Rescale MCP Server – Getting Started

Overview

The Rescale MCP Server bridges large language models (LLMs) and the Rescale platform. It implements the open Model Context Protocol (MCP) on top of Rescale’s platform APIs, so an MCP-compatible client can interact with Rescale using natural language instead of direct API calls.

This is the same technology that powers the Rescale Assistant. Connecting your own client lets you use those same capabilities from the tools you already work in.

Getting Started

The Rescale MCP Server already powers the Rescale Assistant, using a managed version to process your requests seamlessly.

You no longer need to clone or run the server yourself. Rescale hosts the MCP server and exposes it over HTTP, so any MCP-compatible client connects using the same connection details and your existing Rescale API key. Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, and other MCP clients are all supported.

Prerequisites

  • An MCP-compatible client that supports remote (HTTP) MCP servers, such as Claude Code, Claude Desktop, or Cursor.
  • A Rescale API key. Generate one from Settings → API Key in the Rescale platform, or at platform.rescale.com/user/settings/. Copy it immediately, as it is shown only once.
  • Access to Advanced Modeling and Simulation features on your account. The hosted MCP server is available to Advanced Modeling and Simulation customers; contact your workspace administrator if you are unsure.

Connection Details

Every client uses the same three values. Enter them however your client configures a remote MCP server.

SettingValue
TransportHTTP (streamable)
Server URLThe URL for your Rescale region (see table below)
Auth headerX-Rescale-Api-Key: YOUR_API_KEY

Use the server URL for the Rescale environment your account is on:

RegionServer URL
United Stateshttps://mcp.services.platform.rescale.com/mcp
Europehttps://mcp.services.eu.rescale.com/mcp
Koreahttps://mcp.services.kr.rescale.com/mcp
Japanhttps://mcp.services.platform.rescale.jp/mcp

Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your Rescale API key throughout.

Connect Your Client

The examples below use the United States server URL. For other regions, substitute the matching URL from the table above. Replace YOUR_API_KEY with your Rescale API key.

Claude Code

Run the following command:

claude mcp add rescale-mcp https://mcp.services.platform.rescale.com/mcp \
  –transport http –scope user \
  –header “X-Rescale-Api-Key: YOUR_API_KEY”

This registers the hosted server at the user scope, so it is available across all your projects.

Cursor

Add the following to ~/.cursor/mcp.json (global) or .cursor/mcp.json (project), then enable the server under Cursor Settings → MCP:

{
  “mcpServers”: {
    “rescale-mcp”: {
      “url”: “https://mcp.services.platform.rescale.com/mcp”,
      “headers”: {
        “X-Rescale-Api-Key”: “YOUR_API_KEY”
      }
    }
  }
}

VS Code (GitHub Copilot)

In agent mode, add the following to .vscode/mcp.json in your workspace. The inputs block prompts you for your key once and stores it securely instead of hardcoding it:

{
  “inputs”: [
    {
      “type”: “promptString”,
      “id”: “rescale-api-key”,
      “description”: “Rescale API Key”,
      “password”: true
    }
  ],
  “servers”: {
    “rescale-mcp”: {
      “type”: “http”,
      “url”: “https://mcp.services.platform.rescale.com/mcp”,
      “headers”: {
        “X-Rescale-Api-Key”: “${input:rescale-api-key}”
      }
    }
  }
}

Requires VS Code 1.102 or later with Copilot agent mode enabled.

Windsurf

Add the following to ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json, then reload the server from Windsurf Settings → Cascade → MCP Servers:

{
  “mcpServers”: {
    “rescale-mcp”: {
      “serverUrl”: “https://mcp.services.platform.rescale.com/mcp”,
      “headers”: {
        “X-Rescale-Api-Key”: “YOUR_API_KEY”
      }
    }
  }
}

Gemini CLI

Add the following to ~/.gemini/settings.json (user scope) or .gemini/settings.json (project scope):

{
  “mcpServers”: {
    “rescale-mcp”: {
      “url”: “https://mcp.services.platform.rescale.com/mcp”,
      “type”: “http”,
      “headers”: {
        “X-Rescale-Api-Key”: “YOUR_API_KEY”
      }
    }
  }
}

Client Compatibility

Connecting to the Rescale MCP server requires a client that supports remote MCP servers over HTTP and can send a custom request header (X-Rescale-Api-Key). The clients above meet both requirements.

Some clients do not currently support sending a custom API-key header to a remote MCP server, so they cannot connect to the Rescale MCP server:

  • Claude Desktop connects to remote servers only through its Custom Connectors interface, which supports OAuth or no authentication and provides no field for a custom API-key header.
  • The ChatGPT app (custom connectors) likewise supports only OAuth or no-authentication connectors.

Support for these clients depends on their vendors adding custom-header authentication for remote MCP servers.

Verify the Connection

  1. Open your client’s list of connected MCP servers (in Claude Code, run /mcp).
  2. Confirm that rescale-mcp appears and is connected.
  3. Try a natural-language command, for example: “show me the status of my most recent Rescale job.”

If the server does not connect, confirm your API key is valid and that your account has access to Advanced Modeling and Simulation features.

Core Capabilities

Once your client is connected, you can drive the Rescale platform with natural-language commands. The server supports a wide range of actions, including:

  • Interact with natural language: Replace scripts and manual API calls with conversational requests, such as “submit a job using input_file.zip on the Onyx coretype” or “show me the status of job XYZ.”
  • Manage jobs and workstations: Create and submit new jobs or workstations, monitor active workloads, view logs, and stop or terminate running work.
  • Transfer files: Upload input files for your simulations, download results to your machine, and organize the files and folders associated with your jobs.
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