Authentication

Authentication Methods

Bearer Token

The most common authentication method is using a Bearer token in the Authorization header:

Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY

API Key Header (Anthropic Format)

For Anthropic-compatible endpoints, you can also use the x-api-key header:

x-api-key: YOUR_API_KEY

Getting Your API Key

Dashboard Method

The recommended method for obtaining an API key is through the MegaLLM dashboard:

Visit megallm.io/dashboard
Navigate to API Keys section
Click “Create New API Key”
Copy the key (starts with sk-mega-) and store it securely

CLI Tool

If you have the MegaLLM CLI installed:

npx megallm@latest

Follow the interactive prompts to set up your API key.

Security Best Practices

Never expose your tokens: Always store tokens in environment variables or secure vaults, never in code.

Environment Variables

Linux/Mac
Windows
Docker

# Add to ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc
export MEGALLM_API_KEY="your_api_key_here"

# Or use a .env file
echo "MEGALLM_API_KEY=your_api_key_here" >> .env

# Set environment variable
[System.Environment]::SetEnvironmentVariable("MEGALLM_API_KEY", "your_api_key_here", "User")

# Or use command prompt
setx MEGALLM_API_KEY "your_api_key_here"

# In Dockerfile
ENV MEGALLM_API_KEY=${MEGALLM_API_KEY}

# Or in docker-compose.yml
environment:
  - MEGALLM_API_KEY=${MEGALLM_API_KEY}

Using SDKs

OpenAI SDK

from openai import OpenAI

client = OpenAI(
    base_url="https://ai.megallm.io/v1",
    api_key=os.getenv("MEGALLM_API_KEY")
)

response = client.chat.completions.create(
    model="gpt-4",
    messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Hello!"}]
)

Anthropic SDK

from anthropic import Anthropic

client = Anthropic(
    base_url="https://ai.megallm.io",
    api_key=os.getenv("MEGALLM_API_KEY")
)

message = client.messages.create(
    model="claude-3.5-sonnet",
    max_tokens=100,
    messages=[{"role": "user", "content": "Hello!"}]
)

LangChain Integration

from langchain_openai import ChatOpenAI

llm = ChatOpenAI(
    base_url="https://ai.megallm.io/v1",
    api_key=os.getenv("MEGALLM_API_KEY"),
    model="gpt-4"
)

response = llm.invoke("Hello!")

Troubleshooting

Common Authentication Errors

Error Code	Message	Solution
401	Unauthorized	Check if your API key is valid and not expired
403	Forbidden	Verify API key has required access
429	Rate Limited	Wait and retry or contact support

Debugging Authentication

Enable debug mode to see detailed authentication information:

curl https://ai.megallm.io/v1/chat/completions \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $MEGALLM_API_KEY" \
  -H "X-Debug-Auth: true" \
  -d '{"model": "gpt-4", "messages": [...]}'

Need Help? Check our FAQ or contact support if you’re experiencing authentication issues.

Getting Started

OpenAI API

Anthropic API

Authentication Methods

Bearer Token

API Key Header (Anthropic Format)

Getting Your API Key

Security Best Practices

Environment Variables

Using SDKs

OpenAI SDK

Anthropic SDK

LangChain Integration

Troubleshooting

Common Authentication Errors

Debugging Authentication

​Authentication Methods

​Bearer Token

​API Key Header (Anthropic Format)

​Getting Your API Key

​Security Best Practices

​Environment Variables

​Using SDKs

​OpenAI SDK

​Anthropic SDK

​LangChain Integration

​Troubleshooting

​Common Authentication Errors

​Debugging Authentication

Authentication Methods

Bearer Token

API Key Header (Anthropic Format)

Getting Your API Key

Security Best Practices

Environment Variables

Using SDKs

OpenAI SDK

Anthropic SDK

LangChain Integration

Troubleshooting

Common Authentication Errors

Debugging Authentication