> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://ibm-d95bab6e.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# IBM Bob

> Configure IBM i MCP Server with IBM Bob, IBM's AI-powered development assistant

# IBM Bob Integration

IBM Bob is IBM's AI-powered development assistant and IDE designed for enterprise software development.

<Note>
  **Platform Support**: Windows, macOS, Linux
  **Transport Modes**: Stdio (local) and HTTP (remote)
  **MCP Client**: Built-in MCP client for connecting to MCP servers
</Note>

## Prerequisites

Ensure you have IBM Bob installed and configured:

```bash theme={null}
# Verify Bob installation
bob --version
```

<Info>
  **Getting Bob**: IBM Bob is available to IBM employees and authorized partners. Visit the [IBM Bob product page](https://www.ibm.com/products/bob) for access information.
</Info>

## Configuration File Location

Bob stores its MCP server configuration in:

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="User Configuration">
    **Location**: `~/.bob/mcp.json` or `%USERPROFILE%\.bob\mcp.json` (Windows)

    **Benefits**:

    * Available across all projects
    * Personal configuration
    * Not shared via version control
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Workspace Configuration">
    **Location**: `.bob/mcp.json` in your project root

    **Benefits**:

    * Shared with team via version control
    * Project-specific MCP servers
    * Consistent across team members
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Local (Stdio) Setup

Configure a local server that Bob will spawn and manage:

### Using Configuration File

Create or edit your MCP configuration file:

```json theme={null}
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ibmi-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@ibm/ibmi-mcp-server@latest", "--tools", "/absolute/path/to/tools"],
      "env": {
        "DB2i_HOST": "your-ibmi-host.com",
        "DB2i_USER": "your-username",
        "DB2i_PASS": "your-password",
        "DB2i_PORT": "8076",
        "MCP_TRANSPORT_TYPE": "stdio",
        "NODE_OPTIONS": "--no-deprecation"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

<Warning>
  **Important**:

  * The `--tools` path must be an **absolute path**
  * Replace credentials with your actual IBM i system details
  * Ensure the user profile has appropriate database authorities
</Warning>

## Remote (HTTP) Setup

Connect to a remote IBM i MCP Server:

### Step 1: Start Remote Server

On your server machine, configure and start the MCP server with authentication:

```bash theme={null}
# Configure .env file
MCP_TRANSPORT_TYPE=http
MCP_AUTH_MODE=ibmi
IBMI_HTTP_AUTH_ENABLED=true

# Start server
npm run start:http
```

### Step 2: Obtain Access Token

```bash theme={null}
# Generate access token
node get-access-token.js --verbose

# Copy the token from output
```

### Step 3: Configure Bob

Edit your MCP configuration file:

```json theme={null}
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ibmi-mcp": {
      "url": "http://localhost:3010/mcp",
      "transport": "http",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_ACCESS_TOKEN_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

<Tip>
  **Production**: Replace `http://localhost:3010` with your production server URL and ensure HTTPS is enabled for secure communication.
</Tip>

