cdata-jdbc-mcp-server (read-only)

Our generic Model Context Protocol (MCP) Server for CData JDBC Drivers (read-only)

❗Note: This project builds a read-only MCP server. For full read, write, update, delete, and action capabilities across hundreds of sources — plus remote MCP access, semantic context, and enterprise governance (SSO, RBAC, audit trails) — check out CData Connect AI.

Purpose

We created this read-only MCP Server to allow LLMs (like Claude Desktop) to query live data from hundreds of sources (listed below) supported by CData JDBC Drivers.

CData JDBC Drivers connect to SaaS apps, NoSQL stores, and APIs by exposing them as relational SQL models.

This server wraps those drivers and makes their data available through a simple MCP interface, so LLMs can retrieve live information by asking natural language questions — no SQL required.

Setup Guide

In the guide below, {data source} refers to the back-end data source (e.g. Salesforce). For code snippets and commands, Salesforce is used as an example, but the patterns apply to any of our JDBC Drivers.

1. Clone the repository:

git clone https://github.com/cdatasoftware/cdata-jdbc-mcp-server.git
      cd cdata-jdbc-mcp-server

2. Build the server:

mvn clean install

This creates the JAR file: CDataMCP-jar-with-dependencies.jar

3. Download and install a CData JDBC Driver: https://www.cdata.com/jdbc

4. License the CData JDBC Driver (Salesforce as an example):

• Navigate to the lib folder in the installation directory, typically:
• (Windows) C:\Program Files\CData\CData JDBC Driver for {data source}\
• (Mac/Linux) /Applications/CData JDBC Driver for {data source}/
• Run the command java -jar cdata.jdbc.salesforce.jar --license
• Enter your name, email, and "TRIAL" (or your license key).

5. Configure your connection to the data source (Salesforce as an example):

• Run the command java -jar cdata.jdbc.salesforce.jar to open the Connection String utility.

• Configure the connection string and click "Test Connection"

Note: If the data source uses OAuth, you will need to authenticate in your browser.

• Once successful, copy the connection string for use later.

6. Create a .prp file for your JDBC connection (e.g. Salesforce.prp) using the following properties and format:

• Prefix - a prefix to be used for the tools exposed
• DriverPath - the full path to the JAR file for your JDBC driver
• DriverClass - the name of the JDBC Driver Class (e.g. cdata.jdbc.salesforce.SalesforceDriver)
• JdbcUrl - the JDBC connection string to use with the CData JDBC Driver to connect to your data (copied from above)
• Tables - leave blank to access all data, otherwise you can explicitly declare the tables you wish to create access for
• ServerName *(optional)* - a name for your server; defaults to the Prefix value if omitted
• ServerVersion *(optional)* - a version for your server; defaults to 1.0 if omitted

Prefix=salesforce
      DriverPath=PATH\TO\cdata.jdbc.salesforce.jar
      DriverClass=cdata.jdbc.salesforce.SalesforceDriver
      JdbcUrl=jdbc:salesforce:InitiateOAuth=GETANDREFRESH;
      Tables=

Using the Server with an MCP Client

Because the server runs locally over stdio, it works with any desktop MCP client that launches local servers — Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, VS Code, and others. In every case you point the client at your java executable and pass the assembled JAR and your .prp file as arguments.

1. Add the server to your client's config

Most clients use the same mcpServers schema. Add the entry below to your client's MCP config file (see config file locations for where each client keeps it). If the file already exists, add this entry alongside any existing servers.

Windows

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "salesforce": {
      "command": "PATH\\TO\\java.exe",
      "args": [
        "-jar",
        "PATH\\TO\\CDataMCP-jar-with-dependencies.jar",
        "PATH\\TO\\Salesforce.prp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Linux/Mac

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "salesforce": {
      "command": "/PATH/TO/java",
      "args": [
        "-jar",
        "/PATH/TO/CDataMCP-jar-with-dependencies.jar",
        "/PATH/TO/Salesforce.prp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

VS Code uses a slightly different schema — a top-level servers object with an explicit "type": "stdio" — instead of mcpServers:

```json

{

"servers": {

"salesforce": {

"type": "stdio",

"command": "/PATH/TO/java",

"args": [

"-jar",

"/PATH/TO/CDataMCP-jar-with-dependencies.jar",

"/PATH/TO/Salesforce.prp"

]

}

}

}

```

2. Config file locations

3. Run or refresh your client

Start the client, or reload/refresh it if it was already running, so it picks up the new server.

Note: Some clients (e.g. Claude Desktop) must be fully quit and re-opened — not just closed to the tray — before the MCP server appears. On Windows use the Task Manager; on Mac use the Activity Monitor.

Running the Server

1. Run the following command to run the MCP Server on its own:

java -jar /PATH/TO/CDataMCP-jar-with-dependencies.jar /PATH/TO/Salesforce.prp

Note: The server uses stdio so can only be used with clients that run on the same machine as the server.

