# Connect Tools with MCP Servers

> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.redpanda.com/llms.txt). Component-specific: [agentic-data-plane-full.txt](https://docs.redpanda.com/agentic-data-plane-full.txt)

---
title: Connect Tools with MCP Servers
latest-operator-version: v26.1.5
latest-console-tag: v3.7.4
latest-connect-version: 4.96.1
latest-redpanda-tag: v26.1.10
docname: mcp-servers
page-component-name: agentic-data-plane
page-version: master
page-component-version: master
page-component-title: Agentic Data Plane
page-relative-src-path: mcp-servers.adoc
page-edit-url: https://github.com/redpanda-data/adp-docs/edit/main/modules/connect/pages/mcp-servers.adoc
description: Learn how MCP servers expose tools and data to agents, then plug in a managed type or build, register, and test your own.
page-git-created-date: "2026-06-01"
page-git-modified-date: "2026-06-08"
---

<!-- Source: https://docs.redpanda.com/agentic-data-plane/connect/mcp-servers.md -->

MCP servers expose tools and data to your agents. Plug in a managed type from the catalog, or build, register, and test a server of your own.

-   [How MCP Servers Work](https://docs.redpanda.com/agentic-data-plane/connect/mcp-overview/)

    Connect AI agents to your databases, APIs, and business systems through managed MCP servers Redpanda hosts for you, or self-managed servers you register with ADP.

-   [Plug in an App, Database, or Tool](https://docs.redpanda.com/agentic-data-plane/connect/managed/managed-catalog/)

    Reference of every managed MCP server type Redpanda hosts in-process, grouped by category, with display name, description, and a link to a setup guide where one exists.

-   [Create an MCP Server](https://docs.redpanda.com/agentic-data-plane/connect/create-server/)

    Create an MCP server in the Agentic Data Plane by picking a managed type from the marketplace or registering a self-managed server you host yourself, then configure authentication, code mode, and access.

-   [Register a Self-Managed MCP Server](https://docs.redpanda.com/agentic-data-plane/connect/register-remote/)

    Front your own MCP server with a managed Redpanda URL. Pick a transport, configure authentication, and let agents discover the server's tools through Redpanda.

-   [Test an MCP Server’s Tools with the Inspector](https://docs.redpanda.com/agentic-data-plane/connect/test-tools/)

    Use the Inspector tab to call tools, inspect resources and prompts, and verify your MCP server works without standing up an agent.

-   [Code Mode](https://docs.redpanda.com/agentic-data-plane/gateway/code-mode/)

    Turn on code mode for an MCP server to replace a large tool catalog with two tools, search and execute, and cut the token cost of tool-heavy servers.