Connect ilert to an LLM

Connect ilert to AI assistants via MCP. Learn how to configure a remote MCP server, add it in Claude Desktop, and use it as a custom connector in ChatGPT.

ilert provides a remote MCP server that lets your AI assistant securely call ilert tools using your API key. With MCP you can unify alerting and incident-response actions inside your assistant’s workflow – faster triage, status updates, on-call escalations – which helps reduce MTTR by removing app-switching.


Prerequisites

  1. An ilert account and a user API key.

  2. Internet access to https://mcp.ilert.com/mcp.

  3. For Claude Desktop: latest Claude Desktop on macOS or Windows; optional Node.js if you use the npx wrapper approach. (Model Context Protocol)

  4. For ChatGPT agent/deep research connectors: a plan that supports custom connectors (MCP) – available to Pro (with regional limits), Business, Enterprise, and Edu. See plan matrix for details. (OpenAI Help Center)


In ilert: create an API key

  1. Log in to the ilert app and open your organization settings.

  2. Go to ProfileAPI Keys.

  3. Click Create API Key, copy the token, and store it securely.


Add ilert mcp server directly to Cursor

Install the ilert MCP server in Cursor with one click to begin using ilert in your agent workflow.

Configure your MCP client (generic)

Use Streamable HTTP (preferred) or the mcp-remote wrapper if your client doesn’t yet support Streamable HTTP.

  1. Add this remote server to your MCP client configuration:

    {
      "mcpServers": {
        "ilert": {
          "type": "streamableHttp",
          "url": "https://mcp.ilert.com/mcp",
          "headers": {
            "Authorization": "Bearer {{YOUR-API-KEY}}"
          }
        }
      }
    }

    This uses the MCP Streamable HTTP transport defined in the 2025-03-26 spec. (Model Context Protocol)

  2. If your client does not support remote MCP servers or Streamable HTTP, use the stdio wrapper:

    {
      "mcpServers": {
        "ilert": {
          "command": "npx",
          "args": [
            "-y",
            "mcp-remote",
            "https://mcp.ilert.com/mcp",
            "--header",
            "Authorization: Bearer ${ILERT_AUTH_TOKEN}"
          ],
          "env": {
            "ILERT_AUTH_TOKEN": "{{YOUR-API-KEY}}"
          }
        }
      }
    }

    This bridges stdio-only clients to a remote server via an external launcher, while passing your bearer token as a header – consistent with the MCP transport spec. (Model Context Protocol)


Claude Desktop: add the ilert MCP server

Option A – via local config (works for stdio or with the mcp-remote wrapper)

  1. Open Claude DesktopSettings (from the system menu), then DeveloperEdit Config. (Model Context Protocol)

  2. Edit claude_desktop_config.json (auto-created) located at:

    • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

    • Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json (Model Context Protocol)

  3. Insert this entry to use the wrapper:

    {
      "mcpServers": {
        "ilert": {
          "command": "npx",
          "args": [
            "-y",
            "mcp-remote",
            "https://mcp.ilert.com/mcp",
            "--header",
            "Authorization: Bearer ${ILERT_AUTH_TOKEN}"
          ],
          "env": {
            "ILERT_AUTH_TOKEN": "{{YOUR-API-KEY}}"
          }
        }
      }
    }
  4. Save the file, quit and restart Claude Desktop. You should see the MCP hammer indicator; clicking it shows the ilert tools. (Model Context Protocol)

Option B – as a remote MCP server (custom connector)

If you prefer to add ilert as a remote MCP server through Claude’s connector UI:

  1. Open claude.aiSettingsConnectorsAdd custom connector.

  2. Enter https://mcp.ilert.com/mcp and complete authentication using your ilert API key when prompted.

  3. Manage tool permissions in the connector’s settings. (Model Context Protocol)


ChatGPT: add ilert in agent/deep research mode

Add as a custom connector (MCP)

  1. In ChatGPT, go to SettingsConnectorsAdd custom connector. (OpenAI Help Center)

  2. Paste the ilert MCP URL: https://mcp.ilert.com/mcp.

  3. When prompted, authenticate – for ilert, supply your API key as instructed by the connector flow.

  4. Ensure the connector is enabled for your workspace or account.

Notes • Plan availability and regional limits apply. Pro supports custom connectors, but some connectors and features aren’t available to users in the EEA/Switzerland/UK; Business/Enterprise/Edu have global availability. • ChatGPT validates custom MCP connectors; if you see “doesn’t implement our specification”, your server likely lacks required search and fetch tools for deep research.

Use it in Agent mode / Deep research

  1. Start a new chat and switch to Agent mode from the composer dropdown, or choose ToolsDeep research. (OpenAI)

  2. Click Use connectors or pick Deep research, then select the ilert connector.

  3. Ask your question or command (e.g., “Create a high-priority incident for service X and add on-call as responders”).

  4. Review citations and outputs as the agent reasons over connector results.


Security and best practices

  1. Scope the API key to the minimum necessary and rotate it regularly.

  2. Do not hard-code tokens in shared configs; prefer environment variables.

  3. Review and limit tool permissions in Claude/ChatGPT connector settings. (Model Context Protocol, OpenAI Help Center)

  4. Follow MCP transport guidance when sending headers and using Streamable HTTP. (Model Context Protocol)


Troubleshooting

  1. 401/403 Unauthorized – verify the Authorization: Bearer <token> header and that the API key is active.

  2. Claude Desktop server not visible – restart the app; validate JSON syntax in claude_desktop_config.json; check logs in ~/Library/Logs/Claude (macOS) or %APPDATA%\Claude\logs (Windows). (Model Context Protocol)

  3. Remote vs local – if your client lacks Streamable HTTP, use the npx mcp-remote wrapper to bridge stdio to the ilert remote server. (npx mcp-remote wrapper)


FAQ

Does ilert’s MCP server support Streamable HTTP? Yes – configure it with type: "streamableHttp" and include the bearer token in headers. (Model Context Protocol)

Where is the Claude Desktop config file? macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json. (Model Context Protocol)

Can I add ilert as a remote connector in Claude without editing files? Yes – use Settings → Connectors → Add custom connector in the Claude UI, then enter the MCP URL and complete auth. (Model Context Protocol)

Is MCP available in ChatGPT Agent mode? Yes – add ilert as a custom connector in ChatGPT. Use it in Agent mode (or via Deep research) by enabling connectors in Tools. Regional and plan limits apply. (OpenAI Help Center, OpenAI)

Are there plan or regional restrictions in ChatGPT? Custom connectors are available for Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Edu. Some connectors and features are not available to users in the EEA, Switzerland, and the UK; Business/Enterprise/Edu are available globally. (OpenAI Help Center)


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