looker_gemini.md•3.29 kB
---
title: "Quickstart (MCP with Looker and Gemini-CLI)"
type: docs
weight: 2
description: >
How to get started running Toolbox with Gemini-CLI and Looker as the source.
---
## Overview
[Model Context Protocol](https://modelcontextprotocol.io) is an open protocol
that standardizes how applications provide context to LLMs. Check out this page
on how to [connect to Toolbox via MCP](../../how-to/connect_via_mcp.md).
## Step 1: Get a Looker Client ID and Client Secret
The Looker Client ID and Client Secret can be obtained from the Users page of
your Looker instance. Refer to the documentation
[here](https://cloud.google.com/looker/docs/api-auth#authentication_with_an_sdk).
You may need to ask an administrator to get the Client ID and Client Secret
for you.
## Step 2: Install and configure Toolbox
In this section, we will download Toolbox and run the Toolbox server.
1. Download the latest version of Toolbox as a binary:
{{< notice tip >}}
Select the
[correct binary](https://github.com/googleapis/genai-toolbox/releases)
corresponding to your OS and CPU architecture.
{{< /notice >}}
<!-- {x-release-please-start-version} -->
```bash
export OS="linux/amd64" # one of linux/amd64, darwin/arm64, darwin/amd64, or windows/amd64
curl -O https://storage.googleapis.com/genai-toolbox/v0.17.0/$OS/toolbox
```
<!-- {x-release-please-end} -->
1. Make the binary executable:
```bash
chmod +x toolbox
```
1. Edit the file `~/.gemini/settings.json` and add the following
to the list of mcpServers. Use the Client Id and Client Secret
you obtained earlier. The name of the server - here
`looker-toolbox` - can be anything meaningful to you.
```json
"mcpServers": {
"looker-toolbox": {
"command": "/path/to/toolbox",
"args": [
"--stdio",
"--prebuilt",
"looker"
],
"env": {
"LOOKER_BASE_URL": "https://looker.example.com",
"LOOKER_CLIENT_ID": "",
"LOOKER_CLIENT_SECRET": "",
"LOOKER_VERIFY_SSL": "true"
}
}
}
```
In some instances you may need to append `:19999` to
the LOOKER_BASE_URL.
## Step 3: Start Gemini-CLI
1. Run Gemini-CLI:
```bash
npx https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli
```
1. Type `y` when it asks to download.
1. Log into Gemini-CLI
1. Enter the command `/mcp` and you should see a list of
available tools like
```
ℹ Configured MCP servers:
🟢 looker-toolbox - Ready (10 tools)
- looker-toolbox__get_models
- looker-toolbox__query
- looker-toolbox__get_looks
- looker-toolbox__get_measures
- looker-toolbox__get_filters
- looker-toolbox__get_parameters
- looker-toolbox__get_explores
- looker-toolbox__query_sql
- looker-toolbox__get_dimensions
- looker-toolbox__run_look
- looker-toolbox__query_url
```
1. Start exploring your Looker instance with commands like
`Find an explore to see orders` or `show me my current
inventory broken down by item category`.
1. Gemini will prompt you for your approval before using
a tool. You can approve all the tools at once or
one at a time.