Does this MCP support all types of edge devices?

The MCP is designed to manage devices connected to BalenaCloud. You can list devices and fleets, and the capabilities support querying various hardware types and associated OS versions.

What kind of data can I query about my devices?

You can list devices using advanced OData filters to select specific fields. You can also check device tags, environment variables, and the current status of the device.

How do I check if my API key is correct?

You can run the whoami capability. This verifies your current user profile and organization details, confirming your connection is active and authenticated.

Can I update device settings without a dashboard?

Yes. You can use the MCP to create device environment variables or create device tags, updating the metadata directly through your chat interface.

How can I find a specific device using its UUID?

You can use the list_devices capability with an OData filter. For example, provide $filter as uuid eq '' to retrieve the exact device metadata.

Is it possible to update a device's environment variables through the AI?

Yes! Use the create_device_env_var capability by providing the Device ID, the variable name, and the desired value. The AI will apply the change to the specific device immediately.

How do I get the download link for a specific balenaOS version?

First, use list_os_versions to find the correct version string for your device type. Then, call get_os_download_url with the device type and version to receive the direct ZIP download URL.

An astronaut overseeing a futuristic data hub

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Connect Balena to ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini

Set it up once and it works in ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, and any other client you love. It all runs safely in the background, so you can relax and focus on what really matters. Manage devices, deployments, and configurations directly in your chat.

Ask AI about this Connector

Developed, maintained, and hosted by Vinkius.

MCP VERIFIED · PRODUCTION READY · VINKIUS GUARANTEED

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Works with modern AI clients that support MCP, including ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, and more.

Your AI does the work. We keep it safe and sound.

No other AI tool gives you this. Your workflow runs in the client you already love, your account stays protected, and you decide what the agent can and cannot do. It is the whole reason to make the switch.

Each Connector lives inside our infrastructure, the same place where your workflow runs. The three things below are already part of it, working quietly in the background so you never have to think about them. Nothing to add, nothing to set up, nothing to worry about.

V8 Isolate01

Each Connector runs inside its own sealed environment.

Each Connector runs inside its own sealed V8 runtime — no access to your files, your system, or other servers. A Connector never sees past its own request.

Kill Switch02

One switch stops every agent. Instantly.

One action deactivates every Connector, revokes every token, and ends every session at once. AI Governance keeps the record.

FinOps per User03

Spending limits that pause instead of surprise.

Every user keeps their own connections and credentials, isolated from everyone else. Anything that would cross your spending limit is held for your approval, not billed.

Three controls, built into the layer your AI connects through.

Curated set · 10 capabilities

We ship only the actions that matter.

Capability set01 / 03

01-04

4 capabilities in this set.

Part of 10 available through Balena.

01
Get os download URL
Get the download URL for a balenaOS image. Use this capability when you need the direct link to a specific operating system image.
02
List organizations
List all Balena organizations associated with your account. This helps you see which organizational accounts you have access to.
03
List releases
List Balena releases. You can use OData filters to narrow down results by a specific fleet ID, helping you check deployment history.
04
Whoami
Get current Balena user details. Run this to verify your active user profile, organization details, and API keys.

Capability set02 / 03

05-07

3 capabilities in this set.

Part of 10 available through Balena.

05
List API keys
List Balena API keys. Use this capability to see all the API keys currently associated with your account.
06
Create device env var
Create a device environment variable. This capability lets you set specific environment variables on an edge device.
07
Create device tag
Create a device tag. Use this to add metadata tags to an edge device, helping you organize your hardware inventory.

Capability set03 / 03

08-10

3 capabilities in this set.

Part of 10 available through Balena.

08
List devices
List devices in Balena fleets. You can use OData filters, select specific fields, and expand relationships for advanced querying of your device list.
09
List fleets
List Balena fleets (applications). Use OData filters for advanced querying to find specific application groups.
10
List os versions
List available balenaOS versions for a device type. This shows you the current stable and available OS versions for specific hardware.

Real work

What teams actually run

Debugging a Device Failure

A device reports an issue. You ask the agent to list devices and filter by UUID to check its current status and configuration tags.

Preparing for a Rollout

A new software version is ready. You use the MCP to list releases and check the deployment history across all relevant fleets.

Inventory Auditing

You need to know where all your sensors are located. You list devices and then create tags to mark their physical location.

Initial Setup Verification

You verify your access rights. You run the whoami capability to confirm your user profile and list all associated API keys.

Automate a task

Put Balena to work on one thing.

Step-by-step automations your AI runs through this Connector: the workflow, the prompts to start with, and the exact capabilities behind each move.

One connector, every AI

Balena works with the most popular AI clients.

