fix: defer native LLM client construction when credentials are missing

All native LLM providers built their SDK clients inside
`@model_validator(mode="after")`, which required the API key at
`LLM(...)` construction time. Instantiating an LLM at module scope
(e.g. `chat_llm=LLM(model="openai/gpt-4o-mini")` on a `@crew` method)
crashed during downstream crew-metadata extraction with a confusing
`ImportError: Error importing native provider: 1 validation error...`
before the process env vars were ever consulted.

Wrap eager client construction in a try/except in each provider and
add `_get_sync_client` / `_get_async_client` methods that build on
first use. OpenAI call sites are routed through the lazy getters so
calls made without eager construction still work. The descriptive
"X_API_KEY is required" errors are re-raised from the lazy path at
first real call.

Update two Azure tests that asserted the old eager-error contract to
assert the new lazy-error contract.

lib/crewai/src/crewai/llms/providers/anthropic/completion.py

@@ -189,16 +189,37 @@ class AnthropicCompletion(BaseLLM):
 
     @model_validator(mode="after")
     def _init_clients(self) -> AnthropicCompletion:
-        self._client = Anthropic(**self._get_client_params())
+        """Eagerly build clients when the API key is available, otherwise
+        defer so ``LLM(model="anthropic/...")`` can be constructed at module
+        import time even before deployment env vars are set.
+        """
+        try:
+            self._client = self._build_sync_client()
+            self._async_client = self._build_async_client()
+        except ValueError:
+            pass
+        return self
 
+    def _build_sync_client(self) -> Any:
+        return Anthropic(**self._get_client_params())
+
+    def _build_async_client(self) -> Any:
         async_client_params = self._get_client_params()
         if self.interceptor:
             async_transport = AsyncHTTPTransport(interceptor=self.interceptor)
             async_http_client = httpx.AsyncClient(transport=async_transport)
             async_client_params["http_client"] = async_http_client
+        return AsyncAnthropic(**async_client_params)
 
-        self._async_client = AsyncAnthropic(**async_client_params)
-        return self
+    def _get_sync_client(self) -> Any:
+        if self._client is None:
+            self._client = self._build_sync_client()
+        return self._client
+
+    def _get_async_client(self) -> Any:
+        if self._async_client is None:
+            self._async_client = self._build_async_client()
+        return self._async_client
 
     def to_config_dict(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
         """Extend base config with Anthropic-specific fields."""
@@ -790,11 +811,11 @@ class AnthropicCompletion(BaseLLM):
         try:
             if betas:
                 params["betas"] = betas
-                response = self._client.beta.messages.create(
+                response = self._get_sync_client().beta.messages.create(
                     **params, extra_body=extra_body
                 )
             else:
-                response = self._client.messages.create(**params)
+                response = self._get_sync_client().messages.create(**params)
 
         except Exception as e:
             if is_context_length_exceeded(e):
@@ -942,9 +963,11 @@ class AnthropicCompletion(BaseLLM):
         current_tool_calls: dict[int, dict[str, Any]] = {}
 
         stream_context = (
-            self._client.beta.messages.stream(**stream_params, extra_body=extra_body)
+            self._get_sync_client().beta.messages.stream(
+                **stream_params, extra_body=extra_body
+            )
             if betas
-            else self._client.messages.stream(**stream_params)
+            else self._get_sync_client().messages.stream(**stream_params)
         )
         with stream_context as stream:
             response_id = None
@@ -1223,7 +1246,9 @@ class AnthropicCompletion(BaseLLM):
 
         try:
             # Send tool results back to Claude for final response
-            final_response: Message = self._client.messages.create(**follow_up_params)
+            final_response: Message = self._get_sync_client().messages.create(
+                **follow_up_params
+            )
 
