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Set up an MCP Server

This guide walks you through connecting an MCP server to Ordify and assigning its tools to an agent. For a conceptual overview of what MCP is and when to use it, see What are MCP Servers.

Prerequisites​

You need an MCP-compliant server before adding it to Ordify. You can:

  • Build your own using the MCP SDKs
  • Use community-provided MCP servers

Step 1: Add the MCP server to Ordify​

  1. Navigate to Automation → MCP Servers
  2. Click Add Server
  3. Provide a Name and Description for your server
  4. Choose the Transport Type (e.g., HTTP, SSE)
  5. Provide the Server URL
  6. If your server requires authentication, configure headers or API keys in the authentication section

Step 2: Test the connection​

Click the Test Connection button. Ordify will attempt to connect to your server and verify its health. A green status indicator confirms a successful connection.

Step 3: Discover tools​

Once connected and healthy, Ordify automatically queries your MCP server to discover the available tools and their schemas.

  1. Navigate to the Tools tab of your server configuration
  2. Review the list of tools exposed by your server
  3. Verify the tool names and descriptions match what you expect

Step 4: Assign tools to an agent​

  1. Open Agent Builder or edit an existing agent
  2. Navigate to the Integrations section
  3. Find your MCP server under the MCP Servers category
  4. Select the specific tools you want the agent to use
  5. Save your agent configuration

Troubleshooting​

Connection fails​

  • Check the server URL: Ensure it is publicly accessible or reachable from Ordify's servers. Local/private IPs (e.g., localhost, 192.168.x.x) will not work unless you use a tunnel (e.g., ngrok).
  • Check authentication: If your server requires an API key or Bearer token, confirm the header name and value are correct in the Ordify configuration.
  • Check transport type: Ensure the transport type selected in Ordify matches what your server supports.

Tools not appearing​

  • Check server health: Run a manual test via the Test Connection button. The server must return a healthy status before tool discovery runs.
  • Check tool schema: Ensure your MCP server's tool schemas are valid and conform to the MCP specification. Malformed schemas may cause tools to be skipped.
  • Refresh discovery: After fixing server-side issues, navigate to the Tools tab and trigger a refresh.

Agent not using the tool correctly​

  • Check tool descriptions: MCP tool descriptions guide the agent on when and how to use each tool. Write clear, specific descriptions that explain the tool's purpose and expected inputs.
  • Use Skills: If an agent needs to follow a specific procedure when using MCP tools, create a Skill that bundles the tool with step-by-step instructions.

Security considerations​

  • Never expose sensitive data directly in tool names or descriptions visible to the agent
  • Use scoped API keys that grant only the minimum permissions required by the tools
  • Audit tool access: Review which agents have access to which MCP tools periodically
  • Ordify uses industry-standard OAuth protocols and trusted third-party providers for all integration connections