mcp-server-db2i
mcp-server-db2i is an open-source, MIT-licensed Model Context Protocol server that lets AI assistants such as Claude, Cursor and IBM Bob run read-only queries against Db2 for i and inspect its schemas, tables and views. It is a separate, community-built project from IBM's own IBM i MCP Server, connecting through the IBM i Access ODBC driver, the JT400 JDBC driver, or Mapepire over SSH.
What it does
mcp-server-db2i is a small program that sits between an AI assistant and your Db2 for i data. It speaks the Model Context Protocol (MCP), an open standard for connecting AI tools to outside systems. Ask a question in plain English, and the assistant uses this server to find the right tables, run a safe query, and explain the answer.
It is not made by IBM. It is a separate, open-source project built by Roni Strom, and it is not the same thing as IBM's own IBM i MCP Server, even though the two do similar jobs.
How it connects to Db2 for i
- IBM i Access ODBC (Open Database Connectivity) driver, the default, no Java needed
- JT400 JDBC (Java Database Connectivity) driver, for Java-based setups
- Mapepire over SSH (Secure Shell), for systems where SSH is the only access available
As of version 3.0.0 (Sep 27, 2026), the JT400 and Mapepire drivers are no longer installed by default. You add whichever one you need as a separate package.
How it keeps queries safe
- Only runs SELECT and WITH statements; it cannot insert, update or delete data
- Checks every query with IBM's own QSYS2.PARSE_STATEMENT before running it
- Limits which libraries and schemas a client can see with an allowlist
- Can mask specific columns so sensitive data is hidden
- Applies rate limits and timeouts so a query cannot run away
- Writes a JSON audit log of every tool call and sign-in
Setting it up
- InstallRun npm install -g mcp-server-db2i, or pull the Docker image.
- Add a driverInstall node-jt400 or the Mapepire packages separately if you need JDBC or SSH-only access.
- Set guardrailsConfigure the library allowlist and any column masking before connecting a client.
- Connect a clientPoint Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code or IBM Bob at the server and start asking questions.
Who can use it
Local MCP clients such as Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code and IBM Bob can connect directly. Remote clients, including claude.ai and custom agents, connect over HTTP using OAuth 2.1 or a bearer token. It needs IBM i V7R3 or later, with V7R5 recommended.
How is it different from IBM's IBM i MCP Server?
mcp-server-db2i compared with IBM's own IBM i MCP Server
| mcp-server-db2i | IBM i MCP Server | |
|---|---|---|
| Built by | Roni Strom, Strom-Capital | IBM |
| License | MIT, open source | Open source, on GitHub |
| Connects via | ODBC, JDBC, or Mapepire over SSH | Mapepire |
| What it can do | Read-only queries only | Queries plus defined actions on IBM i |
Both are free and both speak MCP. Pick mcp-server-db2i if you want SSH-only access without installing anything extra on IBM i, or IBM's server if you already run Mapepire and want it to take actions, not just answer questions.
The project name mcp-server-db2i shows up on several GitHub accounts because open-source code is easy to copy. The maintained version is Strom-Capital/mcp-server-db2i, the one listed in the official MCP Registry and documented at docs.db2i-mcp.com.
Related Terms
IBM i MCP Server
An open-source, IBM-published server implementing the Model Context Protocol (MCP), letting AI agents and LLMs query Db2 for i data and take defined actions on IBM i using natural language. In beta since October 2025.
Mapepire
An open-source database access layer for Db2 for i, created by IBM and introduced in an August 2024 IBM blog post as a lighter, cloud-friendly alternative to ODBC and JDBC. A server daemon runs on IBM i and Node.js, Python, Java, and .NET Core clients connect to it over Secure WebSockets.
Model Context Protocol
An open standard, released by Anthropic on November 25, 2024, that defines a client-server architecture for connecting AI applications to external data sources, tools, and prompts over JSON-RPC 2.0. IBM's IBM i MCP Server is an implementation of it for Db2 for i and other IBM i resources.
Db2 for i
The relational database management system built into every IBM i operating system, tightly integrated with IBM i rather than a separately installed database product.
IBM Bob (Project Bob)
IBM's generally available AI coding agent for IBM i, built as a fork of Visual Studio Code and tuned for RPG, CL, DDS, and SQL. Reached GA on March 24, 2026; Bob 2.0 and the IBM i-specific Bob Premium Package for i shipped June 24, 2026.