Getting Started with MCP-Cloud

This guide walks you through the process of setting up your first MCP server on MCP-Cloud. You'll learn how to create an account, deploy a server, and connect it to your AI applications.

Before You Begin

You'll need:

• An email address to create your MCP-Cloud account
• If connecting to specific AI models (like OpenAI's GPT models), you may need your API key
• A basic idea of which data sources or tools you want to connect to your AI

Step 1: Create Your Account

1. Go to www.mcp-cloud.ai
2. Click "Sign Up" in the top-right corner
3. Enter your email address and create a password
4. Verify your email by clicking the link sent to your inbox
5. Complete your profile with your name and organization (optional)

Step 2: Deploy Your First MCP Server

Once you're logged in, follow these steps to deploy your first server:

1. From your dashboard, click the "+ New Server" button

2. Choose a template:

   • For beginners: Select "Basic MCP Server"
   • For specific needs: Choose a specialized template like "Data Access" or "Development"

3. Give your server a name (e.g., "My First MCP Server")

4. Configure basic settings:

   • Region: Choose the location closest to your users
   • Plan: Select the appropriate tier (Free tier is perfect for testing)
   • Access Control: Choose who can access this server (just you, your team, or public)

5. Click "Continue" to proceed to the next step

6. If you selected a template that requires API keys (like OpenAI integration), you'll be prompted to enter them now:

   • Enter your API keys in the provided fields
   • These are stored securely and used to connect to external services

7. Review your settings and click "Deploy Server"

8. Wait for deployment to complete (usually takes 1-2 minutes)

   • You'll see a progress bar showing the deployment status
   • Once complete, you'll receive a notification and your server will appear in your dashboard

Step 3: Connect Your AI Application

After your server is deployed, you'll need to connect it to your AI applications. MCP-Cloud provides several ways to do this:

Option 1: Connect with Claude Desktop (Easiest)

If you use Claude Desktop:

1. Open Claude Desktop on your computer
2. Click the settings icon (⚙️) in the top-right corner
3. Select "MCP Servers" from the menu
4. Click "+ Add Server"
5. Enter your MCP-Cloud server URL (copied from your MCP-Cloud dashboard)
6. Enter your API key (also found in your MCP-Cloud dashboard)
7. Click "Connect"
8. Claude Desktop will now have access to the tools and data connected to your MCP server

Option 2: Connect with Other AI Applications

For other AI applications:

1. From your MCP-Cloud dashboard, select your server
2. Click on the "Connection Details" tab
3. Copy your server's URL and API key
4. Follow your AI application's instructions for adding external tools or connections
5. Use the URL and API key when prompted

Option 3: Direct API Connection (For Developers)

If you or your development team want to integrate directly:

1. From your server's dashboard, click "API Documentation"
2. You'll find detailed instructions and code examples for connecting to your server
3. Share these details with your developers to implement the connection

Step 4: Test Your Connection

To make sure everything is working correctly:

1. From your MCP-Cloud dashboard, select your server
2. Click the "Test Connection" button
3. Select which functionality you want to test
4. MCP-Cloud will verify that your server is properly connected and responding

Step 5: Monitor Your Server

MCP-Cloud provides easy monitoring of your server:

1. From the dashboard, click on your server name

2. You'll see the "Overview" panel with key metrics:

   • Active connections
   • Request volume
   • Error rate
   • Response times

3. Click on the "Logs" tab to see detailed activity logs

4. Set up "Alerts" (optional) to be notified of issues:

   • Click the "Alerts" tab
   • Click "+ New Alert"
   • Choose the conditions that should trigger an alert
   • Select notification methods (email, SMS, etc.)

Common Questions

How do I know if my server is working?

Your server's status will show as "Online" with a green indicator in your dashboard. You can also use the Test Connection feature mentioned above.

What if I need to change settings later?

You can modify most settings by selecting your server in the dashboard and clicking "Settings". Some changes may require a server restart.

How do I control costs?

In your account settings, you can set spending limits and receive notifications when approaching those limits. The dashboard also shows current usage and projected costs.

Can I have multiple servers?

Yes! You can deploy multiple servers for different purposes. Each will have its own dashboard, settings, and connections.

Need Help?

If you encounter any issues:

1. Check our Troubleshooting Guide for common solutions
2. Visit the Community Forum to see if others have faced similar issues
3. Contact our support team via the chat bubble in your dashboard or at [email protected]