Configure the MCP client - Configure your local MCP client to communicate with the Cortex MCP server. - Administrator Guide - Cortex - Cortex

Abstract

Configure your local MCP client to communicate with the Cortex MCP server.

After you have downloaded and installed the Cortex MCP server, you need to configure your local MCP client to communicate with the Cortex MCP server. The instructions below use Claude Desktop, but any MCP client can be used.

In the Claude Desktop app, navigate to Settings → Developer → Edit Config. The configuration file opens in your default text editor.
For reference, the file is located at:
- macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
- Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

Add the mcpServers configuration to the file. The examples below are provided for local client (Poetry virtual environment) and container (Docker). The exact details of your mcpServers configuration depend on your specific installation.

Poetry virtual environment

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "Cortex MCP Server": {
      "command": "python",
      "args": [
        "/path/to/cortex-mcp/src/main.py"
      ],
       "env": {
          "CORTEX_MCP_PAPI_URL": "https://api.cortex.example.com",
          "CORTEX_MCP_PAPI_AUTH_HEADER": "<your_api_key>", 
          "CORTEX_MCP_PAPI_AUTH_ID": "<your_api_key_id",
          "MCP_TRANSPORT": "stdio/streamable-http"
   }
    }
  }
}

Docker Container

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "Cortex MCP Server": {
      "command": "docker",
      "args": [
        "run",
        "--env-file",
        "/path/to/.env",
        "-i",
        "--rm",
        "cortex-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Save the changes to the configuration file and restart Claude Desktop for the changes to take effect.
Verify the connection to the Cortex MCP server. You should see the Cortex MCP server running in the Developer settings and a hammer icon may appear in the input box, indicating the MCP tools are available.