Integrating Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers

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You can integrate the MCP servers that support streamable HTTP transport mechanism in the Network Intelligence to connect with the external monitoring or management platforms. Network Intelligence receives and analyzes the network data from the MCP servers.

Before you begin

  • Ensure that you have the access for the MCP server to integrate it in the Network Intelligence.
  • Ensure that you have the API key to access the MCP servers.

Procedure

To integrate the MCP servers in the Network Intelligence:

  1. Login to Network Intelligence.
  2. Go to Tool management > MCP servers > Add MCP server +.
    Figure 1. Add MCP server interface
    A figure of the Add MCP server interface in the Network Intelligence
  3. Enter the required details in the following fields:
    Table 1. MCP server parameters
    Parameter Description
    Server URL Enter the MCP server URL.
    Note: The MCP servers with the streamable HTTP transport mechanism are only supported in the Network Intelligence.
    Authentication method
    Select the API key for the new authentication method.
    Note: Network Intelligence supports API key authentication method to access the MCP servers.

    Select the Existing credential to choose the existing API key for the authentication method.
    API key

    Select the API key to add the new credential for the authentication.

    • Credential name: Enter the name for the authentication credentials to manage the different sets of API key.
    • Description: Enter the description of the credential.

    • Add to: Select the header parameter.

    • Header name: Enter the standard HTTP header based on the MCP server requirements.
    • Value: Enter the value of the HTTP header based on the MCP server requirements.
    Existing credential Select the existing API key in the Credential section to access the MCP server.
  4. Click Process.

    Network Intelligence validates the provided configuration details and sends the request to connect with the MCP server. The MCP server is added in the Network Intelligence after the successful connection. If the connection fails, an error message is displayed and the MCP server is not added in the Network Intelligence.

Managing MCP servers

You can enable, disable, update, and delete the integrated MCP servers in the Network Intelligence.

The internal tools that are marked as System in the MCP servers cannot be edited or disabled. These tools remain enabled to perform network analysis and identify observations on devices.

Enabling and disabling the MCP server function

Set the toggle switch to on position to enable the MCP server function. The selected MCP server function is enabled and active.

Set the toggle switch to off position to disable the MCP server function. The selected MCP server function is disabled and inactive.

Click More options > Activate all or Deactivate all to enable or disable all the tool functions of the integrated MCP servers.Activate all and Deactivate all option in the MCP servers interface.

Deleting the MCP servers
To delete the integrated MCP server:
  1. Select the MCP server in the Available MCP servers section.
  2. Click the delete icon to remove the MCP server. The MCP server functions are also removed when you delete the MCP server.
    Delete option in the MCP server interface.
  3. Click Delete.
Managing the approval workflow

Configure the approval settings for enabled tool functions to control whether Network Intelligence requests your permission before running the integrated tools.

If you set the tool function to Requires approval, Network Intelligence requests your permission before running the integrated tools.

If you set it to No approval required, Network Intelligence skips the permission workflow and runs the tools automatically.

A figure of the MCP servers interface with the approval options.

Updating server URL and authentication credentials
To update the server URL and credentials for the existing MCP server:
  1. Click the MCP servers > Edit MCP server icon.
    A figure of the Edit MCP server settings interface in the Network Intelligence
  2. Enter the MCP server URL to update the existing URL.
  3. Click API key or Existing in the Authentication method section to create a new API key or update the existing credential from the drop-down list for the MCP server.
  4. Select the API key to update the MCP server with the new credential. For more information, see Table 1.

    Clear the credential in the Credential section and select the required credential from the drop-down list to update the existing credential.

    A figure of Edit MCP server settings with the API key option

  5. Click Update settings.