How to Use the Balena MCP in Mastra AI

Q: How do I initialize the Balena MCP Server in Mastra AI?

Run npm install @mastra/mcp@latest and instantiate new MCPClient(). Pass your Vinkius URL into the servers configuration. Spread mcpClient.listTools() into your agent's tool array.

Q: How does Mastra AI filter Balena fleets?

The agent natively constructs OData strings for the listfleets tool. It appends criteria like $filter=belongstoapplication eq to narrow down the response payload.

Automate IoT hardware recovery workflows and conditional edge updates using Mastra AI and the Balena MCP Server.

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Connect Balena MCP to Mastra AI

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

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Build resilient hardware workflows

Mastra AI workflows handle connection drops automatically when calling the `list_devices` tool. Edge endpoints frequently go offline, so the built-in exponential backoff retries the OData query until the hardware responds. You do not have to write custom error handling for flaky cellular connections. Once the node reports back, the workflow evaluates the status. If a device shows the wrong firmware, it triggers `list_releases` to find the correct application version and initiates an update sequence.

Manage Balena environment variables

Changing configuration on remote fleets happens through the `create_device_env_var` tool. Your agent detects an anomaly in a sensor reading and decides to adjust the reporting threshold. It pushes the new variable to the specific UUID. Adding metadata follows the same logic via `create_device_tag`. You can build a workflow that tags units as "failing" if they miss three consecutive check-ins, allowing human operators to filter the dashboard later.

Require approval for MCP Server actions

Pushing new OS images to physical hardware is risky, which makes the `get_os_download_url` tool a perfect candidate for Mastra's requireToolApproval feature. The agent prepares the balenaOS link for the target architecture but pauses execution. A human administrator must click approve before the workflow continues. This safety net extends to `list_api_keys` and organization queries. You let the autonomous system draft the changes, but keep a person in control of the final execution step.

Setup guide

Set up Balena MCP in Mastra AI

Prerequisites

Node.js 18+ and a TypeScript project
@mastra/mcp + @mastra/core packages
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Install dependencies
Run npm install @mastra/mcp @mastra/core plus your preferred model provider (e.g. @ai-sdk/openai).
2

Configure the MCPClient
Create an MCPClient with your Vinkius endpoint as a URL object. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Discover and inject tools
Call mcpClient.listTools() and spread the result into your agent's tools object. All Balena tools become native Mastra tools.
4

Run with any model
Swap openai("gpt-4o") for any AI SDK-compatible provider. Call agent.generate() and the agent routes tool calls through MCP automatically.

agent.ts

import { MCPClient } from "@mastra/mcp";
import { Agent } from "@mastra/core/agent";
import { openai } from "@ai-sdk/openai";

const mcpClient = new MCPClient({
  id: "balena-mcp-client",
  servers: {
    "balena-mcp": {
      url: new URL(
        "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
      ),
    },
  },
});

const agent = new Agent({
  name: "Balena Agent",
  model: openai("gpt-4o"),
  instructions: "You have access to Balena tools.",
  tools: {
    ...(await mcpClient.listTools()),
  },
});

const result = await agent.generate(
  "List recent Balena transactions"
);
console.log(result.text);

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Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by Balena. 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.

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Common questions about Balena MCP in Mastra AI

Run `npm install @mastra/mcp@latest` and instantiate `new MCPClient()`. Pass your Vinkius URL into the servers configuration. Spread `mcpClient.listTools()` into your agent's tool array.

The framework automatically applies exponential backoff if the endpoint returns a 429 status. Your workflow pauses and tries the query again without throwing a fatal error.

The agent natively constructs OData strings for the `list_fleets` tool. It appends criteria like `$filter=belongs_to__application eq ` to narrow down the response payload.

Mastra auto-detects the transport layer provided by Vinkius. It connects via Streamable HTTP or SSE without requiring manual configuration in your TypeScript code.

The MCP Server accesses device UUIDs, environment variables, and API keys. We route these requests through a zero-trust V8 isolate sandbox. Nothing gets logged or cached after the workflow finishes.

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