Frequently Asked Questions about CData MCP Server for Active Directory

Q: What is an MCP Server? A: MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an open protocol that standardizes how applications provide context to LLMs. An MCP server acts as a bridge, allowing AI models to access and interact with external data sources and tools.

Q: What is the CData MCP Server for Active Directory? A: It’s a read-only MCP server that allows you to connect to Active Directory data from Claude Desktop through CData JDBC Drivers, enabling natural language querying.

Q: Where can I find a read/write version of the MCP Server? A: Free (beta) read/write servers are available at https://www.cdata.com/solutions/mcp.

Q: What JDBC driver does this MCP Server use? A: This server uses the CData JDBC Driver for Active Directory, which exposes Active Directory data as a relational SQL model.

Q: Do I need SQL knowledge to use this server? A: No, the MCP interface allows LLMs to retrieve live information by asking natural language questions, eliminating the need for SQL.

Q: How do I set up the CData MCP Server for Active Directory? A: The setup involves cloning the repository, building the server, downloading and licensing the CData JDBC Driver, configuring the connection, creating a .prp file, and configuring Claude Desktop.

Q: What is a .prp file and what should it contain? A: A .prp file is a configuration file that contains connection details for the JDBC driver. It includes properties like Prefix, ServerName, ServerVersion, DriverPath, DriverClass, JdbcUrl, and Tables.

Q: How do I add the MCP server to Claude Desktop? A: You need to create or modify the claude_desktop_config.json file to add the new MCP server configuration, including the command and arguments for running the server.

Q: What are the available tools exposed by the server? A: The server exposes tools like {servername}_get_tables (to list tables), {servername}_get_columns (to list columns for a table), and {servername}_run_query (to execute SQL queries).

Q: Can I script requests to the MCP server instead of using an AI Client? A: Yes, you can use JSON-RPC to call the available tools. Example JSON payloads are provided in the documentation.

Q: What should I do if I cannot see my CData MCP Server in Claude Desktop? A: Ensure that you have fully quit Claude Desktop (using Task Manager on Windows or Activity Monitor on Mac) and restarted it.

Q: What if Claude Desktop is unable to retrieve data? A: Verify that you have configured your connection properly. Use the Connection String builder to create the connection string and copy it into the .prp file.

Q: Where can I get help if I’m having trouble connecting to my data source? A: Contact the CData Support Team at https://www.cdata.com/support/submit.aspx.

Q: Where can I get help if I’m having trouble using the MCP server? A: Join the CData Community at https://community.cdata.com.

Q: What is UBOS and how does it relate to this MCP Server? A: UBOS is a full-stack AI Agent Development Platform that helps you orchestrate AI Agents, connect them with your enterprise data, and build custom AI Agents with your LLM model and Multi-Agent Systems. Using this server with UBOS allows for centralized management, enhanced security, scalability, and customization.

Q: What license is the MCP server released under? A: This MCP server is licensed under the MIT License.