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Operate MCP Connection state
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Operate and troubleshoot MCP Connections

MCP Connection operations cover monitoring connection state, catalog freshness, tool compatibility, and call outcomes to verify availability and troubleshoot failures.

Operate MCP Connection state, catalog freshness, model-facing Tool names, call outcomes, and troubleshooting for Duale AI Tools.

  • Connection policy determines whether catalog checks run and whether new MCP calls are permitted.
  • Catalog freshness tracks states from Not observed through Active, Expired, and No Tools reported.
  • Model-facing Tool names use mcp_ or sdk_ prefixes with collision qualification by Source context.
  • Analytics records one final outcome per Tool Call, excluding catalog checks, with named outcome categories.
  • A troubleshooting table maps symptoms like Expired to first checks and safe next actions.

Summaries were generated by AI.

Under Tools, use Status and Catalog to see whether an MCP Connection is enabled, whether its Source is current, and which Tools Duale AI can offer. Use Analytics to inspect recorded final outcomes for MCP and SDK Tool Calls. Catalog state describes current availability; historical reliability does not prove that a server is reachable now or that the next call will succeed.

Tools reference owns MCP server compatibility, the synchronous MCP call contract, static MCP limits, and the organization Tool catalog API.

Operate MCP Connection state

Connection policy

StateWhat it meansWhat to do next
Enabled, allow callsCatalog checks run and compatible Tools can be offered after a successful checkInspect catalog freshness and test a low-risk call
Enabled, block callsCatalog checks continue, but new MCP calls are blockedReview the catalog or allow calls when ready
DisabledCatalog checks and new MCP calls stop; configuration and assignments remain savedEnable the Connection when you want checks to resume
  • State
    Enabled, allow calls
    What it means
    Catalog checks run and compatible Tools can be offered after a successful check
    What to do next
    Inspect catalog freshness and test a low-risk call
  • State
    Enabled, block calls
    What it means
    Catalog checks continue, but new MCP calls are blocked
    What to do next
    Review the catalog or allow calls when ready
  • State
    Disabled
    What it means
    Catalog checks and new MCP calls stop; configuration and assignments remain saved
    What to do next
    Enable the Connection when you want checks to resume

While the Dashboard fetches catalog status, it shows Loading. If that read fails, it shows Unavailable. Retry the read; this state does not prove that the remote MCP server is unavailable.

Catalog freshness

StateWhat it meansWhat to do next
Not observedNo successful complete catalog check exists yetCheck the endpoint and remote credential; Duale AI keeps trying while enabled
ActiveThe latest successful complete catalog check is still freshInspect Tool compatibility; this state does not run or verify a Tool
ExpiredNo successful catalog check refreshed the Source within seven minutesCheck remote availability and access; expired Tools are not offered for new model turns
No Tools reportedA successful complete check returned an empty catalogConfirm that the remote account is permitted to list Tools
  • State
    Not observed
    What it means
    No successful complete catalog check exists yet
    What to do next
    Check the endpoint and remote credential; Duale AI keeps trying while enabled
  • State
    Active
    What it means
    The latest successful complete catalog check is still fresh
    What to do next
    Inspect Tool compatibility; this state does not run or verify a Tool
  • State
    Expired
    What it means
    No successful catalog check refreshed the Source within seven minutes
    What to do next
    Check remote availability and access; expired Tools are not offered for new model turns
  • State
    No Tools reported
    What it means
    A successful complete check returned an empty catalog
    What to do next
    Confirm that the remote account is permitted to list Tools

After a successful check, Duale AI normally checks again after five minutes plus up to 10% positive jitter. After failed checks, it retries after 5, 10, and then 15 minutes; the 15-minute interval repeats while the Connection remains enabled. A failed check does not refresh the active window.

These states show whether Duale AI has a recent successful catalog, not why a check failed. Not observed and Expired do not distinguish DNS, TLS, authentication, protocol, pagination, or limit failures.

Review a changing MCP catalog

An MCP server owns its catalog and can change it without a Duale AI release. After a successful complete check, the latest definitions replace or refresh the previous catalog.

Every compatible Tool added later becomes eligible for every assigned Agent Identity when calls are allowed. There is no per-Tool allowlist, exclusion, or catalog-version approval in this release. If you need a controlled Tool lifecycle, publish the approved functions through an SDK Tool Host. Tool limits states how far a catalog can grow before a check or an Agent Identity reaches a ceiling.

The Catalog view keeps incompatible Tools visible with a reason, but does not expose them to a model. A Tool is incompatible when the model path cannot represent its input schema, when it declares a dynamic transport header the protocol does not accept, or when it needs one and the server negotiated a protocol revision that cannot carry it. Dynamic transport headers are supported on the 2026-07-28 revision. On an earlier revision the header cannot be sent at all, so the Tool stays incompatible until the server offers that revision.

Tool names, titles, descriptions, input-schema text, and server annotations are content you do not control. They can influence model Tool selection and proposed arguments. Annotations such as read-only, destructive, idempotent, or open-world are hints only. Duale AI does not automatically classify a Tool from its schema or annotations, grant access, or change call policy.

Expired Tools remain visible with their last successful definitions and assignments, but they cannot be offered or called. They can remain visible after checks stop because the Connection was disabled or deleted. This release has no Connection control that permanently deletes these historical entries.

Understand model-facing Tool names

The Catalog view shows both the native Tool name reported by the server and the short model-facing name used during execution. A unique Tool normally starts with mcp_ followed by a readable form of its native name. SDK Tools start with sdk_.

If two Tools would receive the same model-facing name, Duale AI qualifies every member of the collision with readable Source context. If that still collides, it adds a short stable suffix. It never merges Tools from different Sources, even when their schemas match, because those Sources can use different credentials and data.

