ibm-informix -by-cdata

This MCP server wraps the CData IBM Informix JDBC driver to expose IBM Informix data through the MCP interface. It runs locally and provides read-only access to your Informix data via a set of built-in tools that allow querying tables, listing columns, and executing simple SELECT queries. Tools are named after the server, for example ibm_informix_get_tables, ibm_informix_get_columns, and ibm_informix_run_query. You can configure Claude Desktop (or another MCP client) to load this server by pointing to the Java runtime and the JAR with the generated .prp file, enabling the client to invoke these tools with JSON-RPC payloads. The server uses stdio, so it must be used from a client on the same machine unless a different transport is configured by the host application.

Prerequisites:

• Java Runtime Environment (JRE/JDK) 8+ installed on the host machine.
• Maven (for building the MCP JAR) installed if you need to rebuild locally.
• The CData JDBC Driver for IBM Informix installed and licensed on the host machine.

Installation steps:

1. Build the MCP server JAR (from project root):

mvn clean install

This creates the JAR file: CDataMCP-jar-with-dependencies.jar

2. Download and install the CData JDBC Driver for IBM Informix: https://www.cdata.com/drivers/ibminformix/download/jdbc

3. License the CData JDBC Driver:

• Navigate to the lib folder in the installation directory and run:

java -jar cdata.jdbc.informix.jar --license

• Enter your name, email, and a license key (or TRIAL).

4. Configure your JDBC connection (example):

• Run the connection string utility:

java -jar cdata.jdbc.informix.jar

• Create your connection string and test the connection, then copy the JDBC URL for later use.

5. Create a .prp file for the MCP server (e.g. ibm-informix.prp) with required properties:

Prefix=informix
ServerName=CDataInformix
ServerVersion=1.0
DriverPath=/path/to/cdata.jdbc.informix.jar
DriverClass=cdata.jdbc.informix.InformixDriver
JdbcUrl=jdbc:informix:InitiateOAuth=GETANDREFRESH;
Tables=

6. Run the MCP server:

java -jar /PATH/TO/CDataMCP-jar-with-dependencies.jar /PATH/TO/ibm-informix.prp

Note: The server uses stdio and is intended to work with clients on the same machine unless configured otherwise.

Tips and common issues:

• Ensure the CData JDBC Driver is properly licensed; otherwise the server may fail to connect to IBM Informix.
• If Claude Desktop (or another client) does not discover the MCP server, fully quit and re-launch the client after starting the server.
• The MCP tools output in CSV for get_tables and get_columns; use the ibm_informix_run_query tool for custom SQL-like queries via the MCP interface.
• In Claude Desktop, the JSON-RPC payloads should reference the server name (e.g., ibm_informix_get_tables). Ensure the prp file path and Java command are correctly specified in your client config.