Fusion MCP Setup Guide

When to use

• what Fusion MCP is
• what it can do
• how to install/configure it
• how to verify that it is working
• how to troubleshoot a failing Fusion MCP setup

• "what is fusion mcp"
• "help me set up fusion mcp"
• "how do I use fusion mcp with copilot"

When not to use

• implementing product features unrelated to MCP setup
• making destructive environment changes without user confirmation
• assuming private repository details that are not visible

Required inputs

• user environment (OS, shell, editor/runtime)
• target client where MCP will run (for example VS Code MCP config or terminal)
• whether the user wants released image (GHCR) or local build from source
• transport mode (

  stdio

  for editor client config or HTTP endpoint for local checks)
• whether required access is ready (Docker, GitHub auth for GHCR, API keys)

Instructions

1. Explain what this MCP server provides:
   • Fusion-oriented MCP capabilities for retrieval and workflow support
   • tool surface may evolve over time as the server is a PoC
   • examples today may include retrieval, index guidance, metadata summaries, and skill discovery
2. Use the official README quick start as source of truth, then present a minimal 2-step setup path:
   • choose image source: GHCR release image or local build
   • configure VS Code MCP using Docker

     stdio

     only (scope for this iteration)
3. For GHCR image setup, include auth prerequisites before pull/run:

   • gh auth login -h github.com -w

   • gh auth refresh -h github.com -s read:packages

   • gh auth token | docker login ghcr.io -u <github-username> --password-stdin

4. For local build setup, use the documented sequence so the API is built, started, and validated:

   • cp .env.example .env

   • docker compose up -d --build api

   • then follow the health-check step in

     references/local-http-quickstart.md

     to confirm the API is healthy
5. Provide required configuration categories without exposing secret values:
   • Azure Search keys (

     AzureSearch__*

     )
   • Foundry keys/settings (

     Foundry__*

     )
   • optional runtime vars (

     ASPNETCORE_ENVIRONMENT

     ,

     HOST_PORT

     )
6. Provide a lightweight MCP smell test:
   • run

     initialize

     and confirm a successful response
   • run

     tools/list

     and confirm at least one tool is returned
   • run one non-destructive

     tools/call

     against an available tool
   • pass criteria: call response is non-empty (

     content

     or

     structuredContent

     contains data)
   • note: do not hard-code a fixed tool list; tool inventory can change between versions
7. Troubleshoot in documented order:
   • GHCR

     unauthorized

     /

     403

     -> refresh GH auth and Docker login
   • Apple Silicon manifest mismatch -> add Docker arg

     --platform linux/amd64

   • tools/list

     returns empty or basic query fails -> re-check API key env mapping and MCP server selection in VS Code
   • startup looks healthy but tool behavior is partial -> re-check env/config/auth alignment and restart MCP server
8. When MCP setup fails, MCP behavior is incorrect, or the user asks to file a bug, produce a bug report draft from

   assets/bug-report-template.md

   .
   • default target repository:

     equinor/fusion-poc-mcp

   • include concrete repro steps, expected vs actual behavior, and troubleshooting already attempted
   • include non-sensitive environment details (OS, VS Code version, Docker version, image tag, transport mode)
   • never include secrets, API keys, or raw token values
9. For uncertainty or repo-private constraints, state assumptions explicitly and link to authoritative docs instead of guessing.

Expected output

• short explanation of Fusion MCP and when to use it
• setup path tailored to the user environment (GHCR/local,

  stdio

  /HTTP)
• minimal validation checklist with concrete pass criteria
• troubleshooting steps mapped to observed error symptoms
• bug report draft (when setup fails/misbehaves or user requests) using

  assets/bug-report-template.md

  with default target

  equinor/fusion-poc-mcp

• script snippets when user asks for copy/paste automation aids
• assumptions and missing information called out explicitly
• links to the exact upstream docs used

References

• references/README.md
• assets/bug-report-template.md

Safety & constraints

• request or expose secrets, tokens, or credentials
• invent setup commands that are not supported by project documentation
• claim setup succeeded without validation output
• run destructive commands without explicit user confirmation

• prefer official repository documentation as source of truth
• provide least-privilege, minimal-change setup guidance first
• separate confirmed facts from assumptions
• keep guidance scoped to VS Code + Docker for this iteration