Iceberg MCP Server

This is a A Model Context Protocol server that provides read-only access to Iceberg tables via Apache Impala. This server enables LLMs to inspect

Local serverstdio

What is the Iceberg MCP server?

This is a A Model Context Protocol server that provides read-only access to Iceberg tables via Apache Impala. This server enables LLMs to inspect database schemas and execute read-only queries. The iceberg mcp server wraps that behind the Model Context Protocol, so an assistant can use it through 1 defined tool rather than through you.

Adding it to your client

Setup follows the usual MCP pattern — install or clone the server, register it in your client's configuration file, restart the client. The configuration blocks on this page cover the common clients.

Its toolset

Everything the assistant can do here goes through one of these:

  • Transport — The MCP server's transport protocol is configurable via the MCP_TRANSPORT environment variable. Supported values: - stdio (default) — communicate

Configuration

You will need 5 environment variables: IMPALA_HOST, IMPALA_PORT, IMPALA_USER, IMPALA_PASSWORD, IMPALA_DATABASE. Keep credentials in your client's env block or a secrets manager rather than in a file you might commit.

Caveats

  • It runs with your machine's permissions. That is convenient and also the reason to think about what you point it at before you approve a tool call.
  • MCP clients confirm each tool call by default. Leave that on until you have watched what the iceberg mcp server does with a few real requests.

When to reach for it

This sits in the database access group, where several servers overlap in what they claim to do but differ sharply once you actually set them up. Iceberg's toolset — Transport — is a fair guide to whether it matches your workflow. It is maintained by cloudera; worth a glance at recent repository activity before you build anything load-bearing on it.

We check each listing at SyncDev against the project's documentation before it goes live — if something here drifts out of date, it is a bug worth reporting.

Available tools

ToolWhat it does
TransportThe MCP server's transport protocol is configurable via the MCP_TRANSPORT environment variable. Supported values: - stdio **(default)** — communicate over standard input/output. Useful for local tools, command-line scrip

How to install the Iceberg MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "iceberg-mcp-server": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "--from",
        "git+https://github.com/cloudera/iceberg-mcp-server@main",
        "run-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "IMPALA_HOST": "coordinator-default-impala.example.com",
        "IMPALA_PORT": "443",
        "IMPALA_USER": "username",
        "IMPALA_PASSWORD": "password",
        "IMPALA_DATABASE": "default"
      }
    }
  }
}

Configuration as documented by the project. Restart the client after saving.

Configuration

VariableDescriptionRequired
IMPALA_HOSTEndpoint or connection string the server talks to.Optional
IMPALA_PORTConfiguration value read at startup.Optional
IMPALA_USERConfiguration value read at startup.Optional
IMPALA_PASSWORDConfiguration value read at startup.Optional
IMPALA_DATABASEConfiguration value read at startup.Optional

Example prompts to try

  • Use Iceberg to Transport.

Frequently asked questions

It connects Iceberg to MCP-compatible AI assistants such as Claude and Cursor, exposing 1 tool (Transport) that the assistant can call on your behalf. Instead of copying data back and forth by hand, the assistant works with Iceberg directly.