Snowflake MCP Connection

### Prerequisites

- Snowflake account with ACCOUNTADMIN role
- Programmatic Access Token (PAT) from Snowflake
- Clawdbot or any MCP-compatible client

### Step 1: Create Programmatic Access Token (PAT)

1. In Snowsight, go to your user menu → **My Profile**
2. Select **Programmatic Access Tokens**
3. Click **Create Token** for your role
4. Copy and save the token securely

### Step 2: Create MCP Server in Snowflake

Run this SQL in a Snowsight worksheet to create your MCP server:

```sql
CREATE OR REPLACE MCP SERVER my_mcp_server FROM SPECIFICATION
$$
tools:
  - name: "SQL Execution Tool"
    type: "SYSTEM_EXECUTE_SQL"
    description: "Execute SQL queries against the Snowflake database."
    title: "SQL Execution Tool"
$$;
```

### Step 3: Test the Connection

Verify with curl (replace placeholders):

```bash
curl -X POST "https://YOUR-ORG-YOUR-ACCOUNT.snowflakecomputing.com/api/v2/databases/YOUR_DB/schemas/YOUR_SCHEMA/mcp-servers/my_mcp_server" \
  --header 'Content-Type: application/json' \
  --header 'Accept: application/json' \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer YOUR-PAT-TOKEN" \
  --data '{
    "jsonrpc": "2.0",
    "id": 12345,
    "method": "tools/list",
    "params": {}
  }'
```

### Step 4: Configure Clawdbot

Create `mcp.json` at your project root (this is the MCP configuration Clawdbot can load for a session):

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "Snowflake MCP Server": {
      "url": "https://YOUR-ORG-YOUR-ACCOUNT.snowflakecomputing.com/api/v2/databases/YOUR_DB/schemas/YOUR_SCHEMA/mcp-servers/my_mcp_server",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR-PAT-TOKEN"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

Start a new Clawdbot session and load `mcp.json` so the MCP connection is active. The Snowflake tools should appear in your session.

### Step 5: Verify in Clawdbot

1. Start a new Clawdbot session
2. Load `mcp.json` for the session
3. Ask a question that triggers Snowflake tools (for example, a SQL query)

## MCP Server Examples

### Basic SQL Execution Only

```sql
CREATE OR REPLACE MCP SERVER sql_mcp_server FROM SPECIFICATION
$$
tools:
  - name: "SQL Execution Tool"
    type: "SYSTEM_EXECUTE_SQL"
    description: "Execute SQL queries against Snowflake."
    title: "SQL Execution"
$$;
```

### With Cortex Search (RAG)

First create a Cortex Search service in Snowsight (AI & ML → Cortex Search), then:

```sql
CREATE OR REPLACE MCP SERVER search_mcp_server FROM SPECIFICATION
$$
tools:
  - name: "Document Search"
    identifier: "MY_DB.MY_SCHEMA.MY_SEARCH_SERVICE"
    type: "CORTEX_SEARCH_SERVICE_QUERY"
    description: "Search and retrieve information from documents using vector search."
    title: "Document Search"
  - name: "SQL Execution Tool"
    type: "SYSTEM_EXECUTE_SQL"
    description: "Execute SQL queries."
    title: "SQL Execution"
$$;
```

### With Cortex Analyst (Semantic Views)

First upload a semantic YAML or create a Semantic View, then:

```sql
CREATE OR REPLACE MCP SERVER analyst_mcp_server FROM SPECIFICATION
$$
tools:
  - name: "Sales Analytics"
    identifier: "MY_DB.MY_SCHEMA.SALES_SEMANTIC_VIEW"
    type: "CORTEX_ANALYST_MESSAGE"
    description: "Query sales metrics and KPIs using natural language."
    title: "Sales Analytics"
  - name: "SQL Execution Tool"
    type: "SYSTEM_EXECUTE_SQL"
    description: "Execute SQL queries."
    title: "SQL Execution"
$$;
```

