> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://anaconda.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Tool servers

A tool server is an MCP server that exposes Python tools. Unlike an agent, a tool server has no model, system prompt, or conversation history. Use tool servers to share a set of tools across multiple agents or to make them available to external MCP-compatible applications.

## Creating a tool server

1. Select <Icon icon="server" iconType="light" /> **Tool Servers** from the left-hand navigation.
2. Click <Icon icon="plus" iconType="light" /> **Create**.
3. Enter a name for your tool server, then click **Create**. The tool server's editor page opens.
4. (Optional) Enter a description for your tool server.
5. Click **Add Python Tools** to open the tools editor.
6. Add tool modules using the same process described in [Python tools](/tools/anaconda-desktop/agent-studio/agents#python-tools).
7. Click <Icon icon="play" iconType="light" /> **Start** to begin serving.

<Tip>
  You can also start a tool server from the <Icon icon="server" iconType="light" /> **Tool Servers** page by hovering over its card and clicking <Icon icon="play" iconType="light" /> **Start**.
</Tip>

Once started, the tool server runs on an available localhost port and is ready to accept connections.

## Deleting a tool server

1. Select <Icon icon="server" iconType="light" /> **Tool Servers** from the left-hand navigation.
2. Click <Icon icon="ellipsis" iconType="light" /> on the tool server's card.
3. Select <Icon icon="trash" iconType="light" /> **Delete** to remove it.

## Connecting to a tool server

A running tool server can be connected to agents inside Agent Studio or to external MCP-compatible applications. To view connection details, click <Icon icon="link-simple" iconType="light" /> **Connect** on the tool server's editor page.

<Tip>
  You can also click <Icon icon="link-simple" iconType="light" /> **Connect** on the tool server's card from the <Icon icon="server" iconType="light" /> **Tool Servers** page.
</Tip>

<Frame>
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/anaconda-29683c67/gLbMdeIS1UWlIs9N/images/agent_studio_tool_server_connection_info.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=gLbMdeIS1UWlIs9N&q=85&s=5719dad20da25482bdb29bf2c3672977" alt="Connection Info dialog showing the SSE URL and a paste-ready Cursor mcp.json configuration snippet" width="1922" height="886" data-path="images/agent_studio_tool_server_connection_info.png" />
</Frame>

The Connection Info dialog provides the SSE URL and a paste-ready Cursor `mcp.json` snippet for configuring your connection.

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Connect to an Agent Studio agent">
    Connect a tool server to an agent by registering it as an MCP server in the global catalog.

    1. Copy the SSE URL from the Connection Info dialog.
    2. [Register the tool server as an MCP server](/tools/anaconda-desktop/agent-studio/mcp-servers#registering-an-mcp-server) using the SSE URL.
    3. [Enable the MCP server for your agent](/tools/anaconda-desktop/agent-studio/agents#mcp).
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Connect to an external application">
    Connect from MCP-compatible applications such as Claude Desktop, Cursor, or VS Code.

    1. Open your application's MCP server configuration.
    2. Enter the SSE URL from the Connection Info dialog. For Cursor, paste the `mcp.json` snippet directly into your Cursor MCP settings.
    3. Save the configuration.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>