             # Track token usage for follow-up call
             follow_up_usage = self._extract_anthropic_token_usage(final_response)
@@ -1319,11 +1344,11 @@ class AnthropicCompletion(BaseLLM):
         try:
             if betas:
                 params["betas"] = betas
-                response = await self._async_client.beta.messages.create(
+                response = await self._get_async_client().beta.messages.create(
                     **params, extra_body=extra_body
                 )
             else:
-                response = await self._async_client.messages.create(**params)
+                response = await self._get_async_client().messages.create(**params)
 
         except Exception as e:
             if is_context_length_exceeded(e):
@@ -1457,11 +1482,11 @@ class AnthropicCompletion(BaseLLM):
         current_tool_calls: dict[int, dict[str, Any]] = {}
 
         stream_context = (
-            self._async_client.beta.messages.stream(
+            self._get_async_client().beta.messages.stream(
                 **stream_params, extra_body=extra_body
             )
             if betas
-            else self._async_client.messages.stream(**stream_params)
+            else self._get_async_client().messages.stream(**stream_params)
         )
         async with stream_context as stream:
             response_id = None
@@ -1626,7 +1651,7 @@ class AnthropicCompletion(BaseLLM):
         ]
 
         try:
-            final_response: Message = await self._async_client.messages.create(
+            final_response: Message = await self._get_async_client().messages.create(
                 **follow_up_params
             )
 
@@ -1754,8 +1779,8 @@ class AnthropicCompletion(BaseLLM):
             from crewai_files.uploaders.anthropic import AnthropicFileUploader
 
             return AnthropicFileUploader(
-                client=self._client,
-                async_client=self._async_client,
+                client=self._get_sync_client(),
+                async_client=self._get_async_client(),
             )
         except ImportError:
             return None

lib/crewai/src/crewai/llms/providers/azure/completion.py

@@ -116,43 +116,72 @@ class AzureCompletion(BaseLLM):
             data.get("api_version") or os.getenv("AZURE_API_VERSION") or "2024-06-01"
         )
 
-        if not data["api_key"]:
-            raise ValueError(
-                "Azure API key is required. Set AZURE_API_KEY environment variable or pass api_key parameter."
-            )
-        if not data["endpoint"]:
-            raise ValueError(
-                "Azure endpoint is required. Set AZURE_ENDPOINT environment variable or pass endpoint parameter."
-            )
-
+        # Credentials and endpoint are validated lazily in `_init_clients`
+        # so the LLM can be constructed before deployment env vars are set.
         model = data.get("model", "")
-        data["endpoint"] = AzureCompletion._validate_and_fix_endpoint(
-            data["endpoint"], model
-        )
+        if data["endpoint"]:
+            data["endpoint"] = AzureCompletion._validate_and_fix_endpoint(
+                data["endpoint"], model
+            )
+            parsed = urlparse(data["endpoint"])
+            hostname = parsed.hostname or ""
+            data["is_azure_openai_endpoint"] = (
+                hostname == "openai.azure.com" or hostname.endswith(".openai.azure.com")
+            ) and "/openai/deployments/" in data["endpoint"]
+        else:
+            data["is_azure_openai_endpoint"] = False
         data["is_openai_model"] = any(
             prefix in model.lower() for prefix in ["gpt-", "o1-", "text-"]
         )
-        parsed = urlparse(data["endpoint"])
-        hostname = parsed.hostname or ""
-        data["is_azure_openai_endpoint"] = (
-            hostname == "openai.azure.com" or hostname.endswith(".openai.azure.com")
-        ) and "/openai/deployments/" in data["endpoint"]
         return data
 
     @model_validator(mode="after")
     def _init_clients(self) -> AzureCompletion:
+        """Eagerly build clients when credentials are available, otherwise
+        defer so ``LLM(model="azure/...")`` can be constructed at module
+        import time even before deployment env vars are set.
+        """
+        try:
+            self._client = self._build_sync_client()
+            self._async_client = self._build_async_client()
+        except ValueError:
+            pass
+        return self
+
+    def _build_sync_client(self) -> Any:
+        return ChatCompletionsClient(**self._make_client_kwargs())
+
+    def _build_async_client(self) -> Any:
+        return AsyncChatCompletionsClient(**self._make_client_kwargs())
+
+    def _make_client_kwargs(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
         if not self.api_key:
-            raise ValueError("Azure API key is required.")
+            raise ValueError(
+                "Azure API key is required. Set AZURE_API_KEY environment "
+                "variable or pass api_key parameter."
+            )
+        if not self.endpoint:
+            raise ValueError(
+                "Azure endpoint is required. Set AZURE_ENDPOINT environment "
+                "variable or pass endpoint parameter."
+            )
         client_kwargs: dict[str, Any] = {
             "endpoint": self.endpoint,
             "credential": AzureKeyCredential(self.api_key),
         }
         if self.api_version:
             client_kwargs["api_version"] = self.api_version
+        return client_kwargs
 
