# list_backends_tool

List available IBM Quantum backends.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `list_backends_tool`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server/list-backends-tool

## Facts

- Tool: `list_backends_tool`
- Server: Qiskit IBM Transpiler MCP Server (`qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server.md
- Install: `npx -y qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server`
- Homepage: https://github.com/Qiskit/mcp-servers
- Risk category: Read (Low risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity verified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 0
- Recommended policy verdict: Allowed

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "list_backends_tool",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why list_backends_tool is rated Low

This tool queries and returns information about available quantum computing backends without modifying, executing on, or deleting any data. It is a simple informational lookup that an AI agent could safely call without risk of unintended consequences.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool name contains 'list' and description states it 'List[s] available IBM Quantum backends' — a retrieval operation with no side effects."

## Use case

AI agents call list_backends_tool to retrieve information from Qiskit IBM Transpiler MCP Server without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Allowed**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches Qiskit IBM Transpiler MCP Server:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "list_backends_tool": {}
  }
}
```

## Other tools on Qiskit IBM Transpiler MCP Server (70)

- `cancel_job_tool` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server/cancel-job-tool.md
- `delete_environment_tool` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server/delete-environment-tool.md
- `delete_model_tool` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server/delete-model-tool.md
- `delete_saved_account_tool` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server/delete-saved-account-tool.md
- `ai_clifford_synthesis_tool` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server/ai-clifford-synthesis-tool.md
- `ai_linear_function_synthesis_tool` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server/ai-linear-function-synthesis-tool.md
- `ai_pauli_network_synthesis_tool` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server/ai-pauli-network-synthesis-tool.md
- `ai_permutation_synthesis_tool` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server/ai-permutation-synthesis-tool.md
- `ai_routing_tool` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server/ai-routing-tool.md
- `convert_qpy_to_qasm3_tool` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server/convert-qpy-to-qasm3-tool.md
- `generate_random_clifford_tool` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server/generate-random-clifford-tool.md
- `generate_random_linear_function_tool` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server/generate-random-linear-function-tool.md
- `hybrid_ai_transpile_tool` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server/hybrid-ai-transpile-tool.md
- `run_estimator_tool` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server/run-estimator-tool.md
- `run_sampler_tool` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server/run-sampler-tool.md
- `start_tensorboard_tool` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server/start-tensorboard-tool.md
- `start_training_tool` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server/start-training-tool.md
- `stop_tensorboard_tool` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server/stop-tensorboard-tool.md
- `stop_training_tool` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server/stop-training-tool.md
- `synthesize_clifford_tool` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server/synthesize-clifford-tool.md
- `synthesize_linear_function_tool` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server/synthesize-linear-function-tool.md
- `synthesize_permutation_tool` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server/synthesize-permutation-tool.md
- `transpile_circuit_tool` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server/transpile-circuit-tool.md
- `wait_for_training_tool` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server/wait-for-training-tool.md
- `analyze_circuit_tool` — Other — https://policylayer.com/tools/qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server/analyze-circuit-tool.md
- `batch_train_environments_tool` — Other — https://policylayer.com/tools/qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server/batch-train-environments-tool.md
- `compare_optimization_levels_tool` — Other — https://policylayer.com/tools/qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server/compare-optimization-levels-tool.md
- `create_clifford_env_tool` — Other — https://policylayer.com/tools/qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server/create-clifford-env-tool.md
- `create_linear_function_env_tool` — Other — https://policylayer.com/tools/qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server/create-linear-function-env-tool.md
- `create_permutation_env_tool` — Other — https://policylayer.com/tools/qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server/create-permutation-env-tool.md
- …and 40 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

---

Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/qiskit-ibm-transpiler-mcp-server