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Free & Pro Tier Setup Guide

This guide walks you through setting up Vendia’s MCP Gateway Free & Pro Tiers to work with AI applications, enabling them to access your S3 data and use the included Demo Vendia Connection.

For more information about Free & Pro Tier features, limitations, and frequently asked questions, see the MCP as a Service Free & Pro Tier FAQ.

Demo Vendia Connection

Every Free & Pro Tier account includes a Demo Vendia Connection with sample data and ready-to-use prompts:

  1. Copy Your MCP Gateway URL: In the getting started page, copy your MCP server URL
  2. Configure Your AI Application: Add the MCP Gateway URL to your AI application (see Step 2: Configure Your AI Application below)
  3. Use Ready-to-Use Prompts: Access the sample prompts in the Demo Vendia Connection

Prerequisites

To use the Demo Vendia Connection (included with Free & Pro Tiers):

  • MCP-Compatible AI Application such as Claude, ChatGPT, or Mistral AI: Le Chat (free plan supported)

Setup Steps

Step 1: Get Your MCP Server URL

Your MCP Gateway URL is provided in the getting started page. Copy this URL - you’ll need it for your AI application.

Step 2: Configure Your AI Application

Add your MCP Gateway URL to your AI application by following the detailed instructions in the Getting Started Guide.

Quick links for specific AI applications:

Step 3: Authenticate

When you first try to use the Vendia integration in your AI application:

  1. First Use: You’ll be directed to authenticate with your Vendia credentials
  2. OAuth Flow: Complete the OAuth authentication flow in your browser
  3. Return to AI App: Return to your AI application to start using your Vendia data

For more information about authentication methods, see the Authentication Methods guide.

Verify Your Connection

After setup, verify the connection by:

  • Asking your AI application to execute a sample prompt

Next Steps

Now that you have Vendia MCP Gateway configured with your AI application, you can:

  1. Set Up Storage Connections: Configure access to your S3 buckets using the Storage Connections guide
  2. Set Up API Integrations: API Catalogs enable AI applications to discover and interact with your remote APIs by adding OpenAPI or Swagger specification files.
  3. Set Up Remote MCP Server Integrations: Remote MCP Server Connectivity allows you to seamlessly connect third-party MCP servers to your Vendia workspace.
  4. Monitor Usage: Track what data agents have accessed and updated.

Advanced Connection Methods

Need alternative connection methods beyond direct remote MCP? See the Advanced Connection Methods guide for:

  • Local proxy connections (for legacy MCP clients)
  • Programmatic access with service credentials
  • Custom token exchange implementations

Need Help?

The Vendia team is here to help you make the most of AI-powered access to your distributed data!

Troubleshooting

”Vendia” Option Not Appearing

  • Ensure you’ve completely restarted your AI application (e.g., Claude)
  • Verify your MCP Server URL is correct
  • Check that the MCP Server URL is accessible from your network

Authentication Issues

  • Verify your Vendia credentials are correct
  • Check that popup blockers aren’t preventing the authentication window
  • Ensure you’re logged into the correct Vendia account

For more information about authentication methods, see the Authentication Methods guide.

Connection Errors

  • Confirm the MCP Server URL is correct and accessible
  • Verify your network connection allows access to the Vendia servers
  • Check if corporate firewalls are blocking the connection

Storage Connection Issues

  • Verify your cross-account IAM role has the correct S3 permissions
  • Check that your storage connection configuration is correct
  • Ensure your S3 bucket contains accessible files

For detailed troubleshooting, see Storage Connections - Troubleshooting.