-        self._client = ChatCompletionsClient(**client_kwargs)
-        self._async_client = AsyncChatCompletionsClient(**client_kwargs)
-        return self
+    def _get_sync_client(self) -> Any:
+        if self._client is None:
+            self._client = self._build_sync_client()
+        return self._client
+
+    def _get_async_client(self) -> Any:
+        if self._async_client is None:
+            self._async_client = self._build_async_client()
+        return self._async_client
 
     def to_config_dict(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
         """Extend base config with Azure-specific fields."""
@@ -713,8 +742,7 @@ class AzureCompletion(BaseLLM):
     ) -> str | Any:
         """Handle non-streaming chat completion."""
         try:
-            # Cast params to Any to avoid type checking issues with TypedDict unpacking
-            response: ChatCompletions = self._client.complete(**params)
+            response: ChatCompletions = self._get_sync_client().complete(**params)
             return self._process_completion_response(
                 response=response,
                 params=params,
@@ -913,7 +941,7 @@ class AzureCompletion(BaseLLM):
         tool_calls: dict[int, dict[str, Any]] = {}
 
         usage_data: dict[str, Any] | None = None
-        for update in self._client.complete(**params):
+        for update in self._get_sync_client().complete(**params):
             if isinstance(update, StreamingChatCompletionsUpdate):
                 if update.usage:
                     usage = update.usage
@@ -953,8 +981,9 @@ class AzureCompletion(BaseLLM):
     ) -> str | Any:
         """Handle non-streaming chat completion asynchronously."""
         try:
-            # Cast params to Any to avoid type checking issues with TypedDict unpacking
-            response: ChatCompletions = await self._async_client.complete(**params)
+            response: ChatCompletions = await self._get_async_client().complete(
+                **params
+            )
             return self._process_completion_response(
                 response=response,
                 params=params,
@@ -980,7 +1009,7 @@ class AzureCompletion(BaseLLM):
 
         usage_data: dict[str, Any] | None = None
 
-        stream = await self._async_client.complete(**params)
+        stream = await self._get_async_client().complete(**params)
         async for update in stream:
             if isinstance(update, StreamingChatCompletionsUpdate):
                 if hasattr(update, "usage") and update.usage:
@@ -1105,8 +1134,8 @@ class AzureCompletion(BaseLLM):
         This ensures proper cleanup of the underlying aiohttp session
         to avoid unclosed connector warnings.
         """
-        if hasattr(self._async_client, "close"):
-            await self._async_client.close()
+        if hasattr(self._get_async_client(), "close"):
+            await self._get_async_client().close()
 
     async def __aenter__(self) -> Self:
         """Async context manager entry."""

lib/crewai/src/crewai/llms/providers/bedrock/completion.py

@@ -303,6 +303,18 @@ class BedrockCompletion(BaseLLM):
 
     @model_validator(mode="after")
     def _init_clients(self) -> BedrockCompletion:
+        """Eagerly build the sync client when AWS credentials resolve,
+        otherwise defer so ``LLM(model="bedrock/...")`` can be constructed
+        at module import time even before deployment env vars are set.
+        """
+        try:
+            self._client = self._build_sync_client()
+        except Exception as e:
+            logging.debug("Deferring Bedrock client construction: %s", e)
+        self._async_exit_stack = AsyncExitStack() if AIOBOTOCORE_AVAILABLE else None
+        return self
+
+    def _build_sync_client(self) -> Any:
         config = Config(
             read_timeout=300,
             retries={"max_attempts": 3, "mode": "adaptive"},
@@ -314,9 +326,17 @@ class BedrockCompletion(BaseLLM):
             aws_session_token=self.aws_session_token,
             region_name=self.region_name,
         )
-        self._client = session.client("bedrock-runtime", config=config)
-        self._async_exit_stack = AsyncExitStack() if AIOBOTOCORE_AVAILABLE else None
-        return self
+        return session.client("bedrock-runtime", config=config)
+
+    def _get_sync_client(self) -> Any:
+        if self._client is None:
+            self._client = self._build_sync_client()
+        return self._client
+
+    def _get_async_client(self) -> Any:
+        """Async client is set up separately by ``_ensure_async_client``
+        using ``aiobotocore`` inside an exit stack."""
+        return self._async_client
 
     def to_config_dict(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
         """Extend base config with Bedrock-specific fields."""
@@ -656,7 +676,7 @@ class BedrockCompletion(BaseLLM):
                     raise ValueError(f"Invalid message format at index {i}")
 