## Environment Variable Expansion

Bob supports environment variable expansion for secure credential management:

```json theme={null}
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ibmi-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@ibm/ibmi-mcp-server@latest", "--tools", "${IBMI_TOOLS_PATH}"],
      "env": {
        "DB2i_HOST": "${DB2i_HOST}",
        "DB2i_USER": "${DB2i_USER}",
        "DB2i_PASS": "${DB2i_PASS}",
        "DB2i_PORT": "${DB2i_PORT:-8076}",
        "MCP_TRANSPORT_TYPE": "stdio"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

**Supported syntax:**

* `${VAR}` - Expands to the value of environment variable `VAR`
* `${VAR:-default}` - Expands to `VAR` if set, otherwise uses `default`

## Testing the Connection

After configuration, restart Bob and verify the MCP server connection:

1. **Restart Bob**: Close and reopen the Bob IDE
2. **Check MCP status**: Look for MCP indicators in the Bob interface
3. **List available tools**: Ask Bob "What MCP tools are available?"
4. **Test a tool**: Try "Show me the IBM i system status using MCP"

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Server Not Appearing">
    **Symptoms**: MCP server doesn't show up in Bob

    **Solutions**:

    * Verify JSON syntax in your MCP configuration file
    * Check that `npx -y @ibm/ibmi-mcp-server@latest` works from terminal
    * Ensure absolute paths are used for `--tools`
    * Restart Bob completely
    * Check Bob logs for MCP-related errors
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Authentication Failed (Remote)">
    **Symptoms**: Connection refused or 401 Unauthorized for remote connections

    **Solutions**:

    * Verify server is running: `curl http://localhost:3010/mcp`
    * Check token is valid: verify token hasn't expired (default: 1 hour)
    * Ensure `MCP_AUTH_MODE=ibmi` and `IBMI_HTTP_AUTH_ENABLED=true` on server
    * Get a fresh token: `node get-access-token.js --verbose`
    * Confirm Authorization header format: `Bearer TOKEN`
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Tools Not Loading">
    **Symptoms**: Server connects but no tools available

    **Solutions**:

    * Verify tools path exists and is absolute
    * Check YAML files are valid in tools directory
    * Ensure IBM i credentials are correct
    * Verify Mapepire is running on IBM i (port 8076)
    * Test tools: `npx -y @ibm/ibmi-mcp-server@latest --list-toolsets --tools /path`
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Connection to IBM i Failed">
    **Symptoms**: Server starts but can't connect to IBM i

    **Solutions**:

    * Test IBM i connectivity: `ping your-ibmi-host`
    * Verify Mapepire is running: `netstat -an | grep 8076`
    * Check firewall allows port 8076
    * Ensure DB2i credentials have appropriate authorities
    * Verify hostname resolution
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Advanced Configuration

### Multiple IBM i Systems

Configure multiple server instances for different IBM i systems:

```json theme={null}
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ibmi-dev": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@ibm/ibmi-mcp-server@latest", "--tools", "/path/to/dev-tools"],
      "env": {
        "DB2i_HOST": "dev-ibmi.company.com",
        "DB2i_USER": "DEVUSER",
        "DB2i_PASS": "${DEV_PASSWORD}",
        "MCP_TRANSPORT_TYPE": "stdio"
      }
    },
    "ibmi-prod": {
      "url": "https://prod-mcp.company.com/mcp",
      "transport": "http",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer ${PROD_MCP_TOKEN}"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

### Custom Toolsets

Load specific toolsets for different workflows:

```json theme={null}
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ibmi-performance": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@ibm/ibmi-mcp-server@latest",
        "--tools", "/path/to/tools",
        "--toolsets", "performance,monitoring"
      ],
      "env": {
        "DB2i_HOST": "your-ibmi-host.com",
        "DB2i_USER": "${DB2i_USER}",
        "DB2i_PASS": "${DB2i_PASS}",
        "MCP_TRANSPORT_TYPE": "stdio"
      }
    },
    "ibmi-security": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@ibm/ibmi-mcp-server@latest",
        "--tools", "/path/to/tools",
        "--toolsets", "security,audit"
      ],
      "env": {
        "DB2i_HOST": "your-ibmi-host.com",
        "DB2i_USER": "${DB2i_USER}",
        "DB2i_PASS": "${DB2i_PASS}",
        "MCP_TRANSPORT_TYPE": "stdio"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="SQL Tools" icon="database" href="/sql-tools/overview">
    Create custom SQL tools for your IBM i workflows
  </Card>

  <Card title="Configuration" icon="gear" href="/configuration">
    Explore all IBM i MCP Server configuration options
  </Card>

  <Card title="Authentication" icon="lock" href="/server-config/ibmi-auth">
    Set up secure IBM i HTTP authentication
  </Card>

  <Card title="Other Clients" icon="grid" href="/clients/overview">
    Explore other MCP-compatible clients
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Additional Resources

* [IBM Bob Product Page](https://www.ibm.com/products/bob)
* [IBM Bob Documentation](https://pages.github.ibm.com/code-assistant/bob-docs/) (IBM Internal)
* [IBM i MCP Server on IT Jungle](https://www.itjungle.com/2025/10/27/beta-of-mcp-server-opens-up-ibm-i-for-agentic-ai/)
* [IBM i MCP Quick Start](/quickstart)

<Note>
  **Internal Documentation**: For IBM employees, detailed Bob MCP configuration is available at [Bob MCP Documentation](https://pages.github.ibm.com/code-assistant/bob-docs/features/mcp/using-mcp-in-bob/).
</Note>