Accelerating SQL analytics with Amazon Redshift MCP server

As information analysts and engineers, we frequently discover ourselves switching between a number of instruments to discover database schemas, perceive desk constructions, and execute queries throughout totally different Amazon Redshift information warehouses. Utilizing pure language to discover metadata and information can simplify this course of, however an AI agent typically wants the extra context of your Redshift cluster configurations and schemas to efficiently uncover and construct the perfect execution path.

That is the place the Mannequin Context Protocol (MCP) can act as a bridge between the AI agent and your Redshift clusters to supply the required info to raised help pure language interfaces to your information. MCP is an open customary that permits AI purposes to securely hook up with exterior information sources and instruments, offering them with wealthy, real-time context about your particular setting. Not like static instruments, MCP permits AI brokers to dynamically uncover database constructions, perceive desk relationships, and execute queries with full consciousness of your Amazon Redshift setup.

To deal with these challenges and unlock the complete potential of conversational information evaluation, Amazon Internet Companies (AWS) launched the Amazon Redshift MCP server, an open supply answer that innovates the way you work together with Amazon Redshift information warehouses. The Amazon Redshift MCP server integrates seamlessly with Amazon Q Developer command line interface (CLI), Claude Desktop, Kiro, and different MCP-compatible instruments. It could possibly allow uncover, discover, and analyze your Amazon Redshift metadata and information by pure language conversations with an AI assistant that really understands your database setting.

On this publish, we stroll by organising the Amazon Redshift MCP server and show how an information analyst can effectively discover Redshift information warehouses and carry out information evaluation utilizing pure language queries.

What’s the Amazon Redshift MCP Server?

The Amazon Redshift MCP server is a MCP implementation that gives AI brokers with protected, structured entry to Amazon Redshift assets. It allows:

• Cluster discovery – Routinely uncover each provisioned Redshift clusters and serverless workgroups
• Metadata exploration – Browse databases, schemas, tables, and columns by pure language
• Protected question execution – Execute SQL queries in READ ONLY mode with built-in security protections
• Multi-cluster help – Work with a number of clusters and workgroups concurrently for information reconciliation duties

The MCP server acts as a bridge between Amazon Q CLI and your Amazon Redshift infrastructure, translating pure language requests into acceptable API calls and SQL queries. The next diagram illustrates the high-level structure.

The next video demonstrates the answer outlined on this publish.

Conditions

Earlier than you start, guarantee you have got the next:

System necessities

• Python 3.10 or newer
• uv package deal supervisor (set up information)
• Amazon Q CLI or different instruments resembling Claude Desktop put in and configured

AWS necessities

Required IAM permissions

The consumer id wants the next IAM permissions in your entry insurance policies:

{
  "Model": "2012-10-17",
  "Assertion": [
    {
      "Effect": "Allow",
      "Action": [
        "redshift:DescribeClusters",
        "redshift-serverless:ListWorkgroups",
        "redshift-serverless:GetWorkgroup",
        "redshift-data:ExecuteStatement",
        "redshift-data:BatchExecuteStatement",
        "redshift-data:DescribeStatement",
        "redshift-data:GetStatementResult"
      ],
      "Useful resource": "*"
    }
  ]
}

Set up and configuration

The next part covers the steps required to put in and configure Amazon Redshift MCP server.

Set up required dependencies

Full the next steps to put in required dependencies:

1. Set up the uv package deal supervisor when you haven’t already:

# macOS/Linux
curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/set up.sh | sh

# Home windows
powershell -c "irm https://astral.sh/uv/set up.ps1 | iex"

2. Set up Python 3.10 or newer:

uv python set up 3.10

Configure the MCP server

The MCP server may be configured utilizing a number of MCP supported purchasers. On this publish we focus on the steps utilizing Amazon Q Developer CLI and Claude Desktop.Full the next directions to arrange Amazon Q Developer CLI in your host machine and entry the Amazon Redshift MCP Server:

1. Set up the Amazon Q Developer CLI.
2. Configure the Amazon Redshift MCP server in your Amazon Q CLI configuration. Edit the MCP configuration file at ~/.aws/amazonq/mcp.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "awslabs.redshift-mcp-server": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["awslabs.redshift-mcp-server@latest"],
      "env": {
        "AWS_PROFILE": "default",
        "AWS_REGION": "us-east-1",
        "FASTMCP_LOG_LEVEL": "INFO"
      },
      "disabled": false,
      "autoApprove": []
    }
  }
}

For additional particulars on set up, check with the Set up part within the Amazon Redshift MCP server README.md.

