docs/agents/managed-agent/configure-mcp-servers.mdx
MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers give your managed agent access to external tools and data sources. When enabled, the AI platform can call these tools during a conversation to look up information, create records, or perform actions on the user's behalf.
The server appears on the agent's settings page with a status indicator showing whether the sync was successful.
MCP servers have different authentication requirements:
| Mode | How it works |
|---|---|
| No auth | The server is publicly accessible. No credentials needed. |
| Novu-managed OAuth | Novu handles the OAuth flow. End users authorize on first use and Novu stores the tokens. |
| Provider-managed | The AI platform manages credentials in its own vault. |
For servers that require OAuth (like Linear, GitHub, or Slack):
<Steps> <Step title="Agent encounters a tool call"> Novu prompts the user to authorize the tool before continuing. </Step> <Step title="Agent sends authorization link"> The agent sends an authorization link to the user in the chat thread. </Step> <Step title="User completes OAuth"> The user clicks the link and completes the OAuth flow on the external service. </Step> <Step title="Novu stores tokens"> Novu stores the tokens securely and uses them on every subsequent turn. </Step> </Steps>Authorization is scoped to a single subscriber and a single MCP server. Each user authorizes independently. Once authorized, the connection persists across conversations.
The exact list depends on your connector and Novu account tier. Common servers include:
| Server | What it does |
|---|---|
| Linear | Search issues, create tickets, browse projects |
| GitHub | Search repos, read files, list pull requests |
| Slack | Search workspace messages and channels |
| Notion | Look up pages and query databases |
The full list is shown on the agent settings page in the dashboard.
Sync error: if a server shows a sync error after enabling, try disabling and re-enabling it. If the error persists, check that the connector credentials are valid.
Authorization not completing: make sure the user has access to the external service and that the OAuth redirect URL is not blocked by browser settings or an ad blocker.