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Network FAQ

Frequently asked questions about QCOS Network.

General​

What is QCOS Network?​

QCOS Network is the distributed quantum computing module of QCOS. It allows executing circuits across multiple quantum backends with load balancing, automatic failover, and result aggregation.

Which backends are supported?​

  • IonQ: Simulator, Aria, Forte
  • IBM: Brisbane, Sherbrooke, and others
  • Rigetti: Aspen-M
  • AWS Braket: SV1, TN1
  • Local simulators: GPU and CPU

Can I add my own backend?​

Enterprise customers can integrate private backends. We provide an SDK to create custom adapters.

Execution​

How do I choose the best backend?​

Use load balancing strategies:

StrategyWhen to use
fastestShortest wait time
best_fidelityMaximum quality
round_robinUniform distribution
cost_optimizedLowest cost

Can I execute on multiple backends simultaneously?​

Yes, use strategy="all":

result = network.execute(
    qasm=circuit,
    backends=["ionq", "ibm", "rigetti"],
    strategy="all"
)

How does result aggregation work?​

Three methods available:

  • weighted_average: Weighted by estimated fidelity
  • majority_vote: Most common result wins
  • confidence_weighted: Based on confidence metrics

Failover​

What happens if a backend fails?​

With failover=True, the job is automatically redirected to the next available backend in the list.

What is the failover time?​

< 5 seconds to detect failure and redirect.

Do I lose data if there is a failover?​

No. Partially executed jobs are retried from the beginning on the backup backend.

Performance​

What is the additional latency from Network?​

Typical overhead < 50ms for orchestration. The biggest factor is the queue of the chosen backend.

How many parallel jobs can I have?​

Depends on the plan:

  • Pro: 100 parallel jobs
  • Enterprise: Unlimited

How do I monitor network health?​

status = network.status()
print(status.overall_status)

Or via endpoint /api/v2/network/status.

Costs​

How is Network billed?​

  • Executions are charged per backend used
  • Orchestration overhead included in the base plan
  • Result aggregation at no additional cost

Can I estimate costs before executing?​

Yes:

estimate = network.estimate_cost(
    qasm=circuit,
    backends=["ionq", "ibm"],
    shots=1024
)
print(f"Estimated cost: EUR {estimate.total_eur}")

Troubleshooting​

"No backends available"​

All backends are offline or under maintenance. Check:

  1. Network status: network.status()
  2. Status page: status.softquantus.com
  3. Your allowed backends in your plan

"Aggregation failed"​

Results too divergent between backends. May indicate:

  1. Circuit with errors
  2. Backend with poor calibration
  3. Connectivity issue

Solution: Review the circuit and try with specific backends.

Jobs remain pending for a long time​

  1. Check queue depth of backends
  2. Use fastest strategy
  3. Consider simulator backends for testing

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