Configuring IBM Bob version 2.0 to use the Cognos Analytics MCP server

Configure IBM Bob version 2.0 to connect to the Cognos Analytics MCP server by adding the server configuration to the mcp.json file.

1. In IBM Bob, click the Settings icon in the toolbar.
2. Click the MCP tab .
3. Click the Add MCP server icon in the MCP tab.
   The Add MCP Server window opens.
4. Select Global (all workspaces).
5. Click Open configuration file to edit the mcp.json file.
6. Add the Cognos Analytics MCP server configuration to the mcp.json file.

   Choose the configuration that matches your authentication method:

   API key

   Use this configuration if you authenticate with an API key:

   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "cognos-analytics": {
         "command": "docker",
         "args": [
           "run",
           "-i",
           "--rm",
           "-e",
           "COGNOS_URL=https://<your_cognos_url>",
           "-e",
           "COGNOS_API_KEY=<your_api_key>",
           "-e",
           "COGNOS_NAMESPACE=<your_namespace>",
           "-e",
           "LOG_LEVEL=INFO",
           "-v",
           "<your_log_path>:/app",
           "<your_mcp_server_image>"
         ]
       }
     }
   }

   Username and password

   Use this configuration if you authenticate with a username and password:

   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "cognos-analytics": {
         "command": "docker",
         "args": [
           "run",
           "-i",
           "--rm",
           "-e",
           "COGNOS_URL=https://<your_cognos_url>",
           "-e",
           "COGNOS_USERNAME=<your_username>",
           "-e",
           "COGNOS_PASSWORD=<your_password>",
           "-e",
           "COGNOS_NAMESPACE=<your_namespace>",
           "-e",
           "LOG_LEVEL=INFO",
           "-v",
           "<your_log_path>:/app",
           "<your_mcp_server_image>"
         ]
       }
     }
   }

   Replace each placeholder with your actual values. The -v option mounts a local directory so that MCP server logs are saved to your machine. For example:

   • Windows: c:/mcp_logs:/app
   • macOS: /home/<your_username>/mcp_logs:/app

   Note: You cannot access MCP server logs using docker logs. To access them, mount a host directory using the -v option as shown above.

   Tip: If you see the warning WARNING: The requested image's platform (linux/amd64) does not match the detected host platform (linux/arm64/v8), add "--platform=linux/amd64" immediately after "run" in the args array.
7. Save the mcp.json file.
8. Restart IBM Bob.
   • Windows: Open Task Manager, find the IBM Bob process, select it, and click End task.
   • macOS: Press Cmd+Q or right-click the application icon and select Quit.
9. Start IBM Bob and verify the connection.
   Note: When you start IBM Bob, it launches the Docker container. When you stop IBM Bob, it stops the container.
   A connection indicator appears in IBM Bob when the MCP server is connected.