MCP Server ODBC via PyODBC

What is MCP Server ODBC via PyODBC?

It is a lightweight MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that provides ODBC database access via FastAPI and pyodbc. It is compatible with Virtuoso DBMS and any other DBMS that has an ODBC driver.

How to use MCP Server ODBC via PyODBC?

Install uv and configure an ODBC Data Source Name (DSN) in ~/.odbc.ini. Clone the repository, set environment variables (ODBC_DSN, ODBC_USER, ODBC_PASSWORD, API_KEY) in a .env file. For Claude Desktop, add the server to claude_desktop_config.json using the uv command. The server exposes tools such as podbc_get_schemas, podbc_get_tables, podbc_describe_table, podbc_filter_table_names, podbc_query_database, and Virtuoso‑specific tools.

Key features of MCP Server ODBC via PyODBC

• List database schemas via podbc_get_schemas
• Retrieve table names and metadata per schema
• Describe table structure including columns, keys, and nullability
• Search tables by name substring
• Execute SQL queries returning JSONL or Markdown results
• Support for Virtuoso‑specific SPASQL queries and AI assistant

Use cases of MCP Server ODBC via PyODBC

• Discover available schemas and tables in any ODBC‑connected database
• Inspect table definitions for data modeling or migration tasks
• Execute SQL queries from MCP clients and receive structured results
• Run SPASQL (SQL/SPARQL hybrid) queries against Virtuoso DBMS
• Interact with Virtuoso’s AI Support Assistant via a dedicated tool

FAQ from MCP Server ODBC via PyODBC

What are the runtime dependencies?

uv (package installer), pyodbc, and unixODBC with a properly configured ODBC DSN. An .env file must set ODBC_DSN, ODBC_USER, ODBC_PASSWORD, and API_KEY.

Which databases are supported?

Any DBMS that provides an ODBC driver. Virtuoso is explicitly supported, and the server works with other ODBC‑compatible databases.

How is authentication handled?

Authentication is passed via environment variables (ODBC_USER, ODBC_PASSWORD) or per‑call optional parameters. An API_KEY is used for additional security and can be configured in the environment.

Where does the data live?

The data remains in the remote database system accessed through the ODBC connection. No data is stored locally by the server.

What transport protocol does the server use?

The server communicates over standard MCP via stdio. For debugging, the MCP Inspector can be used with npx.