Click on "Install Server".
Wait a few minutes for the server to deploy. Once ready, it will show a "Started" state.
In the chat, type
@followed by the MCP server name and your instructions, e.g., "@Boxtalk Data MCP Servershow me the structure of the Products table"
That's it! The server will respond to your query, and you can continue using it as needed.
Here is a step-by-step guide with screenshots.
Boxtalk Data MCP Server
A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides SQL Server database operations with pagination, table structure inspection, and record counting capabilities.
Features
Get Table Data: Retrieve paginated data from any SQL Server table
Get Record Count: Get the total number of records in a table
Get Table Structure: View table schema including columns, data types, primary keys, and foreign keys
Configurable Connection: Easy database configuration via JSON file
Enforced Pagination: Prevents large data dumps with configurable page sizes (max 1000 records per page)
Prerequisites
Node.js (v16 or higher)
SQL Server database (local or remote)
Database credentials with read access
Installation
Clone or navigate to this directory
Install dependencies:
Create your configuration file:
Edit
config.jsonwith your database credentials:
Configuration Options
user: SQL Server usernamepassword: SQL Server passwordserver: SQL Server hostname or IP addressdatabase: Database nameoptions.encrypt: Enable encryption (recommended for production)options.trustServerCertificate: Set totruefor local development with self-signed certificatespool.max: Maximum number of connections in the poolpool.min: Minimum number of connections in the poolpool.idleTimeoutMillis: Time before idle connections are closed
Alternative Configuration
You can also specify a custom configuration file path using the DB_CONFIG_PATH environment variable:
Usage with Claude Desktop
To use this MCP server with Claude Desktop, add it to your Claude Desktop configuration file:
macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
Windows: %APPDATA%/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
After adding the configuration, restart Claude Desktop.
Available Tools
1. get_table_data
Retrieve paginated data from a SQL Server table.
Parameters:
table(required): Table name (e.g., "Users" or "dbo.Users")page(optional): Page number, defaults to 1pageSize(optional): Records per page (1-1000), defaults to 100orderBy(optional): Column to order by, defaults to first column
Example:
2. get_table_count
Get the total count of records in a table.
Parameters:
table(required): Table name (e.g., "Users" or "dbo.Users")
Example:
3. get_table_structure
Get the structure/schema of a table including columns, data types, and constraints.
Parameters:
table(required): Table name (e.g., "Users" or "dbo.Users")
Example:
Testing
You can test the server using the MCP inspector:
Security Considerations
Never commit
config.jsonto version controlUse strong database passwords
Grant only necessary permissions to the database user
Enable encryption for production environments
Consider using environment variables for sensitive credentials
Troubleshooting
Connection Errors
If you encounter connection errors:
Verify SQL Server is running and accessible
Check firewall settings allow connection on SQL Server port (default 1433)
Confirm credentials are correct
For local development with self-signed certificates, set
trustServerCertificate: true
Authentication Issues
For Windows Authentication, modify config.json:
Table Not Found
Ensure you specify the correct schema (e.g., "dbo.TableName" instead of just "TableName").
License
MIT