Configure the CMS (SaaS) MCP server

6 min

The Optimizely Content Management System (CMS) (SaaS) MCP server connects your AI client to CMS (SaaS) using the Model Context Protocol (MCP). This article covers adding the server to your AI client, authenticating, and verifying the connection. For an overview of the MCP server and what you can do with it, see CMS (SaaS) MCP server.

Prerequisites

To use the CMS (SaaS) MCP server, you need the following:

An Opti ID account.

An Optimizely account with Opal enabled, connected to at least one CMS (SaaS) instance.

Access to both the Opal and CMS (SaaS) instances.

An AI client that supports remote MCP.

About Opti ID and Opal

Opti ID – Opti IDOpti ID is Optimizely's unified identity system. It is the single set of credentials you use to log in across Optimizely products. If you already have an Optimizely account, you already have Opti ID.

Opal – Optimizely OpalOptimizely Opal is an agent orchestration platform that helps you work smarter across Optimizely One. The MCP server authenticates through your Opal instance, which connects it to your CMS (SaaS) instance and data. During configuration, you select your Opal instance as part of the Open Authorization (OAuth) flow. For details on how Opal connects to CMS (SaaS), see Product connectionsProduct connections.

During authentication, you connect to your Opal instance, and the MCP server automatically gains access to any CMS (SaaS) instances linked to it.

Add the MCP server to your AI client

Add the following Optimizely MCP server URL to your AI client's MCP configuration:

https://cms.mcp.opal.optimizely.com/mcp

Where to add this depends on your client:

Claude Code – Run claude mcp add --transport http cms https://cms.mcp.opal.optimizely.com/mcp.

Claude Desktop – Go to Customize > Connectors > Add Connector.

Claude.ai – Go to Customize > Connectors > Add Connector.

Codex – Go to Settings > MCP servers > Add server.

Cursor – Go to Settings > MCP > Add new MCP server.

Visual Studio Code – Open MCP settings in the Copilot configuration.

Windsurf – Go to Settings > MCP Servers, or edit .windsurf/mcp.json in your project root.

Authenticate with Optimizely

When your AI client connects to the MCP server for the first time, it opens an OAuth flow in your browser. Complete the following steps:

Select your Opal instance.

Authorize the MCP connection.

You do not need to create a separate API token or manually manage credentials. The MCP server uses your Optimizely identity and respects your existing account permissions.

Your authentication session is time-limited. When it expires, your AI client prompts you to re-authenticate. Follow the prompt to complete the OAuth flow again.

Run your first query

After you authenticate, your AI client has access to your Optimizely data. Enter the following query to test the connection:

List all of my content types

Your AI client calls the MCP server, retrieves your content type list, and returns the results.

Verify the connection

A working connection lets you do the following:

See Optimizely tools listed in your AI client's available tools (look for tools prefixed with cms_ or graph_).

Get a response to List my content types that includes real data from your account.

Ask follow-up questions about the returned data without re-authenticating.