{
  "access": "public",
  "type": "tutorial",
  "format": "markdown",
  "title": "MCP Inspector Guide",
  "chunked": true,
  "url": "https://library.datagrout.ai/mcp-inspector",
  "summary": "**Test MCP connections and debug protocol issues**",
  "content_markdown": "# MCP Inspector\n\n**Test MCP connections and debug protocol issues**\n\nThe MCP Inspector is a free interactive tool for testing MCP server connections. Point it at any MCP endpoint, authenticate, and execute MCP actions -- initialize, list tools, call tools, list resources, list prompts. Every request and response is logged with timestamps and latency.\n\n---\n\n## Interface\n\nThe inspector has two panels:\n\n**Left panel** -- configuration:\n\n1. **Quick Start**: Select from your saved DataGrout servers (auto-fills URL and auth) or choose a pre-configured example\n2. **MCP Server URL**: The MCP endpoint to connect to. Auto-appends `/mcp` if missing\n3. **Authentication**: None, Bearer Token, Basic Auth, or OAuth 2.0\n4. **Action**: Choose what to do:\n   - Initialize (establish session with the server)\n   - List Tools\n   - Call Tool (shows a tool selector and JSON parameters field)\n   - List Resources\n   - List Prompts\n5. **Execute Request**: Send the action\n\n**Right panel** -- response log:\n\nEach response shows a timestamp, action badge, latency, and the formatted JSON result. For List Tools, the response renders as an expandable accordion view (toggle to raw JSON). Each entry has Copy JSON and Export cURL buttons.\n\nA connection status badge shows whether the session is initialized. A rate limit indicator shows remaining calls per hour.\n\n---\n\n## Getting Started\n\n### Test a DataGrout Server\n\n1. Open the MCP Inspector\n2. Click **Your Servers** in Quick Start and select a server\n3. The URL and authentication fill automatically\n4. Click **Execute Request** with the Initialize action selected\n5. Once initialized, switch the action to **List Tools** and execute again\n6. Browse the tool list to verify your integrations are connected\n\n### Test an External MCP Server\n\n1. Enter the server URL (e.g. `http://localhost:3000/mcp`)\n2. Select the appropriate authentication method\n3. Initialize, then list tools or call a tool\n\n### Call a Tool\n\n1. Initialize the session first\n2. Switch the action to **Call Tool**\n3. Select a tool from the dropdown (populated after List Tools)\n4. Enter arguments as JSON in the parameters field\n5. Execute and inspect the response\n\n---\n\n## MCP vs JSONRPC\n\nMCP uses JSON-RPC 2.0 over Server-Sent Events (SSE). It requires an initialization handshake that establishes a persistent session. The server can push events to the client.\n\nIf you want stateless HTTP POST testing without session management, use the [JSONRPC Inspector](jsonrpc-inspector) instead.\n\n---\n\n## Related\n\n- [JSONRPC Inspector](jsonrpc-inspector) -- Stateless HTTP testing\n- [Quick Start](quick-start) -- Set up your first server\n- [MCP Specification](https://modelcontextprotocol.io) -- Official protocol documentation\n"
}