Remote MCP with Azure Functions (.NET/C#)
by Azure-Samples
This is a quickstart template to easily build and deploy a custom remote MCP server to the cloud using Azure functions. It allows you to clone/restore/run on your local machine with debugging, and deploy to the cloud quickly.
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What is Remote MCP with Azure Functions (.NET/C#)?
This is a template for creating a remote MCP (ModelContextProtocol) server using Azure Functions. It allows you to expose code functions as MCP tools, enabling communication and interaction between different components or services.
How to use Remote MCP with Azure Functions (.NET/C#)?
- Set up your local environment with the prerequisites.
- Run the MCP server locally from the terminal using
func start. - Connect to the local MCP server from a client like VS Code (Copilot Edits) or MCP Inspector.
- Deploy the MCP server to Azure using
azd up. - Connect to the remote MCP server from a client, providing the necessary key for authentication.
Key features of Remote MCP with Azure Functions (.NET/C#)
Easy deployment to Azure using Azure Developer CLI
Secure communication using keys and HTTPS
Integration with Azure services like API Management and EasyAuth
Support for network isolation using VNET
Examples provided for interacting with the MCP server from VS Code and MCP Inspector
Use cases of Remote MCP with Azure Functions (.NET/C#)
Integrating code snippets between Copilot and Azure Functions
Building custom tools that can be invoked remotely
Creating a serverless backend for MCP-based applications
Enabling communication between different services in a cloud environment
FAQ from Remote MCP with Azure Functions (.NET/C#)
What is MCP?
What is MCP?
MCP stands for ModelContextProtocol. It's a protocol for communication and interaction between different components or services.
What are the prerequisites for running this sample?
What are the prerequisites for running this sample?
You need .NET 8 SDK, Azure Functions Core Tools, Azure Developer CLI, and either Visual Studio 2022 or Visual Studio Code with the Azure Functions extension.
How do I deploy the MCP server to Azure?
How do I deploy the MCP server to Azure?
Use the azd up command to provision the function app and deploy your code to Azure.
How do I connect to the remote MCP server from a client?
How do I connect to the remote MCP server from a client?
You need to obtain the system key for the function app and include it in the URL or as a header in the request, depending on the client you are using.
How do I clean up the resources after I'm done?
How do I clean up the resources after I'm done?
Use the azd down command to delete the function app and its related resources from Azure.