Added MCP Server documentation section

doc/index.rst

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ Documentation and resources for data scientists and programmatic users to perfor
    UDF/index.rst
    data_science/index.rst
    gen_ai/index.rst
+   mcp_server
    connect_to_exasol/index.rst
    examples/index.rst
    environments

doc/mcp_server.rst

@@ -0,0 +1,273 @@
+MCP Server
+================================================
+
+The Exasol MCP (Model Context Protocol) Server enables you to interact with your Exasol database using plain English - no SQL knowledge required. It integrates seamlessly with AI assistants like Claude Desktop, allowing you to ask questions about your data in natural language and get results instantly.
+
+What is the MCP Server?
+-----------------------
+
+The MCP Server acts as a bridge between Large Language Models (LLMs) and your Exasol database. It provides AI assistants with tools to:
+
+* **Explore your database schema** - Discover tables, views, functions, and their structures
+* **Search for database objects** - Find tables and columns using keywords
+* **Execute queries** - Run SQL queries generated from natural language requests
+* **Understand your data** - Get column definitions, constraints, and relationships
+
+Instead of writing SQL like this:
+
+.. code:: sql
+
+   SELECT customer_name, SUM(order_total)
+   FROM orders
+   WHERE order_date >= '2024-01-01'
+   GROUP BY customer_name
+   ORDER BY SUM(order_total) DESC
+   LIMIT 10;
+
+You can simply ask:
+
+   *"Show me the top 10 customers by total order value this year"*
+
+The MCP Server translates your request into SQL and returns the results.
+
+🚀 Key Features
+---------------
+
+**Metadata Discovery**
+   Enumerate all database objects including schemas, tables, views, functions, and UDF scripts. Filter and search to find exactly what you need.
+
+**Object Descriptions**
+   Get detailed information about tables (columns, constraints) and functions (input/output parameters).
+
+**Keyword Search**
+   Find database objects by searching for keywords across names and descriptions.
+
+**Query Execution**
+   Run SQL queries generated by the AI assistant based on your natural language requests.
+
+Prerequisites
+-------------
+
+Before getting started, ensure you have:
+
+* Python 3.10 or higher
+* An MCP Client application (e.g., `Claude Desktop <https://claude.com/download>`__)
+* The ``uv`` package manager
+
+Installing uv
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+Check if ``uv`` is already installed:
+
+.. code-block:: shell
+
+   uv --version
+
+On macOS, install via Homebrew:
+
+.. code-block:: shell
+
+   brew install uv
+
+For other operating systems, follow the `uv installation guide <https://docs.astral.sh/uv/getting-started/installation/>`__.
+
+Quick Setup with Claude Desktop
+--------------------------------
+
+The easiest way to get started is using the Exasol MCP Server with Claude Desktop.
+
+Step 1: Find the Configuration File
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+1. Open Claude Desktop
+2. Click on **Settings**
+3. Navigate to the **Developer** tab
+4. Click **Edit Config** to open ``claude_desktop_config.json``
+
+Step 2: Add the Exasol MCP Server
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+Add the following configuration to enable the MCP server:
+
+.. code-block:: json
+
+   {
+       "mcpServers": {
+           "exasol_db": {
+               "command": "uvx",
+               "args": ["exasol-mcp-server@latest"],
+               "env": {
+                   "EXA_DSN": "your-host:8563",
+                   "EXA_USER": "your-username",
+                   "EXA_PASSWORD": "your-password"
+               }
+           }
+       }
+   }
+
+Replace the connection parameters with your actual Exasol database credentials:
+
+* ``EXA_DSN``: Your database host and port (e.g., ``mydb.exasol.com:8563``)
+* ``EXA_USER``: Your database username
+* ``EXA_PASSWORD``: Your database password
+
+.. note::
+   With this configuration, ``uv`` will run the latest version of the MCP server in an ephemeral environment without permanently installing it.
+
+Step 3: Restart Claude Desktop
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+Changes to the configuration file only take effect after restarting Claude Desktop. Close and reopen the application.
+
+Step 4: Start Querying!
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+Once configured, you can start asking questions about your data in Claude:
+
+* *"What tables are available in the SALES schema?"*
+* *"Show me the structure of the CUSTOMERS table"*
+* *"List all orders from the last 30 days"*
+* *"What's the average order value by region?"*
+
+The AI assistant will use the MCP Server to explore your database, generate appropriate SQL queries, and return the results in a conversational format.
+
+Installing the MCP Server Permanently
