Overview
This node connects to the Explorium Model Context Protocol (MCP) server via a Server-Sent Events (SSE) endpoint. It retrieves a list of AI tools available from the MCP server and outputs them for further use in workflows. This node is useful when you want to dynamically fetch and utilize AI-powered tools provided by Explorium’s MCP service, enabling integration with external AI capabilities without manual tool configuration.
Practical examples include:
- Automatically loading AI tools from Explorium MCP to enrich data processing workflows.
- Dynamically updating available AI tools in your automation based on the latest offerings from the MCP server.
- Using the fetched tools as inputs for subsequent nodes that perform AI-driven tasks.
Properties
| Name | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Authentication | The method used to authenticate with the SSE endpoint. Options: "Header Auth", "None". |
| Credentials | The API key credential used for header authentication. Only shown if "Header Auth" is selected. |
Output
The node outputs an array of AI tools under the json output field named "ai_tool". Each item represents a tool retrieved from the MCP server, converted into a dynamic tool format compatible with n8n. These tools can then be invoked or integrated within the workflow.
If the node supports binary data, it is not indicated in the code; thus, only JSON output with tool definitions is provided.
Dependencies
- Requires access to the Explorium MCP SSE endpoint at
https://mcp.explorium.ai/sse. - If using header authentication, an API key credential must be configured in n8n and selected in the node.
- Utilizes utility functions (
connectMcpClient,getAllTools,mcpToolToDynamicTool,createCallTool) from bundled dependencies to handle connection and tool transformation.
Troubleshooting
- Connection failures: If the node cannot connect to the MCP server, ensure the SSE endpoint is reachable and the network allows outgoing connections.
- Authentication errors: When using header authentication, verify that the API key credential is correctly set up and selected.
- Empty tool list: If the MCP server returns no tools, check the server status or credentials, as this indicates successful connection but no available tools.
- Error messages:
"HTTP Header Authentication is required": Occurs if header auth is selected but credentials are missing or invalid."Could not connect to Explorium MCP server.": Indicates failure to establish a connection; check endpoint URL and network."Explorium MCP Server returned no tools": Connection succeeded but no tools were returned; verify server configuration.
Links and References
- Explorium MCP Documentation (as referenced in the node metadata)