> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://manual.firstresonance.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://manual.firstresonance.io/api/mcp-server-for-ai-agents-beta.md).

# MCP Server for AI Agents (beta)

### What is MCP?

Model Context Protocol (MCP) provides a standard interface that AI agents can use to interact with ION. Popular tools like Claude and Cursor work out of the box with our MCP server.

Developers can also use our MCP server to build custom agents on top of ION with tools like the AWS Strands SDK.

### Claude Setup

Claude Pro plans or above are required to connect to the ION MCP Server

1. Go to Claude -> Your Profile -> Settings -> Connectors -> "Add custom connectors"
2. Give the MCP server a name, and enter the URL for the environment you are interested in testing with:

&#x20;      Ex: NAME: "ION-SANDBOX" URL: "<https://mcp.staging.buildwithion.com>"

3. Click "Connect" you will be prompted to sign in to ION
4. Done! You should be able to talk to Claude and have it interact with ION. Ask it for a list of things it can do in ION to get a sense of the capabilities.

<figure><img src="/files/H7fk2ED9nfCLSiTve3Vl" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Cursor Setup

A Cursor plan is required to use Cursor.

1. Open Cursor and go to Cursor settings
2. Click "Tools and MCP" -> "Add an MCP Server"
3. Enter this configuration, swapping the name and URL depending on the environment you want to connect too (you can have more than one):

```
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ion": {
      "url": "https://mcp.staging.buildwithion.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}
```

4. To interact with the ION MCP Server, make sure you toggle on "Agent" mode by default the chat window is on "Ask" mode, which doesn't allow MCP servers.
5. Done! You should be able to use Cursor to interact with ION. Ask it for a list of things it can do in ION to get a sense of the capabilities.

<figure><img src="/files/DABGoDwkZOxWWG5EdQ0C" alt=""><figcaption></figcaption></figure>

### Authentication

Authenticating to the MCP Server uses OAuth 2.1 DCR. This requires you to have an ION account already setup to authenticate too. If you are a developer wanting to build on top of ION, reach out an we can help you!

### Environments

Currently only staging is supported, as this service is still in Beta. \
As we continue development and hardening features, we will deploy out to other environments.&#x20;

<table><thead><tr><th width="262">Environment</th><th>URL</th><th data-hidden></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>staging-pub (sandbox)</td><td>https://mcp.staging.buildwithion.com/mcp</td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>


---

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