MCP ODBC Server: Lightning-Fast, Seamless Database Access

Power your data workflows with this MCP ODBC server: FastAPI and SQLAlchemy engineered for seamless, lightning-fast database access – the pro’s secret ODBC weapon!

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About MCP ODBC Server

What is MCP ODBC Server: Lightning-Fast, Seamless Database Access?

MCP ODBC Server is a lightweight, high-performance tool built using FastAPI, pyodbc, and SQLAlchemy. Designed to simplify database interactions, it provides seamless access to Virtuoso and other SQL-based systems via ODBC. The server acts as an intermediary, enabling efficient schema exploration, table management, and query execution while maintaining compatibility with modern development workflows.

How to Use MCP ODBC Server: Lightning-Fast, Seamless Database Access?

First, ensure uv is installed via pip install uv or Homebrew. Next, configure your ODBC Data Source Name (DSN) in ~/.odbc.ini, specifying driver paths and credentials. For example, Virtuoso setups require defining the DSN with the correct database path and authentication details. Once the DSN is ready, bind it to a SQLAlchemy URL (e.g., virtuoso+pyodbc://user:password@VOS) and start the server using uv run. Integrate it with platforms like Claude Desktop by specifying the server command and environment variables in configuration files.

MCP ODBC Server Features

Key Features of MCP ODBC Server: Lightning-Fast, Seamless Database Access?

Schema & Table Discovery: Instantly fetch schema names or retrieve detailed table structures, including data types, keys, and nullability.
Query Flexibility: Execute stored procedures in Virtuoso and choose output formats—JSONL for structured processing or markdown tables for human-readable reports.
Searchable Database Navigation
Cross-Database Support: Leverage SQLAlchemy’s ecosystem to connect to PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite, and more without code changes.

Use Cases of MCP ODBC Server: Lightning-Fast, Seamless Database Access?

Developers use this server to:

Automate database schema documentation with precise metadata extraction.
Create dynamic dashboards by pulling real-time table data into visualization tools.
Debug complex workflows with the MCP Inspector, which provides a live interface for testing queries.
Streamline ETL processes by executing stored procedures as part of data pipelines.

MCP ODBC Server FAQ

FAQ from MCP ODBC Server: Lightning-Fast, Seamless Database Access?

Do I need to install Virtuoso-specific drivers?: Yes, but only if targeting Virtuoso. ODBC drivers for other databases (e.g., PostgreSQL) are handled via SQLAlchemy’s URL bindings.
How do I troubleshoot connection errors?: Use the MCP Inspector tool (npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector) to validate configurations and inspect server responses.
Is performance optimized for large datasets?: Yes, JSONL output and FastAPI’s async architecture ensure minimal latency even with extensive queries.
Can I customize the server’s endpoints?: While the core API is fixed, you can extend functionality by modifying the server’s codebase or wrapping it in middleware.

Content

MCP Server ODBC via SQLAlchemy

A lightweight MCP (Model Context Protocol) ODBC server built with FastAPI , pyodbc , and SQLAlchemy. This server is compatible with Virtuoso DBMS and DBMS backends supported by SQLAlchemy.

Features

Get Schemas : Fetch and list all schema names from the connected database.
Get Tables : Retrieve table information for specific schemas or all schemas.
Describe Table : Generate a detailed description of table structures, including:
- Column names and data types
- Nullable attributes
- Primary and foreign keys
Search Tables : Filter and retrieve tables based on name substrings.
Execute Stored Procedures : In the case of Virtuoso, execute stored procedures and retrieve results.
Execute Queries :
- JSONL result format: Optimized for structured responses.
- Markdown table format: Ideal for reporting and visualization.

Prerequisites

Install uv :

pip install uv

Or use Homebrew:

    brew install uv

ODBC DSN Setup : Configure your ODBC Data Source Name (~/.odbc.ini) for the target database. Example for Virtuoso DBMS:

[VOS]

Description = OpenLink Virtuoso
Driver = /path/to/virtodbcu_r.so
Database = Demo
Address = localhost:1111
WideAsUTF16 = Yes

SQLAlchemy URL Binding : Use the format:

virtuoso+pyodbc://user:password@VOS

Installation

Clone this repository:

git clone https://github.com/OpenLinkSoftware/mcp-server-odbc.git

Configuration

For Claude Desktop users: Add the following to claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "my_database": {
      "command": "uv",
      "args": ["--directory", "/path/to/mcp-server-odbc", "run", "mcp-server-odbc"],
      "env": {
        "DB_URL": "virtuoso+pyodbc://user:password@VOS"
      }
    }
  }
}

Examples of Database URL Configuration

Database	URL Format
Virtuoso DBMS	`virtuoso+pyodbc://user:password@ODBC_DSN`
PostgreSQL	`postgresql://user:password@localhost/dbname`
MySQL	`mysql+pymysql://user:password@localhost/dbname`
SQLite	`sqlite:///path/to/database.db`

Debugging

For easier debugging:

Install the MCP Inspector:

npm install -g @modelcontextprotocol/inspector
Start the inspector:

npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector uv --directory /path/to/mcp-server-odbc run mcp-server-odbc

Access the provided URL to troubleshoot server interactions.

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