# MCP & sign-in

How the hosted Ancher MCP server is authorized, and why no API token is needed.

## Hosted, not local

MCP is the alternative to the [recommended install](/content/docs/agent-skills/installation#install/index.html). The recommended install reaches Ancher through the `ancher` CLI; [`npx -y @ancher-ai/agent-skills install`](/content/docs/agent-skills/installation#install-with-mcp-tools-instead/index.html) instead points Claude Code, Codex, and Cursor at the **hosted** Ancher MCP server — structured tools rather than shelling out to a binary.

There is no local server to run and no API token to paste for normal interactive use. Because the agent talks to the hosted MCP server directly, the MCP install needs no Ancher CLI at all. See [CLI and Agent Skills are independent](/content/docs/agent-skills/mcp#cli-and-agent-skills-are-independent/index.html).

## Signing in

Sign-in is browser-based OAuth, performed once per agent. First sign in to your Claude Code, Codex, or Cursor account as usual, then connect that agent to your Ancher account. The exact step differs per agent — follow [Supported agents](/content/docs/agent-skills/agents/index.html).

After signing in, restart Codex or open a new agent session, then ask something like:

> Search my Ancher notes for the decisions about this project.

## When a token is required

Only for CI and other non-interactive environments. Create an API token in **Ancher → Settings → API**, export it, and install with `--token`:

```bash
export ANCHER_API_TOKEN=...
npx -y @ancher-ai/agent-skills install --agent codex --token
```

The installer references the environment-variable _name_ in each agent’s configuration. Do not place a token directly in a command.

## CLI and Agent Skills are independent

On the MCP path the agent needs no Ancher CLI at all — it talks to the hosted server. Install the CLI when **you** want to work from a terminal yourself:

```bash
npm install -g @ancher-ai/cli
ancher login
```

On the [recommended install](/content/docs/agent-skills/installation#install/index.html) the CLI is not optional: it is how the agent reaches Ancher.