How do I install the isthmus mcp server?

Use a recorded configuration for your client, replace example credential values and paths, and verify the documented runtime. Restart or reconnect the client, then inspect the available tools.

What credentials does it need?

It reads `DATABASE_URL` from the environment. Store these in your client's env block or a secrets manager — never commit them to a repository — and grant the narrowest scope that still covers your use case.

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Isthmus MCP Server

Isthmus is a local [MCP](https://modelcontextprotocol.io) server that gives AI models safe, read-only access to your PostgreSQL database. One binary

Local serverstdioGo

What is the Isthmus MCP Server?

Isthmus is a local MCP server that gives AI models safe, read-only access to your PostgreSQL database. One binary, runs on your

What you get

Schema discovery — — explore schemas, tables, columns, foreign keys, and indexes (docs)
Read-only queries — — execute SQL with server-side row limits and query timeouts (docs)
Column masking — — protect PII with per-column redact, hash, partial, or null masks — enforced server-side (docs)
Policy engine — — enrich your schema with business context so the AI writes better SQL (docs)
SQL validation — — AST-level whitelist via pg_query parser — only SELECT and EXPLAIN allowed (docs)
HTTP transport — — serve MCP over HTTP for web-based clients, ChatGPT Desktop, and remote access (docs)

More MCP options

Compare MCP servers by category, or browse hosted MCP servers if you prefer an endpoint over a local process.

Maintainer setup documentation.

Recorded tools

Check the linked publisher documentation and your connected client's tool list. Names and availability can vary with the server version and account permissions.

Tool	What it does
list_schemas	Discover available database schemas
list_tables	Tables with row counts, sizes, and descriptions
describe_table	Columns, types, keys, indexes, and statistics
profile_table	Deep analysis: sample rows, disk usage, inferred relationships
query	Execute read-only SQL, results as JSON
explain_query	PostgreSQL execution plans with optional ANALYZE

How to install the Isthmus MCP Server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "isthmus": {
      "command": "isthmus",
      "env": {
        "DATABASE_URL": "postgres://user:pass@localhost:5432/mydb"
      }
    }
  }
}

From the project documentation. Replace placeholders and example paths before connecting.

Configuration

Variable	Description	Required
DATABASE_URL	Declared in the maintainer’s client configuration.	Check documentation

Example prompts to try

“Use Isthmus to list schemas.”
“Use Isthmus to list tables.”
“Use Isthmus to describe table.”

Frequently asked questions

Isthmus is a local [MCP](https://modelcontextprotocol.io) server that gives AI models safe, read-only access to your PostgreSQL database. One binary, runs on your Confirm the tools offered by your installed version in the connected client. Tool availability and permissions depend on the server and account configuration.