Custom MCP

Configure custom external MCP servers with SSE and custom authentication

Overview

Custom MCP allows you to connect external MCP servers hosted on your own infrastructure or third-party services. This functionality offers maximum flexibility to:

• Integrate your own MCP servers hosted externally
• Connect with specialized APIs not available in the Evo AI library
• Use custom authentication with personalized headers
• Implement SSE (Server-Sent Events) for real-time communication

External Servers: Unlike the Evo AI library, here you configure externally hosted MCP servers. You are responsible for the maintenance and availability of these servers.

How to Configure a Custom MCP

The Custom MCP configuration process has been divided into two main steps:

1. Register the Custom MCP in the settings menu
2. Select the Custom MCP in the agent settings

Part 1: Register Custom MCP

Access settings menu

1. In the main menu, go to “Settings”
2. Look for the “Tools & Integrations” section
3. Within it, click on “Custom MCP”
4. Click on “Add New Custom MCP” or “New Custom MCP”
5. You will be directed to the registration form

Here you will create a library of Custom MCPs that can be reused across different agents.

Basic server information

Configure the fundamental information of your MCP server:

Server Name:

• Identifier name for the server
• Used for internal reference
• Example: “Custom CRM Server”, “Financial API”

Description:

• Description of the functionalities offered
• Helps you and other users understand the purpose
• Example: “Integration with internal CRM system”

MCP Server URL:

• Complete endpoint of your external MCP server
• Must support the standard MCP protocol
• Example: https://my-server.com/mcp

Use descriptive names to facilitate identification when selecting in agents.

Authentication configuration

Configure headers necessary for authentication:

Custom Headers:

{
  "Authorization": "Bearer your-token-here",
  "X-API-Key": "your-api-key",
  "X-Custom-Header": "custom-value",
  "Content-Type": "application/json"
}

Supported authentication types:

• Bearer Token - For OAuth APIs
• API Key - Simple access keys
• Basic Auth - Encoded username and password
• Custom Headers - API-specific headers

Authentication headers are stored in encrypted form on the platform.

SSE configuration and advanced options

SSE (Server-Sent Events) Support:

• ✅ Real-time response streaming
• ✅ Continuous status updates
• ✅ Push notifications from server
• ✅ Persistent connections for low latency

Advanced settings:

• Timeout: Connection timeout limit
• Retry attempts: Reconnection attempts
• SSE endpoint: Specific endpoint for events

SSE is ideal for servers that process long tasks or provide real-time updates.

Save Custom MCP

1. Review all settings carefully
2. Test connectivity if there’s a test option
3. Click “Save” or “Save”
4. The Custom MCP will be available in your library

After saving, the Custom MCP will be available to be selected in any agent.

Part 2: Select Custom MCP in Agent

Access agent settings

1. Go to the agents screen in the dashboard
2. Locate the agent you want to configure
3. Click the “Settings” icon (⚙️) on the agent card and then “Edit”
4. You will be directed to the agent settings screen

Add Custom MCP to agent

1. In the agent settings screen, locate the “Custom MCP” section
2. Click “Add” to add a Custom MCP
3. A list of registered Custom MCPs will be displayed
4. Select the servers that this agent should use
5. Click “Save” to apply

You can select multiple Custom MCPs for the same agent. Each agent can have a different set of servers.

Verify configuration

After saving:

• The selected Custom MCPs will appear in the agent’s list
• The agent will have access to the tools from these servers
• You can add/remove servers at any time

Test the agent in a conversation to verify that the Custom MCPs are working correctly.

Advantages of the New System

Server reusability

Benefits:

• 🔄 Reuse the same Custom MCP across multiple agents
• 🎯 Specialize agents with specific servers
• 🛠️ Maintain centralized configurations
• 📊 Manage all servers in one place

Team collaboration

Facilitates teamwork:

• 👥 Share Custom MCPs among team members
• 📚 Centralized library of organizational servers
• 🔧 Simplified maintenance of integrations
• 📈 Server evolution without impact on agents

Troubleshooting

Common issues

Server won’t connect:

• Verify that the URL is correct and accessible
• Confirm that authentication headers are valid
• Test network connectivity
• Check if the server is online

Authentication error:

• Validate tokens and API keys
• Confirm header format
• Check if credentials haven’t expired
• Test authentication directly on the server

SSE not working:

• Confirm if server supports Server-Sent Events
• Check specific headers for SSE
• Test events endpoint separately
• Monitor reconnection logs

Tools don’t appear:

• Check /mcp/capabilities endpoint
• Confirm JSON response format
• Validate tool structure
• Test manual calls to the server

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🔧 Custom MCP configured! Now you can integrate custom external MCP servers with custom authentication and SSE support for maximum flexibility!