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

# Routing Simulator

> Use Starfire AI routing simulation to test model/provider selection decisions without sending a real user workload.

# Routing simulator

The routing simulator is an administrative diagnostic concept for asking: **which Starfire route would this request be eligible to use, and why?**

It is not intended to reveal proprietary routing algorithms. It explains effective eligibility and configured routing decisions at the product level.

## Simulation inputs

A simulation can include concepts such as:

* plan
* organization context
* workload type
* requested model or routing mode
* required tools
* vision requirement
* context size
* structured-output requirement
* Research/FORGE eligibility
* provider health

## Run a simulation

1. Open the provider/routing administration surface.
2. Open the routing simulator when available.
3. Enter a representative request profile—not private user content.
4. Choose the intended account/plan/organization conditions.
5. Run the simulation.
6. Review eligible routes, selected route, fallback, and exclusion reasons.

## Useful exclusion reasons

A route can be excluded because:

* plan does not allow the model
* organization policy denies it
* required capability is missing
* context requirement exceeds configured limit
* provider/route is unhealthy
* feature rollout is disabled
* workload is not eligible for that model

## Compare before and after configuration

Use simulation before publishing a routing change, then compare the expected decision after editing model availability, fallback, or policy.

## Simulation is not execution

A route can be eligible in simulation and still fail during real provider execution because of a transient provider error, timeout, or rate limit.

<Warning>
  Do not use routing simulation output to expose internal provider secrets, credentials, or proprietary scoring details to normal users.
</Warning>