [
    {"id": "user1", "region": "us-east"},
    {"id": "user2", "region": "eu"},
    {"id": "user3", "region": "local"},
]

for user in users:
    model = get_regional_model(user["region"])
    print(f"User: {user['id']} (Region: {user['region']}) -> {model}")
    
    completion = client.chat.completions.create(
        model=model,
        messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Hello!"}],
    )

Provider Health Monitoring

Monitor provider availability and automatically failover:

from openai import OpenAI
import time
from datetime import datetime

client = OpenAI(
    base_url="http://localhost:18080/v1",
    api_key="sk-test-123",
)

class ProviderHealthMonitor:
    def __init__(self, providers: list):
        self.providers = providers
        self.health = {p: {"status": "unknown", "last_check": None} for p in providers}
    
    def check_health(self, provider: str) -> bool:
        """Check if a provider is healthy."""
        try:
            start = time.time()
            completion = client.chat.completions.create(
                model=provider,
                messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "ping"}],
                max_tokens=10,
                timeout=5,
            )
            latency = (time.time() - start) * 1000
            
            self.health[provider] = {
                "status": "healthy",
                "latency_ms": latency,
                "last_check": datetime.now(),
            }
            return True
        except Exception as e:
            self.health[provider] = {
                "status": "unhealthy",
                "error": str(e),
                "last_check": datetime.now(),
            }
            return False
    
    def get_healthy_provider(self) -> str:
        """Get the first healthy provider."""
        for provider in self.providers:
            if self.check_health(provider):
                return provider
        raise Exception("No healthy providers available")
    
    def get_status_report(self) -> dict:
        """Get health status of all providers."""
        return self.health

# Initialize monitor
providers = [
    "ollama:llama3.2",
    "geminicli:gemini-2.5-pro",
    "switchai:switchai-fast",
]

monitor = ProviderHealthMonitor(providers)

# Use the first healthy provider
try:
    healthy_provider = monitor.get_healthy_provider()
    print(f"✅ Using healthy provider: {healthy_provider}")
    
    completion = client.chat.completions.create(
        model=healthy_provider,
        messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Hello!"}],
    )
except Exception as e:
    print(f"❌ All providers unhealthy: {e}")

# Display health report
print("\nProvider Health Report:")
for provider, status in monitor.get_status_report().items():
    print(f"  {provider}: {status['status']}")
    if status['status'] == 'healthy':
        print(f"    Latency: {status['latency_ms']:.0f}ms")

Best Practices

Implement Timeouts - Set appropriate timeouts for each provider tier to enable fast failover.

Cache Provider Status - Monitor provider health periodically rather than on every request.

Log Provider Usage - Track which providers are being used to optimize your configuration.

Avoid Cascading Failures - Implement circuit breakers to prevent overwhelming failing providers.

Next Steps

Basic Usage

Learn the fundamentals

Intelligent Routing

Use Cortex Router for automatic routing

Streaming

Real-time streaming responses

Configuration

Configure provider settings

Client SDKs

Embedding SDK

Examples

Overview

Tiered Failover Strategy

Configuration

Usage Pattern

Provider Pool with Round-Robin

Cost Optimization Pattern

Privacy-Aware Routing

A/B Testing Pattern

Multi-Provider Consensus

Geographic Distribution

Provider Health Monitoring

Best Practices

Next Steps

Basic Usage

Intelligent Routing

Streaming

Configuration

Client SDKs

Embedding SDK

Examples

​Overview

​Tiered Failover Strategy

​Configuration

​Usage Pattern

​Provider Pool with Round-Robin

​Cost Optimization Pattern

​Privacy-Aware Routing

​A/B Testing Pattern

​Multi-Provider Consensus

​Geographic Distribution

​Provider Health Monitoring

​Best Practices

​Next Steps

Basic Usage

Intelligent Routing

Streaming

Configuration

Overview

Tiered Failover Strategy

Configuration

Usage Pattern

Provider Pool with Round-Robin

Cost Optimization Pattern

Privacy-Aware Routing

A/B Testing Pattern

Multi-Provider Consensus

Geographic Distribution

Provider Health Monitoring

Best Practices

Next Steps