             # Call Bedrock Converse API with proper error handling
-            response = self._client.converse(
+            response = self._get_sync_client().converse(
                 modelId=self.model_id,
                 messages=cast(
                     "Sequence[MessageTypeDef | MessageOutputTypeDef]",
@@ -945,7 +965,7 @@ class BedrockCompletion(BaseLLM):
         usage_data: dict[str, Any] | None = None
 
         try:
-            response = self._client.converse_stream(
+            response = self._get_sync_client().converse_stream(
                 modelId=self.model_id,
                 messages=cast(
                     "Sequence[MessageTypeDef | MessageOutputTypeDef]",
@@ -1174,7 +1194,7 @@ class BedrockCompletion(BaseLLM):
             )
             self._async_client = client
             self._async_client_initialized = True
-        return self._async_client
+        return self._get_async_client()
 
     async def _ahandle_converse(
         self,

lib/crewai/src/crewai/llms/providers/gemini/completion.py

@@ -118,9 +118,25 @@ class GeminiCompletion(BaseLLM):
 
     @model_validator(mode="after")
     def _init_client(self) -> GeminiCompletion:
-        self._client = self._initialize_client(self.use_vertexai)
+        """Eagerly build the client when credentials resolve, otherwise defer
+        so ``LLM(model="gemini/...")`` can be constructed at module import time
+        even before deployment env vars are set.
+        """
+        try:
+            self._client = self._initialize_client(self.use_vertexai)
+        except ValueError:
+            pass
         return self
 
+    def _get_sync_client(self) -> Any:
+        if self._client is None:
+            self._client = self._initialize_client(self.use_vertexai)
+        return self._client
+
+    def _get_async_client(self) -> Any:
+        """Gemini uses a single client for both sync and async calls."""
+        return self._get_sync_client()
+
     def to_config_dict(self) -> dict[str, Any]:
         """Extend base config with Gemini/Vertex-specific fields."""
         config = super().to_config_dict()
@@ -228,8 +244,8 @@ class GeminiCompletion(BaseLLM):
 
         if (
             hasattr(self, "client")
-            and hasattr(self._client, "vertexai")
-            and self._client.vertexai
+            and hasattr(self._get_sync_client(), "vertexai")
+            and self._get_sync_client().vertexai
         ):
             # Vertex AI configuration
             params.update(
@@ -1112,7 +1128,7 @@ class GeminiCompletion(BaseLLM):
         try:
             # The API accepts list[Content] but mypy is overly strict about variance
             contents_for_api: Any = contents
-            response = self._client.models.generate_content(
+            response = self._get_sync_client().models.generate_content(
                 model=self.model,
                 contents=contents_for_api,
                 config=config,
@@ -1153,7 +1169,7 @@ class GeminiCompletion(BaseLLM):
 
         # The API accepts list[Content] but mypy is overly strict about variance
         contents_for_api: Any = contents
-        for chunk in self._client.models.generate_content_stream(
+        for chunk in self._get_sync_client().models.generate_content_stream(
             model=self.model,
             contents=contents_for_api,
             config=config,
@@ -1191,7 +1207,7 @@ class GeminiCompletion(BaseLLM):
         try:
             # The API accepts list[Content] but mypy is overly strict about variance
             contents_for_api: Any = contents
-            response = await self._client.aio.models.generate_content(
+            response = await self._get_sync_client().aio.models.generate_content(
                 model=self.model,
                 contents=contents_for_api,
                 config=config,
@@ -1232,7 +1248,7 @@ class GeminiCompletion(BaseLLM):
 
         # The API accepts list[Content] but mypy is overly strict about variance
         contents_for_api: Any = contents
-        stream = await self._client.aio.models.generate_content_stream(
+        stream = await self._get_sync_client().aio.models.generate_content_stream(
             model=self.model,
             contents=contents_for_api,
             config=config,
@@ -1439,6 +1455,6 @@ class GeminiCompletion(BaseLLM):
         try:
             from crewai_files.uploaders.gemini import GeminiFileUploader
 
