How to Use the Alation MCP in Claude Code

Q: Where does Claude Code store the Alation config?

Everything stays in your /.claude.json file. You manage your connections and tools directly from the terminal configuration.

Claude Code runs headless Alation tasks in your CI/CD pipeline to audit data assets automatically.

See Vinkius in Action

Works with every AI agent you already use

…and any MCP-compatible client

MCP Servers - Free for Subscribers

Connect Alation MCP to Claude Code

Create your Vinkius account to connect Alation to Claude Code and route execution through our secure gateway. The platform manages server hosting, runtime updates, and security layers. Configuration requires no manual server provisioning.

GDPR Free for Subscribers

Setup Alation with Claude Code

Ask AI about this MCP

ChatGPT

Claude

Perplexity

Claude Code audits Alation data sources

Run `list_data_sources` from your terminal to verify connectivity. Claude Code reports the health of your catalog to your logs. It works without a browser. You get a clean list of everything in your data estate delivered straight to your shell.

Claude Code retrieves Alation query results

Use this MCP Server in a script to pull data via `get_query_results`. Claude Code pipes the output into your next processing step. It turns your terminal into a data workbench. You automate complex reports by chaining these tools into your existing workflows.

Claude Code lists Alation tables in scripts

Automate your documentation by running `list_tables` for every schema. Claude Code writes the results to a file for your team to review. It saves you hours of manual cataloging. You generate current asset lists as part of your standard deployment routine.

Setup guide

Set up Alation MCP in Claude Code

Prerequisites

Claude Code CLI installed (npm install -g @anthropic-ai/claude-code)
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Run the add command

Open your terminal and run the command shown on the right. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com. Use --scope user to make it available across all projects.
2

Verify the connection

Start a Claude Code session and type /mcp to list connected servers. You should see alation-mcp with a green status indicator.
3

Start using tools

Ask Claude Code something like "Check my latest Alation transactions." It will automatically discover and invoke the available Alation tools.

Terminal

claude mcp add --transport http alation-mcp https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp

Get your connection token →

Prerequisites

Claude Code CLI installed
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Open the config file

Create or edit .mcp.json in your project root for project-level scope, or ~/.claude.json for user-level scope.
2

Add the Alation MCP

Paste the JSON snippet shown on the right into the mcpServers object. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Restart Claude Code

Start a new Claude Code session. Type /mcp to confirm the server is connected. The tools will be automatically available in your conversation.

.mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "alation-mcp": {
      "type": "url",
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Get your connection token →

Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by Alation. All third-party trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this website is strictly for informational purposes to identify service compatibility and interoperability.

Why Choose Vinkius

Vinkius connects your tools to AI with real-time monitoring and automatic cost savings — all from one dashboard.

Connect Alation now

Real-time monitoring

Live

visibility into every interaction

Connect your favorite tools to your AI and see exactly what's happening — every request, every response, in real time.

Built-in savings

60%

lower AI costs

Vinkius compresses data between your apps and your AI automatically. Lower bills every month — no configuration required.

Single dashboard

One

place for every integration

Every tool your AI connects to, managed from a single screen. One account, complete control.

Common questions about Alation MCP in Claude Code

Use the command line to add the server with the http transport flag. Once configured, your terminal has full access to the catalog tools.

Yes. It pipes the query results directly into your shell or file system. You can build automated data checks into your pipelines.

The server is built for CLI usage. You can call tools like search or lineage directly from your terminal commands.

Everything stays in your ~/.claude.json file. You manage your connections and tools directly from the terminal configuration.

The server runs in an ephemeral sandbox. Your query results and metadata are never stored on persistent disk outside your controlled environment.

Use it with your favorite AI tools

Connect this server to Cursor, Claude, VS Code, and more.

OpenAI Agents SDK sdk-python

Google ADK sdk-python

Pydantic AI sdk-python

Vercel AI SDK sdk-typescript

Mastra AI sdk-typescript

Start using the Alation MCP today

We host it, we monitor it, we maintain it. You just paste one token.

Get started