What is MCP?
Model Context Protocol is an open standard for connecting AI systems to external tools and data sources. MCP servers expose:- Tools: Actions the AI can perform
- Resources: Data the AI can access
- Prompts: Pre-defined conversation templates
MCP is an advanced feature. Most users should start with Built-in Integrations or Custom Tools.
When to Use MCP vs Custom Tools
| Feature | Custom Tools | MCP Servers |
|---|---|---|
| Setup complexity | Simple | Advanced |
| Protocol | HTTP/REST | MCP (SSE over HTTP) |
| Best for | Your own APIs | Pre-built AI tools |
| Authentication | Built-in options | Server-specific |
- Connecting to your own backend
- Simple API integrations
- Need built-in auth options
- Using pre-built MCP servers
- Need advanced AI capabilities
- Building with MCP ecosystem
Adding an MCP Server
1
Navigate to MCP Servers
Go to Dashboard → Integrations → MCP Servers → Add Server
2
3
Configure Server
Fill in the server configuration:Server Name (required)
- A friendly name for this server
- Example: “File Browser”, “Database Query”
- The MCP server endpoint URL using Server-Sent Events (SSE)
- Example:
https://mcp.example.com/sse - Must be accessible over HTTPS
4
Add Authentication Headers (optional)
If your MCP server requires authentication, add custom headers:
- Header Key: e.g.,
Authorization,X-API-Key - Header Value: Your authentication token or key
Authorization: Bearer your-token-hereX-API-Key: your-api-key
5
Save and Test
Save the configuration. The server will connect and expose available tools.
Configuration Examples
Remote MCP Server
Connect to a remote MCP server with authentication:| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Custom Server |
| URL | https://mcp.example.com/sse |
| Headers | Authorization: Bearer your-token-here |
Public MCP Server
Connect to a public MCP server without authentication:| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Name | Public Tools Server |
| URL | https://public-mcp-server.com/sse |
| Headers | (none required) |
Available Tools
After connecting, the server’s tools appear in your dashboard. Common tool types:- File operations: Read, write, list files
- Database queries: SQL or natural language queries
- Web scraping: Fetch and parse web content
- API integrations: Pre-built API connectors
- Name and description
- Required parameters
- Return type
Managing MCP Servers
View Connected Servers
Go to Dashboard → Integrations → MCP Servers to see:- Connection status
- Available tools
- Last activity
Disconnect
- Find the server card
- Click the settings icon
- Select Disconnect
Reconnect
If a server disconnects:- Check the server is running
- Verify configuration
- Click Reconnect
Troubleshooting
Server won't connect
Server won't connect
- Verify the server URL is correct and accessible
- Check that the server supports SSE (Server-Sent Events) transport
- Review authentication headers if required
- Ensure the server is running and reachable over HTTPS
Tools not appearing
Tools not appearing
- Wait for server initialization
- Check server logs for errors
- Verify server exposes tools correctly
Connection drops
Connection drops
- Check network stability and HTTPS connectivity
- Verify the server URL is still valid
- Review server health and availability
- Check authentication headers haven’t expired
Security Considerations
- Verify sources: Only use official or audited MCP servers
- Limit access: Configure minimal permissions
- Monitor activity: Review tool usage in logs
- Authentication headers: Store sensitive tokens securely and never expose them in logs
- HTTPS only: Always use HTTPS URLs to protect data in transit