3. Begin Amazon Q CLI to confirm the MCP server is correctly configured:

It’s best to discover the Amazon Redshift MCP server initialize efficiently within the startup logs.To arrange Amazon Q Developer CLI in your host machine and entry the Amazon Redshift MCP Server utilizing Claude Desktop, full the next steps:

4. Obtain and set up Claude Desktop to your working system
5. Open Claude Desktop and within the backside left, select the gear icon to navigate to Settings
6. Select the Developer tab and configure your MCP server by including the identical configuration as step 3 within the Amazon Q CLI setup
7. Restart Claude Desktop to activate the MCP server connection
8. Take a look at the mixing by beginning a brand new dialog and asking: Present me all out there Redshift clusters

Use case: Buyer buy evaluation

Think about a sensible situation the place an information analyst must discover buyer buy information throughout a number of Redshift clusters. The next walkthrough demonstrates how the MCP server simplifies this workflow.As an information analyst at an ecommerce firm, it is advisable:

1. Uncover out there Redshift clusters
2. Discover the database construction to seek out buyer and gross sales information
3. Analyze buyer buy patterns
4. Generate insights for the enterprise workforce

To perform these duties, you observe these steps:

5. Ask Amazon Q to indicate you out there Amazon Redshift assets:

Present me all out there Redshift clusters

Amazon Q will use the MCP server to find your clusters and supply particulars resembling cluster identifiers and kinds (provisioned or serverless), present standing and availability, connection endpoints and configuration, and node sorts and capability info.

6. Discover the database construction to grasp your information group:

What databases and tables can be found within the analytics-cluster?

Amazon Q will use the MCP server to systematically discover the objects within the cluster:

7. Earlier than analyzing information, perceive the desk schemas:

Present me the construction of the purchasers and orders tables in analytics-cluster

Amazon Q will use the MCP server to will look at the desk columns and supply detailed schema info.

8. Analyze buyer buy patterns utilizing pure language queries:

Analyze buyer buy sample from analytics cluster. Present me the highest 10 prospects by complete buy quantity and their shopping for frequency

Amazon Q will use the MCP server to run the suitable SQL queries and supply insights.

9. The MCP server helps analyzing information throughout a number of clusters:

Evaluate buyer acquisition prices between the analytics-cluster and marketing-cluster information.

Amazon Q will use the MCP server to run the suitable SQL queries evaluate the info throughout analytics-cluster and marketing-cluster.

Finest Practices

The MCP server comes geared up with a number of important security protections designed to safeguard your information and system efficiency. The READ ONLY mode serves as a crucial safeguard towards unintended information modifications, and we suggest enabling this function when relevant to your use case. To additional improve safety, the server implements question validation mechanisms that scrutinize operations for potential dangerous impacts, with user-in-loop validation being really helpful for optimum security. For useful resource administration, the server enforces useful resource limits to stop performance-impacting runaway queries, once more benefiting from user-in-loop validation for greatest outcomes. When it comes to accessibility, the MCP functionality maintains broad availability throughout all AWS Areas the place Amazon Redshift Knowledge API is supported, with throttling limits aligned to current Amazon Redshift Knowledge API service quotas to make sure constant efficiency and reliability.For greatest outcomes, observe these suggestions:

1. Begin with discovery – Start by exploring cluster and database construction and tables
2. Use pure language – Describe what you need to analyze slightly than writing SQL instantly
3. Iterate progressively – Construct complicated analyses step-by-step
4. Confirm outcomes – Cross-check necessary findings with enterprise stakeholders
5. Doc insights – Save necessary queries and outcomes for future reference

Conclusion

The Amazon Redshift MCP server transforms how information analysts work together with Redshift clusters by enabling pure language information exploration and evaluation by agentic tooling like Kiro and Amazon Q CLI. By eliminating the necessity to manually write SQL queries and navigate complicated database constructions, analysts can give attention to producing insights slightly than wrestling with syntax and schema discovery.Whether or not you’re performing a one-time evaluation, producing common reviews, or exploring new datasets, the Amazon Redshift MCP server gives a robust, intuitive interface to your information evaluation workflows.Able to get began? Right here’s what to do subsequent:

1. Set up the MCP server following the configuration steps on this publish
2. Discover your Amazon Redshift setting utilizing pure language queries
3. Begin with easy analyses and progressively construct complexity
4. Share insights along with your workforce utilizing the pure language summaries
5. Present suggestions to assist enhance the MCP server capabilities

Take a look at these weblog posts that will help you navigate utilizing pure language along with your use instances:

Concerning the authors