Compare before changing
Provider catalogs and prices change. Read today's model IDs, cost fields, and capabilities before choosing anything.
Start with the configured provider
armaraos models providers
Use the exact provider id, not its display label. This instance is configured for openrouter.
Compare current model records
armaraos models list --provider openrouter
The catalog prints full IDs, cost fields, and capabilities. These selected entries currently show zero input and output price, but free catalogs change. Check on the day you switch.
Do not build on the broken default setter
armaraos models set <FULL_MODEL_ID>
On the verified 0.8.3 instance, the documented daemon-default setter fails with missing 'path' field. The course does not treat it as a working cost control.
Use the per-agent lever that worked
armaraos agent set <UUID> model <FULL_MODEL_ID>
The per-agent setter worked in Module 2.2 with a UUID and complete provider-prefixed model ID. Test the model with one message before depending on it.
Keep four practical levers
| Lever | Where it lives |
|---|---|
| Cheaper or currently free model | Per-agent selection in this build |
| Fewer tokens per call | Compression in Module 2.9 |
| Sane frequency | Schedules in Course 3 |
| Hard paid-account ceiling | The provider's billing controls |
Manifest cost fields read 0.0 and enforcement is unproven. Treat them as declarations, not guardrails. A card-free learner may have no provider spending limit to set yet.
Confirm the default was preserved
armaraos status
The failed setter did not change the daemon default. No restoration step was needed.
Check it / compare without disrupting work
Choose on cost and capability grounds.
armaraos models list --provider <PROVIDER>Name one model you would choose, why its capability fields fit, and which of the four levers currently applies to you. Do not change a working agent merely to finish this check.
Price per call is only one factor. A cheap model running too frequently can still create a bill, and provider pricing can change without an ArmaraOS release.
Troubleshooting for this sitting
| What you see | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Provider is missing | Its credential is not configured. | Return to Module 1.5. |
| A remembered free model is absent | The provider catalog changed. | Choose from today's live list. |
| Default setter reports missing path | Known failure on this 0.8.3 config. | Keep the default and use a disposable per-agent test. |
| The wrong provider is parsed | The prefix was omitted. | Use the complete ID from the list. |