These are the most popular clients, each with a step-by-step guide: one link, set up once, with governance and visibility built in. And because everything runs on the MCP standard, the same connection also works in any other compatible client — nothing to rebuild.

Building your own app? The connector is yours to use.

You don't need a client to put Balena to work: the same hosted connection plugs into your own applications and agent code, with the same governance on every request. Build with it, chat with it — one connection for both.

Observed, not estimated

890ms average. Fast in production.

Balena is checked daily against the live service.

Daily averagePeak 1126ms

Oct 3Today

Fastest day: 785ms
Slowest day: 1126ms
14-day trend: Slowing+14%

Connect your client

One URL. Every client.

Activate the Connector, copy your link, and paste it into the client you already use. 10 capabilities arrive ready to run.

Preview access · not provider authentication

The vk_preview_* token belongs to Vinkius preview infrastructure. It lets Claude discover and display the capabilities of Balena, so you can see the experience inside your AI.

It does not authenticate your account with Balena. Actions requiring credentials or live account data may not run until you activate the Connector and authorize the service.

Balena Connector

You're all set. Choose your MCP client and follow the setup instructions.

Connector linkhttps://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_HaDxWZjxy0KnKuRGaidiaMAMaJh5YZgXdeQzTr9y/mcp

Claude Desktop

Follow the steps below to connect in seconds.

1In Claude Desktop, open Settings → Connectors.
2Click “Add custom connector” and paste the connector link above as the remote MCP server URL.
3Click Add and start a new chat — Balena capabilities are ready to use.

Configuration · claude_desktop_config.jsonCopy

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "balena-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/vk_preview_HaDxWZjxy0KnKuRGaidiaMAMaJh5YZgXdeQzTr9y/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Claude
ChatGPT
Cursor
VS Code
Windsurf
Claude Code
JetBrains
Cline

Step-by-step instructions for each client are in the guide. How to connect

Guided setup for Claude? Set up Balena in Claude and other AIs

See all the AI clients this connector works with ↑

Who it's for

Built for the work Balena owners hand off.

This MCP is built for teams managing large, distributed hardware deployments. If your job involves keeping track of hundreds of edge devices, managing software rollouts, or maintaining device configuration, this connector saves you from clicking through multiple dashboards.

01
IoT Engineers
Use the MCP to quickly check device statuses or logs without navigating the BalenaCloud dashboard.
02
DevOps Teams
Automate environment variable updates and inspect release history during complex deployment cycles.
03
Product Owners
Get high-level overviews of fleet health and organization-wide project statuses in a single chat thread.

FAQ

Questions Balena owners ask.

01
Does this MCP support all types of edge devices?
The MCP is designed to manage devices connected to BalenaCloud. You can list devices and fleets, and the capabilities support querying various hardware types and associated OS versions.
02
What kind of data can I query about my devices?
You can list devices using advanced OData filters to select specific fields. You can also check device tags, environment variables, and the current status of the device.
03
How do I check if my API key is correct?
You can run the whoami capability. This verifies your current user profile and organization details, confirming your connection is active and authenticated.
04
Can I update device settings without a dashboard?
Yes. You can use the MCP to create device environment variables or create device tags, updating the metadata directly through your chat interface.
05
How can I find a specific device using its UUID?
You can use the list_devices capability with an OData filter. For example, provide $filter as uuid eq '' to retrieve the exact device metadata.
06
Is it possible to update a device's environment variables through the AI?
Yes! Use the create_device_env_var capability by providing the Device ID, the variable name, and the desired value. The AI will apply the change to the specific device immediately.
07
How do I get the download link for a specific balenaOS version?
First, use list_os_versions to find the correct version string for your device type. Then, call get_os_download_url with the device type and version to receive the direct ZIP download URL.

Explore

More in Cloud Infrastructure

Connect Balena to Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT & more

Your AI does the work. We keep it safe and sound.

Each Connector runs inside its own sealed environment.

One switch stops every agent. Instantly.

Spending limits that pause instead of surprise.

We ship only the actions that matter.

01-04

Get os download URL

List organizations

List releases

Whoami

05-07

List API keys

Create device env var

Create device tag

08-10

List devices

List fleets

List os versions

What teams actually run

Debugging a Device Failure

Preparing for a Rollout

Inventory Auditing

Initial Setup Verification

Building your own app? The connector is yours to use.

Balena Connector

Claude Desktop

IoT Engineers

DevOps Teams

Product Owners

Does this MCP support all types of edge devices?

What kind of data can I query about my devices?

How do I check if my API key is correct?

Can I update device settings without a dashboard?

How can I find a specific device using its UUID?

Is it possible to update a device's environment variables through the AI?

How do I get the download link for a specific balenaOS version?

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