--- title: Try it Out description: Install and configure the AIC MCP Server to interact with your PingOne Advanced Identity Cloud environment using natural language. component: build-with-ai page_id: build-with-ai:aic-mcp-server:getting-started canonical_url: https://developer.pingidentity.com/build-with-ai/aic-mcp-server/getting-started.html revdate: April 20, 2026 keywords: ["MCP", "getting started", "install", "configure", "AIC"] section_ids: prerequisites: Prerequisites install: Install npx-recommended: NPX (recommended) docker-deployment: Docker build-from-source: Build from source start-using-the-aic-mcp-server: Start using the AIC MCP Server next-steps: Next steps --- # Try it Out Get the AIC MCP Server running in your AI assistant in minutes. ## Prerequisites Before you start, make sure you have: * [Node.js 18+](https://nodejs.org) * A [Sandbox or Development](https://docs.pingidentity.com/pingoneaic/latest/tenants/environments.html) PingOne Advanced Identity Cloud tenant * An MCP-compatible client, such as: * IDEs: [VS Code](https://code.visualstudio.com) with GitHub Copilot, [Cursor](https://cursor.com) * CLIs: [Claude Code](https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/agents-and-tools/claude-code/overview), [Gemini CLI](https://github.com/google-gemini/gemini-cli), [Codex](https://github.com/openai/codex) * Desktop apps: [Claude Desktop](https://claude.ai/download) ## Install Choose an installation method: * [NPX (recommended)](#npx-recommended) * [Docker](#docker-deployment) * [Build from source](#build-from-source) ### NPX (recommended) The AIC MCP Server requires the `AIC_BASE_URL` environment variable to be set to your PingOne Advanced Identity Cloud hostname. Add this to your MCP client configuration: ```json { "mcpServers": { "aic-mcp-server": { "type": "stdio", "command": "npx", "args": ["-y", "@ping-identity/aic-mcp-server"], "env": { "AIC_BASE_URL": "your-tenant.forgeblocks.com" } } } } ``` * VS Code (GitHub Copilot) * Claude Code / Claude Desktop * Cursor * Gemini CLI * Codex (OpenAI) [![Install in VS Code Workspace](https://img.shields.io/badge/VS_Code-Install_in_Workspace-0098FF?style=flat-square\&logo=visualstudiocode\&logoColor=white)](https://vscode.dev/redirect/mcp/install?name=aic-mcp-server\&inputs=%5B%7B%22type%22%3A%22promptString%22%2C%22id%22%3A%22pingone_aic_base_url%22%2C%22description%22%3A%22The%20base%20URL%20of%20the%20AIC%20tenant%22%2C%22password%22%3Afalse%7D%5D\&config=%7B%22type%22%3A%22stdio%22%2C%22command%22%3A%22npx%22%2C%22args%22%3A%5B%22-y%22%2C%22%40ping-identity%2Faic-mcp-server%22%5D%2C%22env%22%3A%7B%22AIC_BASE_URL%22%3A%22%24%7Binput%3Apingone_aic_base_url%7D%22%7D%7D) | | | | - | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | Before clicking the install button, open VS Code with a project or working directory. When the MCP server panel opens, click **Install in Workspace**. The **Install** button may be unresponsive.![VS Code MCP server panel showing Install and Install in Workspace buttons](_images/vscode-install-in-workspace.png) | Or add the configuration above to your Copilot MCP settings (`mcp.json`). For more information, refer to [Microsoft's MCP documentation](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/copilot/customization/mcp-servers). Add the configuration to your Claude MCP configuration file: * Claude Code: `claude.json` * Claude Desktop: `claude_desktop_config.json` [![Install MCP Server](https://cursor.com/deeplink/mcp-install-dark.svg)](https://cursor.com/en-US/install-mcp?name=pingone-aic\&config=eyJlbnYiOnsiQUlDX0JBU0VfVVJMIjoieW91ci10ZW5hbnQuZm9yZ2VibG9ja3MuY29tIn0sImNvbW1hbmQiOiJucHggLXkgQHBpbmctaWRlbnRpdHkvYWljLW1jcC1zZXJ2ZXIifQ%3D%3D) Or add the configuration to your Cursor MCP configuration (`.cursor/mcp.json`). Add the configuration to your Gemini CLI MCP configuration (`settings.json`). Add the following to your Codex configuration file (`~/.codex/config.toml`): ```toml [mcp_servers.aic-mcp-server] command = "npx" args = ["-y", "@ping-identity/aic-mcp-server"] env = {"AIC_BASE_URL" = "your-tenant.forgeblocks.com"} ``` ### Docker You can also run the AIC MCP Server in a Docker container. | | | | - | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | Docker deployment uses OAuth 2.0 Device Code Flow with MCP form elicitation. This requires MCP client support for form elicitation, which is currently limited. If your client doesn't support it, use the [NPX](#npx-recommended) method instead. | Add this to your MCP client configuration: ```json { "mcpServers": { "aic-mcp-server": { "command": "docker", "args": [ "run", "--rm", "-i", "-e", "AIC_BASE_URL=your-tenant.forgeblocks.com", "pingidentity/aic-mcp-server:latest" ] } } } ``` When authentication is required, your MCP client displays a URL. Click it to authenticate in your browser, then accept the prompt in your client. | | | | - | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | | Authentication-related operations such as journey creation, app creation, and other AM-based tools are not currently available when using Docker. These tools require browser-based PKCE authentication, which is incompatible with the Device Code Flow used in containers. | ### Build from source To build the AIC MCP Server from source: ```bash # Clone the repository git clone https://github.com/pingidentity/aic-mcp-server.git cd aic-mcp-server # Install dependencies npm install # Compile TypeScript npm run build ``` Then configure your MCP client to use the local build: ```json { "mcpServers": { "aic-mcp-server": { "command": "node", "args": ["/absolute/path/to/aic-mcp-server/dist/index.js"], "env": { "AIC_BASE_URL": "your-tenant.forgeblocks.com" } } } } ``` ## Start using the AIC MCP Server 1. Restart your MCP client after adding the configuration. 2. Start asking questions about your PingOne Advanced Identity Cloud environment. 3. On first tool use, your browser opens automatically for authentication at PingOne Advanced Identity Cloud. 4. After authenticating, your AI assistant can interact with your tenant. Try prompts like: * "What managed object types are available in my environment?" * "Show me all themes in the alpha realm" * "Find all users with admin in their username" ## Next steps * [See the full list of tools the server provides](available-tools.html) * [Learn more about the authentication model](authentication.html) * [Understand the security considerations](security.html)