-            return GeminiFileUploader(client=self._client)
+            return GeminiFileUploader(client=self._get_sync_client())
         except ImportError:
             return None

lib/crewai/src/crewai/llms/providers/openai/completion.py

@@ -253,22 +253,40 @@ class OpenAICompletion(BaseLLM):
 
     @model_validator(mode="after")
     def _init_clients(self) -> OpenAICompletion:
+        """Eagerly build clients when the API key is available, otherwise
+        defer so ``LLM(model="openai/...")`` can be constructed at module
+        import time even before deployment env vars are set.
+        """
+        try:
+            self._client = self._build_sync_client()
+            self._async_client = self._build_async_client()
+        except ValueError:
+            pass
+        return self
+
+    def _build_sync_client(self) -> Any:
         client_config = self._get_client_params()
         if self.interceptor:
             transport = HTTPTransport(interceptor=self.interceptor)
-            http_client = httpx.Client(transport=transport)
-            client_config["http_client"] = http_client
+            client_config["http_client"] = httpx.Client(transport=transport)
+        return OpenAI(**client_config)
 
-        self._client = OpenAI(**client_config)
-
-        async_client_config = self._get_client_params()
+    def _build_async_client(self) -> Any:
+        client_config = self._get_client_params()
         if self.interceptor:
-            async_transport = AsyncHTTPTransport(interceptor=self.interceptor)
-            async_http_client = httpx.AsyncClient(transport=async_transport)
-            async_client_config["http_client"] = async_http_client
+            transport = AsyncHTTPTransport(interceptor=self.interceptor)
+            client_config["http_client"] = httpx.AsyncClient(transport=transport)
+        return AsyncOpenAI(**client_config)
 
-        self._async_client = AsyncOpenAI(**async_client_config)
-        return self
+    def _get_sync_client(self) -> Any:
+        if self._client is None:
+            self._client = self._build_sync_client()
+        return self._client
+
+    def _get_async_client(self) -> Any:
+        if self._async_client is None:
+            self._async_client = self._build_async_client()
+        return self._async_client
 
     @property
     def last_response_id(self) -> str | None:
@@ -797,7 +815,7 @@ class OpenAICompletion(BaseLLM):
     ) -> str | ResponsesAPIResult | Any:
         """Handle non-streaming Responses API call."""
         try:
-            response: Response = self._client.responses.create(**params)
+            response: Response = self._get_sync_client().responses.create(**params)
 
             # Track response ID for auto-chaining
             if self.auto_chain and response.id:
@@ -933,7 +951,9 @@ class OpenAICompletion(BaseLLM):
     ) -> str | ResponsesAPIResult | Any:
         """Handle async non-streaming Responses API call."""
         try:
-            response: Response = await self._async_client.responses.create(**params)
+            response: Response = await self._get_async_client().responses.create(
+                **params
+            )
 
             # Track response ID for auto-chaining
             if self.auto_chain and response.id:
@@ -1069,7 +1089,7 @@ class OpenAICompletion(BaseLLM):
         final_response: Response | None = None
         usage: dict[str, Any] | None = None
 
-        stream = self._client.responses.create(**params)
+        stream = self._get_sync_client().responses.create(**params)
         response_id_stream = None
 
         for event in stream:
@@ -1197,7 +1217,7 @@ class OpenAICompletion(BaseLLM):
         final_response: Response | None = None
         usage: dict[str, Any] | None = None
 
-        stream = await self._async_client.responses.create(**params)
+        stream = await self._get_async_client().responses.create(**params)
         response_id_stream = None
 
         async for event in stream:
@@ -1591,7 +1611,7 @@ class OpenAICompletion(BaseLLM):
                 parse_params = {
                     k: v for k, v in params.items() if k != "response_format"
                 }
-                parsed_response = self._client.beta.chat.completions.parse(
+                parsed_response = self._get_sync_client().beta.chat.completions.parse(
                     **parse_params,
                     response_format=response_model,
                 )
@@ -1615,7 +1635,9 @@ class OpenAICompletion(BaseLLM):
                     )
                     return parsed_object
 
