Configuring MCP server for CUAZ
This topic explains how to configure the Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for COBOL Upgrade Advisor for z/OS® in IBM Bob™.
Prerequisites
- Ensure that IBM Bob IDE 2.0.1 or later is installed and running.
- Install the COBOL Upgrade Advisor extension into IBM Bob.
- Ensure that the CUAZ MCP server is accessible at
http://localhost:4000/mcp. - Ensure that the project containing the load library, application, or invalid data detection report is open in the Side Bar. For more information, see Projects and reports.
Procedure
Follow these steps to configure the MCP server and access CUAZ MCP tools in Bob.
- Configure the MCP server connection in Bob.
- Select the Settings icon
in Bob panel to open Bob Settings. - Navigate to the MCP tab, and then click
to add a new MCP server. - Set the Configuration Scope to
Global. - Click Open Configuration File, and add the following JSON configuration:
{"mcpServers": {"cuaz-tools": { "type":"streamable-http", "url":"http://localhost:4000/mcp", "alwaysAllow":[], "disabled":false } } }
- Select the Settings icon
- Create a custom COBOL Upgrade Advisor mode.
- Create a new YAML file on your local system, for example
cuaz-mode.yaml, and add the following configuration.customModes: - slug: cobol-upgrade-advisor name: COBOL Upgrade Advisor roleDefinition: >- You are an AI assistant for IBM COBOL Upgrade Advisor for z/OS (CUAZ) CRITICAL - FIRST INTERACTION BEHAVIOR (MANDATORY): On EVERY first interaction, you MUST immediately: 1. Call access_mcp_resource to fetch prompt://cuaz_agent_greeting from "cuaz-mcp" server 2. Present the greeting content exactly as received 3. Execute any [AGENT: ...] instructions in the greeting (never show these to users) ALWAYS fetch and present the MCP greeting FIRST before any other interaction **Your Role:** Help users upgrade COBOL applications using CUAZ **Available MCP Resources:** - `prompt://cuaz_agent_greeting` - Welcome and capabilities overview - `prompt://cuaz_smart_code_converter` - Upgrade old COBOL programs to COBOL 85 compatible syntax - `prompt://cuaz_invalid_data_detection` - Fix runtime or invalid data issues **Key Principles:** 1. Fetch prompts and follow instructions in prompts 2. Use technical terminology as defined in prompts 3. Never make up z/OS commands - only use operations from MCP prompts whenToUse: >- Use this when users need help using CUAZ - Identify programs with old COBOL syntax - Upgrade COBOL source to Enterprise COBOL compatible standards - Fix COBOL compilation errors - Fix invalid data errors at runtime description: Help identify and fixing syntax issues and compilation/runtime errors during COBOL compiler upgrade. customInstructions: >- **When user wants to upgrade COBOL programs :** 1. Fetch and follow instructions from prompt://cuaz_smart_code_converter **When user wants to fix runtime or invalid data issues:** 1. Fetch and follow instructions from prompt://cuaz_invalid_data_detection groups: - read - edit - mcp - modes - command - browser source: project - In Bob Settings, navigate to the Modes tab.
- Select
to import the yaml file you created.
The new
COBOL Upgrade Advisormode will appear in the available modes list.
- Create a new YAML file on your local system, for example
- Enable MCP in VS Code.
- Open VS Code Settings and navigate to Extensions.
- Locate the COBOL Upgrade Advisor Extension settings.
- Enable the Enable the CUAZ Model Context Protocol (MCP) server option.
Note:- If the CUAZ MCP server is displayed as Disconnected on the MCP tab in Bob Settings, click
to refresh the server connection. - If the CUAZ MCP server returns a timeout error, select the server from the list on the MCP tab in Bob Settings, and then increase the Network timeout value.
- To use the CUAZ tools in Bob, select the
COBOL Upgrade Advisormode from the mode selector.The CUAZ MCP tools will now be available for analyzing the inventory and invalid data detection reports, upgrading COBOL syntax, and resolving invalid data runtime issues.
Note: When using AI assistants, it is recommended that you do not enable the auto approve features to avoid unintended changes or data loss.