For example, if CRM Production and CRM Sandbox both expose search_contacts, Duale AI qualifies both names, such as mcp_crm_production_search_contacts and mcp_crm_sandbox_search_contacts. It does not leave one Tool as mcp_search_contacts while renaming only the other, and it does not expose a Connection UUID to the model.

Duale AI computes names from the current catalog and does not reserve them permanently. A catalog change can therefore change a model-facing name. Duale AI reads the current active Tool set before each model turn. Once it accepts a Tool Call, it keeps that call bound to the selected Connection and native Tool instead of following a later alias change.

Duale AI still considers the names of expired Tools when it keeps model-facing names unique. Expiring or deleting a Connection therefore does not by itself shorten another Tool’s qualified name.

Read call outcomes and reliability

Analytics counts one final outcome for each requested Tool Call, not each internal attempt. It excludes catalog checks. The organization view provides an aggregate and breakdowns by Tool Source, model-facing Tool name, and Agent Identity.

OutcomeMeaning
SucceededDuale AI received and accepted a supported result for the call
FailedThe call ended with a confirmed failure
Outcome unknownDuale AI cannot rule out remote execution, but cannot prove its result
BlockedConnection policy prevented the call
DeniedCurrent assignment or authorization prevented the call
UnsupportedThe Tool or returned result is outside this release’s supported contract
Cancelled before sendThe call ended before remote execution started
OtherThe recorded outcome is not one of the current named categories
  • Outcome
    Succeeded
    Meaning
    Duale AI received and accepted a supported result for the call
  • Outcome
    Failed
    Meaning
    The call ended with a confirmed failure
  • Outcome
    Outcome unknown
    Meaning
    Duale AI cannot rule out remote execution, but cannot prove its result
  • Outcome
    Blocked
    Meaning
    Connection policy prevented the call
  • Outcome
    Denied
    Meaning
    Current assignment or authorization prevented the call
  • Outcome
    Unsupported
    Meaning
    The Tool or returned result is outside this release’s supported contract
  • Outcome
    Cancelled before send
    Meaning
    The call ended before remote execution started
  • Outcome
    Other
    Meaning
    The recorded outcome is not one of the current named categories

Confirmed success rate is succeeded / (succeeded + failed), shown as a percentage rounded to two decimal places. An unknown, blocked, denied, unsupported, cancelled, or other outcome is outside that denominator. When there are no confirmed outcomes, the Dashboard shows no confirmed rate.

Analytics are aggregate operational evidence. They do not show Tool arguments or results, prove the state of an external system, or replace a per-call business or audit record.

Evidence and audit explains which Platform records are available and what they cannot prove.

Respond to a temporary MCP Tool pause

A Tool Call can appear as temporarily unavailable while Duale AI pauses that Connection-and-Tool pair after recent technical failures. Catalog checks and other Tools on the Connection continue. Retry after the reported time. The Tools reference defines the pause rule.

Troubleshoot an MCP Connection from the visible symptom

SymptomFirst checkSafe next action
Catalog status unavailableWhether the Dashboard catalog-status read failedRetry the read; do not infer remote-server health from this state
Not observedEndpoint format, remote availability, and credentialCorrect the Connection and wait for the next check
ExpiredLast successful check and remote accessRestore the server or credential; checks continue while enabled
No Tools reportedRemote account’s tools/list resultGrant only the list access needed, then wait for a successful check
Tool is incompatibleReason shown in CatalogRead the reason: a schema the model path cannot carry needs a remote change, a protocol revision needs a server upgrade
Calls are blocked or deniedConnection call policy and Agent Identity assignmentChange only the policy or assignment that must admit the call
Tool Call is temporarily unavailableRecent technical failures for that exact ToolWait until the reported retry time, then test once
Outcome unknownDestination system’s own recordReconcile the external state before retrying or compensating
  • Symptom
    Catalog status unavailable
    First check
    Whether the Dashboard catalog-status read failed
    Safe next action
    Retry the read; do not infer remote-server health from this state
  • Symptom
    Not observed
    First check
    Endpoint format, remote availability, and credential
    Safe next action
    Correct the Connection and wait for the next check
  • Symptom
    Expired
    First check
    Last successful check and remote access
    Safe next action
    Restore the server or credential; checks continue while enabled
  • Symptom
    No Tools reported
    First check
    Remote account’s tools/list result
    Safe next action
    Grant only the list access needed, then wait for a successful check
  • Symptom
    Tool is incompatible
    First check
    Reason shown in Catalog
    Safe next action
    Read the reason: a schema the model path cannot carry needs a remote change, a protocol revision needs a server upgrade
  • Symptom
    Calls are blocked or denied
    First check
    Connection call policy and Agent Identity assignment
    Safe next action
    Change only the policy or assignment that must admit the call
  • Symptom
    Tool Call is temporarily unavailable
    First check
    Recent technical failures for that exact Tool
    Safe next action
    Wait until the reported retry time, then test once
  • Symptom
    Outcome unknown
    First check
    Destination system’s own record
    Safe next action
    Reconcile the external state before retrying or compensating

When a server is down, Duale AI keeps checking until you disable or delete the Connection. Do not repeatedly delete and recreate a Connection to force recovery; correct the endpoint or remote access and let the next successful check refresh the catalog.

The Dashboard does not expose the exact reason for a failed catalog check. If the endpoint and credential appear correct and the state does not recover, email technical support. Include the Connection ID, Connection name, current status, approximate time of the problem, and the displayed last successful check time if present. Never send the bearer token, API key, or unrestricted logs by email.