Usage Details

Once the MCP Server is configured, the AI client will be able to use the built-in tools to read the underlying data (this server is read-only). In general, you do not need to call the tools explicitly. Simply ask the client to answer questions about the underlying data system. For example:

• "What is the correlation between my closed won opportunities and the account industry?"
• "How many open tickets do I have in the SUPPORT project?"
• "Can you tell me what calendar events I have today?"

The list of tools available and their descriptions follow:

Tools & Descriptions

In the definitions below, {servername} refers to the name of the MCP Server in the config file (e.g. salesforce above).

• {servername}_get_tables - Retrieves a list of tables available in the data source. Use the {servername}_get_columns tool to list available columns on a table. The output of the tool will be returned in CSV format, with the first line containing column headers.
• {servername}_get_columns - Retrieves a list of columns for a table. Use the {servername}_get_tables tool to get a list of available tables. The output of the tool will be returned in CSV format, with the first line containing column headers.
• {servername}_run_query - Execute a SQL SELECT query

JSON-RPC Request Examples

If you are scripting out the requests sent to the MCP Server instead of using an AI Client (e.g. Claude), then you can refer to the JSON payload examples below – following the JSON-RPC 2.0 specification - when calling the available tools.

{servername}_get_tables

{
    "jsonrpc": "2.0",
    "id": 1,
    "method": "tools/call",
    "params": {
        "name": "salesforce_get_tables",
        "arguments": {}
    }
}

{servername}_get_columns

{
    "jsonrpc": "2.0",
    "id": 2,
    "method": "tools/call",
    "params": {
        "name": "salesforce_get_columns",
        "arguments": {
            "table":  "Account"
        }
    }
}

{servername}_run_query

{
    "jsonrpc": "2.0",
    "id": 3,
    "method": "tools/call",
    "params": {
        "name": "salesforce_run_query",
        "arguments": {
            "sql":  "SELECT * FROM [Account] WHERE [IsDeleted] = true"
        }
    }
}

Troubleshooting

1. If you cannot see your CData MCP Server in your client, be sure that you have fully quit and re-opened it. Some clients (e.g. Claude Desktop) keep running in the background — on Windows use the Task Manager, on Mac use the Activity Monitor to confirm the process has exited.

2. If your client is unable to retrieve data, be sure that you have configured your connection properly. Use the Connection String builder to create the connection string (see above) and copy the connection string into the property (.prp) file.

3. If you are having trouble connecting to your data source, contact the CData Support Team.

4. If you are having trouble using the MCP server, or have any other feedback, join the CData Community.

License

This MCP server is licensed under the MIT License. This means you are free to use, modify, and distribute the software, subject to the terms and conditions of the MIT License. For more details, please see the LICENSE file in the project repository.

Supported Sources

AcceloAccessAct CRMAct-On

Active DirectoryActiveCampaignAcumaticaAdobe Analytics

Adobe CommerceAdobe Experience ManagerAdobe TargetADP

AdRollAfterShipAgileCRMAha!