### With Cortex Agent

```sql
CREATE OR REPLACE MCP SERVER agent_mcp_server FROM SPECIFICATION
$$
tools:
  - name: "Documentation Agent"
    identifier: "MY_DB.MY_SCHEMA.MY_AGENT"
    type: "CORTEX_AGENT_RUN"
    description: "An agent that answers questions using documentation."
    title: "Documentation Agent"
$$;
```

### Full Featured Server

```sql
CREATE OR REPLACE MCP SERVER full_mcp_server FROM SPECIFICATION
$$
tools:
  - name: "Analytics Semantic View"
    identifier: "ANALYTICS_DB.DATA.FINANCIAL_ANALYTICS"
    type: "CORTEX_ANALYST_MESSAGE"
    description: "Query financial metrics, customer data, and business KPIs."
    title: "Financial Analytics"
  - name: "Support Tickets Search"
    identifier: "SUPPORT_DB.DATA.TICKETS_SEARCH"
    type: "CORTEX_SEARCH_SERVICE_QUERY"
    description: "Search support tickets and customer interactions."
    title: "Support Search"
  - name: "SQL Execution Tool"
    type: "SYSTEM_EXECUTE_SQL"
    description: "Execute SQL queries against Snowflake."
    title: "SQL Execution"
  - name: "Send_Email"
    identifier: "MY_DB.DATA.SEND_EMAIL"
    type: "GENERIC"
    description: "Send emails to verified addresses."
    title: "Send Email"
    config:
      type: "procedure"
      warehouse: "COMPUTE_WH"
      input_schema:
        type: "object"
        properties:
          body:
            description: "Email body in HTML format."
            type: "string"
          recipient_email:
            description: "Recipient email address."
            type: "string"
          subject:
            description: "Email subject line."
            type: "string"
$$;
```

## Tool Types Reference

| Type | Purpose |
|------|---------|
| `SYSTEM_EXECUTE_SQL` | Execute arbitrary SQL queries |
| `CORTEX_SEARCH_SERVICE_QUERY` | RAG over unstructured data |
| `CORTEX_ANALYST_MESSAGE` | Natural language queries on semantic models |
| `CORTEX_AGENT_RUN` | Invoke Cortex Agents |
| `GENERIC` | Custom tools (procedures/functions) |

## Benefits

- **Governed by Design**: Same RBAC policies apply as your data
- **No Infrastructure**: No local server deployment needed
- **Reduced Integration**: Connect any MCP-compatible client
- **Extensible**: Add custom tools via procedures/functions

## Troubleshooting

### Connection Issues

- **SSL Error**: Use hyphens instead of underscores in account name
- **401 Unauthorized**: Verify PAT token is valid and not expired
- **404 Not Found**: Check database, schema, and MCP server names

### Testing Tools

List available tools:

```bash
curl -X POST "https://YOUR-ACCOUNT.snowflakecomputing.com/api/v2/databases/DB/schemas/SCHEMA/mcp-servers/SERVER" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer PAT" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"tools/list","params":{}}'
```

### PAT Token Notes

- PATs don't evaluate secondary roles
- Select a single role with all required permissions when creating
- Create new PAT to change role

## Alternative: Local MCP Server

For local deployment using the `snowflake-labs-mcp` package, see [mcp-client-setup.md](mcp-client-setup.md).

## Resources

- [Snowflake MCP Server Guide](https://www.snowflake.com/en/developers/guides/getting-started-with-snowflake-mcp-server/)
- [Snowflake MCP Documentation](https://docs.snowflake.com/en/user-guide/snowflake-cortex/cortex-agents-mcp)
- [GitHub: sfguide-getting-started-with-snowflake-mcp-server](https://github.com/Snowflake-Labs/sfguide-getting-started-with-snowflake-mcp-server)
- [MCP Protocol](https://modelcontextprotocol.io)