Telmai MCP Server

Overview

Telmai's Model Context Protocol (MCP) server enables seamless integration with AI assistants like Claude, allowing you to interact with your data quality platform directly through conversational interfaces. This integration provides access to Telmai's comprehensive set of tools for monitoring, alerting, and data quality management.

What is MCP?

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is a standard that allows AI applications to securely connect to external services and data sources. Telmai's MCP server exposes your data quality platform's capabilities as tools that can be invoked conversationally through compatible AI assistants.

Getting Started

Prerequisites

Before connecting to Telmai's MCP server, ensure you have:

  • Access to Claude Desktop, Claude.ai, or a compatible MCP client (e.g., VSCode with Cline)

  • Valid Telmai-Okta credentials

  • OAuth client credentials (Client ID and Client Secret) for your application

  • Important: You must be added to the associated application in Okta to complete OAuth authentication

Connecting to Claude

Method 1: Claude Desktop or Claude.ai

Claude supports secure OAuth-based authentication, providing the most seamless integration experience.

Step 1: Access Connector Settings

  1. Open your Claude Desktop application or visit claude.ai

  2. Click your Profile Name or Avatar (usually located on the left sidebar or top corner)

  3. Navigate to Settings

  4. Look for the Connectors or Integrations section

Step 2: Add the Custom Connector

  1. In the Connectors section, click Add custom connector

  2. A configuration dialog will appear with the following fields:

    • Name: Enter a descriptive name (e.g., "Telmai MCP")

    • URL: Enter your Telmai MCP server URL (e.g., https://mcp.yourdomain.telmai.dev/yourorg/mcp)

  3. Click Advanced Details to expand additional options

  4. Enter your OAuth credentials:

    • Client ID: Your Telmai OAuth application client ID

    • Client Secret: Your Telmai OAuth application client secret

Step 3: Initiate the OAuth Flow

  1. Click Connect for the newly added server

  2. Claude will recognize that OAuth authentication is required

  3. Your default web browser will automatically open to the Telmai-Okta login screen

  4. Enter your Telmai-Okta credentials and sign in

  5. Review and approve the requested permissions

Step 4: Verify the Connection

  1. After successful authorization, your browser will redirect back to Claude

  2. Return to the Connectors section in Claude settings

  3. Your Telmai MCP server should now display as Connected with a green indicator

Step 5: Start Using Telmai

  1. Start a new chat in Claude

  2. You can now ask questions about your data quality, create monitors, review alerts, and more

  3. Claude will automatically use Telmai's MCP tools when relevant to your queries

Example prompts to try:

  • "Show me my recent incidents"

  • "What assets are available in my production project?"

  • "Create a completeness monitor for my customer table"

  • "Get the profiling data for my sales dataset"


Connecting with VSCode Cline

Cline is a VSCode extension that supports MCP servers but requires bearer token authentication instead of OAuth.

Note: Bearer tokens expire after a set period (typically 1 hour). You'll need to regenerate and update the token when it expires.

Step 1: Generate Bearer Token

Run the following command in your terminal to generate an access token:

Prerequisites:

  • Replace <your_client_id> and <your_client_secret> with your actual credentials

  • Ensure curl and jq are installed on your system

The command will output your bearer token. Copy this token for the next step.

Step 2: Configure MCP Server in Cline

  1. Open VSCode with the Cline extension installed

  2. Click the MCP server settings button in the Cline interface

  3. Select Remote Servers

  4. Click Add server details

  5. Provide the following information:

    • Name: telmai (or any descriptive name)

    • URL: Your Telmai MCP server URL (e.g., https://mcp.dev.telm.ai/yourorg/mcp)

Step 3: Add Authorization Header

  1. Click Edit Configuration to open the MCP settings JSON file

  2. Locate the server configuration you just added

  3. Add a headers section with your bearer token:

  1. Save the configuration file

Step 4: Start Using Telmai in Cline

  1. Start a new Cline conversation in VSCode

  2. Cline can now access Telmai's MCP tools

  3. Try asking questions about your data quality or requesting specific operations

Example prompts:

  • "List all my data assets in Telmai"

  • "Show me open incidents from the last week"

  • "What monitors are configured for my warehouse connection?"

Token Refresh

When your bearer token expires, you'll need to:

  1. Generate a new token using the curl command from Step 1

  2. Update the Authorization header in your Cline configuration

  3. Restart Cline or reload the MCP server connection


Available Tools

Once connected, your AI assistant has access to the following Telmai capabilities:

  • Asset Management

  • Connection Management

  • Monitors Management

  • Incidents & Alerts

  • Data Quality Metrics

  • Integration & Workflow

  • Project & User Management


Security Considerations

  • Uses industry-standard OAuth 2.0 protocol

  • Tokens are securely managed by Claude

  • Automatic token refresh

  • Immediate revocation through Okta admin console

  • Audit trail of access events

Bearer Token Authentication

  • Tokens expire after a set period (typically 1 hour)

  • Tokens should be treated as passwords—never commit them to version control

  • Regenerate tokens regularly

  • Revoke compromised tokens immediately through Okta

Best Practices

  1. Never share your Client Secret or Bearer Tokens

  2. Use separate OAuth applications for production and development environments

  3. Regularly audit connected applications in your Okta dashboard

  4. Revoke access for applications you no longer use


Troubleshooting

OAuth Connection Issues

Problem: Browser doesn't open during OAuth flow

  • Solution: Check your default browser settings and ensure pop-ups are allowed for Claude

Problem: "User not authorized" error

  • Solution: Verify that your user account has been added to the Telmai application in Okta

Problem: Connection appears successful but tools don't work

  • Solution: Restart Claude and try reconnecting. Check that your OAuth client has the correct scopes configured

Bearer Token Issues

Problem: "Unauthorized" errors when using tools

  • Solution: Your token has likely expired. Generate a new bearer token and update your configuration

Problem: Token generation command fails

  • Solution: Verify your Client ID and Client Secret are correct. Ensure curl and jq are installed

General Issues

Problem: Can't see Telmai's tools in Claude

  • Solution: Verify the connection shows as "Connected" in settings. Start a new conversation to refresh available tools

Problem: Tools return "not found" errors

  • Solution: Check that you're using the correct MCP server URL for your organization

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