-            response: ChatCompletion = self._client.chat.completions.create(**params)
+            response: ChatCompletion = self._get_sync_client().chat.completions.create(
+                **params
+            )
 
             usage = self._extract_openai_token_usage(response)
 
@@ -1842,7 +1864,7 @@ class OpenAICompletion(BaseLLM):
             }
 
             stream: ChatCompletionStream[BaseModel]
-            with self._client.beta.chat.completions.stream(
+            with self._get_sync_client().beta.chat.completions.stream(
                 **parse_params, response_format=response_model
             ) as stream:
                 for chunk in stream:
@@ -1879,7 +1901,7 @@ class OpenAICompletion(BaseLLM):
             return ""
 
         completion_stream: Stream[ChatCompletionChunk] = (
-            self._client.chat.completions.create(**params)
+            self._get_sync_client().chat.completions.create(**params)
         )
 
         usage_data: dict[str, Any] | None = None
@@ -1976,9 +1998,11 @@ class OpenAICompletion(BaseLLM):
                 parse_params = {
                     k: v for k, v in params.items() if k != "response_format"
                 }
-                parsed_response = await self._async_client.beta.chat.completions.parse(
-                    **parse_params,
-                    response_format=response_model,
+                parsed_response = (
+                    await self._get_async_client().beta.chat.completions.parse(
+                        **parse_params,
+                        response_format=response_model,
+                    )
                 )
                 math_reasoning = parsed_response.choices[0].message
 
@@ -2000,8 +2024,8 @@ class OpenAICompletion(BaseLLM):
                     )
                     return parsed_object
 
-            response: ChatCompletion = await self._async_client.chat.completions.create(
-                **params
+            response: ChatCompletion = (
+                await self._get_async_client().chat.completions.create(**params)
             )
 
             usage = self._extract_openai_token_usage(response)
@@ -2127,7 +2151,7 @@ class OpenAICompletion(BaseLLM):
         if response_model:
             completion_stream: AsyncIterator[
                 ChatCompletionChunk
-            ] = await self._async_client.chat.completions.create(**params)
+            ] = await self._get_async_client().chat.completions.create(**params)
 
             accumulated_content = ""
             usage_data: dict[str, Any] | None = None
@@ -2183,7 +2207,7 @@ class OpenAICompletion(BaseLLM):
 
         stream: AsyncIterator[
             ChatCompletionChunk
-        ] = await self._async_client.chat.completions.create(**params)
+        ] = await self._get_async_client().chat.completions.create(**params)
 
         usage_data = None
 
@@ -2379,8 +2403,8 @@ class OpenAICompletion(BaseLLM):
             from crewai_files.uploaders.openai import OpenAIFileUploader
 
             return OpenAIFileUploader(
-                client=self._client,
-                async_client=self._async_client,
+                client=self._get_sync_client(),
+                async_client=self._get_async_client(),
             )
         except ImportError:
             return None

lib/crewai/tests/llms/azure/test_azure.py

@@ -378,23 +378,27 @@ def test_azure_completion_with_tools():
 
 
 def test_azure_raises_error_when_endpoint_missing():
-    """Test that AzureCompletion raises ValueError when endpoint is missing"""
+    """Credentials are validated lazily: construction succeeds, first
+    client build raises the descriptive error."""
     from crewai.llms.providers.azure.completion import AzureCompletion
 
-    # Clear environment variables
     with patch.dict(os.environ, {}, clear=True):
+        llm = AzureCompletion(model="gpt-4", api_key="test-key")
         with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Azure endpoint is required"):
-            AzureCompletion(model="gpt-4", api_key="test-key")
+            llm._get_sync_client()
 
 
 def test_azure_raises_error_when_api_key_missing():
-    """Test that AzureCompletion raises ValueError when API key is missing"""
+    """Credentials are validated lazily: construction succeeds, first
+    client build raises the descriptive error."""
     from crewai.llms.providers.azure.completion import AzureCompletion
 
-    # Clear environment variables
     with patch.dict(os.environ, {}, clear=True):
+        llm = AzureCompletion(
+            model="gpt-4", endpoint="https://test.openai.azure.com"
+        )
         with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Azure API key is required"):
-            AzureCompletion(model="gpt-4", endpoint="https://test.openai.azure.com")
+            llm._get_sync_client()
 
 
 def test_azure_endpoint_configuration():