AircallAirtableAlloyDBAmazon Athena

Amazon DynamoDBAmazon MarketplaceAmazon S3Amplitude

AnaplanApache DorisApifyApollo

AsanaAttioAuth0Authorize.Net

AutopilotAvalara AvaTaxAvazaAvro

AweberAzure Analysis ServicesAzure Data CatalogAzure Data Lake Storage

Azure DevOpsAzure SynapseAzure TableBambooHR

BannerbearBasecampBeeminderBenchmarkEmail

BigCommerceBigQueryBillsbyBitbucket

BitlyBlackbaud FE NXTBoxBrex

Bright DataBrowserlessBugsnagBullhorn CRM

CalendlyCampaignerCampaignMonitorCapsuleCRM

CassandraCertiniaChargebeeChargeOver

ChartMogulCircleCIClariClickTime

ClickUpClioClockifyClose

CloudantCloudConvertCloudflareCockroachDB

CodaCodatCohereCoinbase

ConfluenceConstantContactContentfulConvertAPI

ConvertKitCopperCosmos DBCouchbase

CouchDBCSVCustomer.ioCvent

DatabricksDatadogDB2Deel

DelightedDemioDiscordDiscourse

DocuSignDotmailerDriftDrip

DropboxDynamics 365Dynamics 365 Business CentralDynamics CRM

Dynamics NAVeBayeBay AnalyticsEgnyte

ElasticsearchElevenLabsElorusEmail

EmailOctopusEnterpriseDBEpicor KineticEventbrite

EverhourExaExact OnlineExcel

Excel OnlineFacebookFacebook AdsFactorial

FHIRFigshareFloatFlowlu

FormSiteFoursquareFreeAgentFreshBooks

FreshdeskFreshsalesFreshserviceFreshteam

FrontFTPGetResponseGitHub

GitLabGmailGongGoogle Ad Manager

Google AdsGoogle AnalyticsGoogle CalendarGoogle Campaign Manager 360

Google Cloud StorageGoogle ContactsGoogle DirectoryGoogle Drive

Google FormsGoogle SearchGoogle SheetsGoogle Spanner

Google TasksGoogle TranslateGorgiasGrafana

GraphQLGreenhouseGreenplumGumroad

GuruHacker NewsHarvestHBase

HCL DominoHDFSHelloSignHelpscout

HighriseHiveHubDBHubSpot

HubstaffHugging FaceHumanityIBM Cloud Object Storage

IBM InformixiContactImpalaInsightly

InstagramInstantlyIntercomInvoiced

JDBC-ODBC BridgeJiraJira AssetsJobNimbus

JodooJotFormJSONJumpseller

KafkaKeapKintoneKlaviyo

KlipfolioLakebaseLandbotLaunchDarkly

LDAPLeadDeskLightSpeedRetailLinkedIn

LinkedIn AdsLionDeskMailChimpMailerLite

MailerSendMailgunMailjetMariaDB

MarketoMarkLogicMessageBirdMicrosoft Ads

Microsoft DataverseMicrosoft Entra IDMicrosoft ExchangeMicrosoft OneDrive

Microsoft PlannerMicrosoft TeamsMiroMissive

Mistral AIMixpanelMoceanMode

Monday.comMongoDBMoosendMouseflow

MYOB AccountRightMySQLNASAnCino

Neo4JNethuntNetSuiteNotion

NucliaODataOdooOffice 365

OktaOmnisendOneNoteOnePageCrm

OnfleetOntraportOpenWeatherMapOpsgenie

OptimizelyOracleOracle EloquaOracle Eloqua Reporting

Oracle Financials CloudOracle HCM CloudOracle SalesOracle SCM

Oracle Service CloudOutlookOutreach.ioPabblySubscriptions

PaddlePagerDutyParallelParquet

PaylocityPaymoPayPalPDFMonkey

PerigonPerplexityPhantomBusterPhoenix

PineconePingdomPingOnePinterest

PipedrivePipeline CRMPipeliner CRMPivotalTracker

PlacidPlanioPolarTeamProPostgreSQL

PostmarkPower BI XMLAPrestoPrintful

PrintifyProcoreProductboardPushbullet

QuadernoQualarooQuickbaseQuickBooks

QuickBooks OnlineQuickBooks TimeRabbitMQRaisers Edge NXT

RebillyReckonReckon Accounts HostedRecurly

RedisRedshiftReply.ioREST

RetentlyRootlyRSSSage 200

Sage 300Sage Cloud AccountingSage IntacctSageHR

SalesforceSalesforce CRM AnalyticsSalesforce Data 360Salesforce Financial Service Cloud

Salesforce MarketingSalesforce Marketing Cloud Account EngagementSalesforce PardotSalesloft

SamanageSAPSAP Ariba ProcurementSAP Ariba Source

SAP Business OneSAP Business WarehouseSAP BusinessObjects BISAP ByDesign

SAP ConcurSAP FieldglassSAP HANASAP HANA XS Advanced

SAP Hybris C4CSAP Netweaver GatewaySAP SuccessFactorsSAP SuccessFactors LMS

SAS Data SetsSAS xptScrapflyScrapingBee

SendGridSendInBlueSendPulseSendwithus

SentryServiceDesk PlusServiceNowSFTP

SharePointSharePoint Excel ServicesShipEngineShippo

ShipStationShopifyShort.ioShortcut

SimplesatSingleStoreSlackSmartsheet

Snapchat AdsSnowflakeSpaceXSpark

SparkPostSplunkSpotifySQL Analysis Services

SQL ServerSquareStack ExchangeStrava

StripeSuadeoSugar CRMSuiteCRM

SupabaseSuperchatSurveyMonkeySybase

Sybase IQTallyTandaTavily

TaxJarTeamgateTeamworkTelegram

TemplatedTeradataTestmonitorTickspot

Tier1TigerGraphTimelyTodoist

TogglTrelloTrinoTwilio

Twitter AdsTypeformUnbounceVault CRM

Veeva CRMVercelVimeoVWO

Wave FinancialWebexWebflowWistia

WooCommerceWordPressWorkableWorkday

WrikexBaseXeroXML

YelpYouTube AnalyticsZarMoneyZendesk

ZendeskSellZeroBounceZoho BooksZoho Creator

Zoho CRMZoho InventoryZoho ProjectsZoho Recruit

ZohoDeskZohoExpenseZohoInvoiceZohoMarketingHub

ZohoPeopleZohoSubscriptionsZoomZuora

... Dozens More