+--------------------------------------
+
+If you prefer to install the MCP server instead of running it ephemerally, use:
+
+.. code-block:: shell
+
+   uv tool install exasol-mcp-server@latest
+
+Then update your Claude configuration to use the installed version:
+
+.. code-block:: json
+
+   {
+       "mcpServers": {
+           "exasol_db": {
+               "command": "exasol-mcp-server",
+               "env": {
+                   "EXA_DSN": "your-host:8563",
+                   "EXA_USER": "your-username",
+                   "EXA_PASSWORD": "your-password"
+               }
+           }
+       }
+   }
+
+To upgrade to the latest version:
+
+.. code-block:: shell
+
+   uv tool upgrade exasol-mcp-server
+
+Running as a Remote HTTP Server
+--------------------------------
+
+For production deployments or team-wide access, you can run the MCP server as an HTTP server.
+
+Basic HTTP Server
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+Start the server with:
+
+.. code-block:: shell
+
+   exasol-mcp-server-http --host 0.0.0.0 --port 8000
+
+This creates a simple HTTP endpoint that AI clients can connect to remotely.
+
+Production Deployment
+^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+For production environments, consider using an ASGI server like Uvicorn or implementing a custom wrapper. Here's an example of creating a custom MCP server instance:
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   from exasol.ai.mcp.server import mcp_server
+
+   # Create the MCP server instance
+   exasol_mcp = mcp_server()
+
+For more deployment options and best practices, see the `FastMCP HTTP Deployment Guide <https://gofastmcp.com/deployment/http>`__.
+
+Practical Examples
+------------------
+
+Here are some examples of natural language queries you can use with the MCP Server:
+
+**Schema Exploration**
+   * *"What databases/schemas exist?"*
+   * *"List all tables in the SALES schema"*
+   * *"Show me all views related to customer data"*
+
+**Table Structure**
+   * *"Describe the ORDERS table"*
+   * *"What are the columns in the CUSTOMER_TRANSACTIONS table?"*
+   * *"Show me the constraints on the PRODUCTS table"*
+
+**Data Analysis**
+   * *"How many orders were placed last month?"*
+   * *"What's the total revenue by product category?"*
+   * *"Show me customers who haven't placed an order in 90 days"*
+   * *"What are the top 5 best-selling products?"*
+
+**Function Discovery**
+   * *"What UDF functions are available?"*
+   * *"Show me the parameters for the CALCULATE_DISCOUNT function"*
+
+Advanced Configuration
+----------------------
+
+The MCP server supports additional configuration options through environment variables and JSON configuration files.
+
+For detailed information on customizing server settings, authentication options (including OpenID), BucketFS access, and other advanced features, see the `Server Setup Guide <https://exasol.github.io/mcp-server/main/user_guide/server_setup.html>`__ in the official documentation.
+
+Using with Other AI Assistants
+-------------------------------
+
+While this guide focuses on Claude Desktop, the Exasol MCP Server works with any MCP-compatible client. The configuration pattern is similar:
+
+1. Install or run the MCP server
+2. Configure your AI client with the connection details
+3. Provide Exasol database credentials via environment variables
+
+Consult your AI assistant's documentation for specific MCP server configuration instructions.
+
+Security Considerations
+-----------------------
+
+.. important::
+   **Safe Harbor Statement**
+
+   The behavior of Large Language Models (LLMs) and autonomous AI agents cannot be fully predicted or controlled. These systems may exhibit unintended behavior including:
+
+   * Hallucinations or incorrect queries
+   * Susceptibility to adversarial prompts
+   * Execution of unforeseen actions
+
+   Such behavior may result in data leakage, unauthorized data access, or unintended data modifications.
+
+**Best Practices:**
+
+* **Use read-only database users** when possible to prevent unintended data modifications
+* **Implement proper access controls** - limit the MCP server to specific schemas or tables
+* **Monitor query execution** - review what queries are being generated and executed
+* **Sandbox sensitive environments** - don't connect production databases directly without proper safeguards
+* **Review security settings** regularly and audit AI assistant interactions with your database
+
+Learn More
+----------
+
+* `MCP Server Documentation <https://exasol.github.io/mcp-server/>`__
+* `GitHub Repository <https://github.com/exasol/mcp-server>`__
+* `Model Context Protocol Specification <https://modelcontextprotocol.io/docs/getting-started/intro/>`__
+
+Feedback
+----------
+
+* Contact us on the `Exasol Community <https://community.exasol.com/>`__
+
+*Last updated: February 2026*