Phoenix MCP Server by CData

What is Phoenix MCP Server by CData?

Phoenix MCP Server by CData is a read-only Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows large language models (such as Claude Desktop) to query live Apache Phoenix data using natural language. It wraps the CData JDBC Driver for Phoenix, exposing the relational data through an MCP interface without requiring SQL knowledge.

How to use Phoenix MCP Server by CData?

Clone the repository, build the JAR with mvn clean install, download and license the CData JDBC Driver for Phoenix, configure a connection string using the driver’s utility, and create a .prp file with your JDBC settings. Then add the server to your client’s configuration (e.g., claude_desktop_config.json) and restart the client. Alternatively, run the server standalone with java -jar CDataMCP-jar-with-dependencies.jar /path/to/phoenix.prp.

Key features of Phoenix MCP Server by CData

• Read-only access to live Apache Phoenix data
• Natural language querying via MCP tools
• Built-in tools: get_tables, get_columns, run_query
• Uses the CData JDBC Driver for Phoenix for connectivity
• Compatible with Claude Desktop and other stdio-based MCP clients

Use cases of Phoenix MCP Server by CData

• Ask LLMs business questions about Phoenix data without writing SQL
• Explore available tables and columns in a Phoenix database
• Run ad‑hoc SELECT queries through a conversational interface
• Enable non‑technical users to retrieve live data via natural language

FAQ from Phoenix MCP Server by CData

Is this server read-only?

Yes. The README explicitly states this project builds a read-only MCP server. For full read/write/update/delete and action capabilities, refer to the free CData MCP Server for Phoenix (beta).

What are the prerequisites to run this server?

You need Java, Maven, and the CData JDBC Driver for Phoenix (download and license required). The driver must be installed and the connection string configured before running the server.

How do I configure the connection to Phoenix?

Create a .prp file with properties such as DriverPath (path to the driver JAR), DriverClass (e.g., cdata.jdbc.apachephoenix.ApachePhoenixDriver), JdbcUrl (the JDBC connection string), and optionally Tables to restrict access. Use the driver’s connection string utility to generate the URL.

What transport protocol does the server use?

The server uses stdio as its transport, so it can only be used with MCP clients that run on the same machine as the server.

How do I troubleshoot connection issues?

Verify the JDBC connection string using the driver’s utility, ensure the .prp file is correctly formatted, and fully quit and restart your client (Claude Desktop) after adding the server. For further help, contact CData Support or join the CData Community.