Connectors
Obsilo can connect to external tools, expose your vault to other AI applications, and provide remote access from anywhere. This is powered by the Model Context Protocol (MCP) and a Cloudflare relay.
MCP client: connect external tools
The MCP client lets Obsilo use tools provided by external MCP servers. You can extend the agent's capabilities without writing plugins.
What you can connect
Any MCP-compatible server works. Common examples:
- Database tools (query SQLite, PostgreSQL, or other databases)
- Web services (interact with APIs, fetch data)
- Local tools (file system utilities, shell commands, custom scripts)
- Third-party integrations (GitHub, Slack, calendar services)
Setup
- Open Settings > Obsilo Agent > MCP
- Click "+ Add Server"
- Choose the transport type:
| Transport | When to use |
|---|---|
| stdio | Local servers running as command-line processes |
| SSE | Remote servers using Server-Sent Events (legacy) |
| Streamable HTTP | Modern remote servers (recommended for remote) |
- Enter the server command or URL
- Save. The agent discovers available tools automatically.
Once connected, the agent can call external tools using use_mcp_tool and manage servers with manage_mcp_server.
Discovery is automatic
You don't need to tell the agent which tools are available. It reads the tool list from each connected MCP server and uses them when relevant to your request.
MCP server: expose your vault to Claude Desktop
You can turn Obsilo into an MCP server, letting Claude Desktop (or any MCP client) read and write your Obsidian vault.
Why this matters
Without Obsilo, Claude Desktop has no way to access your Obsidian notes. With the MCP server enabled, Claude Desktop gets structured access to your vault: searching, reading, and writing notes through a controlled interface.
Available tools (3 tiers)
| Tier | Tools | What they do |
|---|---|---|
| Read | read_notes, search_vault, get_context | Search and read vault content |
| Session | sync_session, update_memory | Synchronize conversation context and memory |
| Write | write_vault | Create and modify notes in your vault |
Setup
- Open Settings > Obsilo Agent > MCP > Server tab
- Enable the MCP server
- Click "Configure Claude Desktop". This automatically adds the configuration to Claude Desktop's config file.
- Restart Claude Desktop
Done. Claude Desktop now sees your vault as an available tool source.
Write access
The write tier lets Claude Desktop modify your vault. Enable it only if you trust the prompts you send through Claude Desktop. The read and session tiers are safe for everyday use.
Remote access via Cloudflare relay
Remote access lets you interact with your vault from anywhere, as long as Obsidian is running on your machine.
How it works
A Cloudflare Workers relay acts as a bridge between your local Obsilo instance and remote clients. The RelayClient in Obsilo maintains a persistent connection to the deployed worker.
Setup
- Deploy the Cloudflare Worker (see the relay deployment guide)
- In Settings > Obsilo Agent > MCP > Remote, enter your worker URL
- Authenticate with the provided token
- The relay connects automatically when Obsidian is running
Always-on requirement
Remote access requires Obsidian to be running on your machine. The relay forwards requests to your local instance. It does not store your vault data in the cloud.
Provider overview
Obsilo supports 10+ AI providers. Most use a simple API key, but two have alternative authentication:
| Provider | Auth method | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub Copilot | OAuth device flow | Uses your existing GitHub Copilot subscription. No separate API key needed. You sign in with your GitHub account. |
| Kilo Gateway | Device auth + manual token | Community gateway with shared rate limits. Device authentication or paste a token manually. |
| Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, etc. | API key | Paste your key in Settings > Models. |
Setting up GitHub Copilot
- Open Settings > Obsilo Agent > Models > + Add Model
- Select GitHub Copilot as the provider
- Click "Sign in with GitHub". A device code appears.
- Open the GitHub URL, enter the code, and authorize
- Select a model (Claude or GPT via Copilot)
Setting up Kilo Gateway
- Select Kilo Gateway as the provider
- Choose Device Auth (recommended) or Manual Token
- For device auth: follow the on-screen flow to authenticate
- For manual token: paste your token from the Kilo dashboard
Free access
GitHub Copilot works if you already have a Copilot subscription. Kilo Gateway offers community access with shared limits. Both are good options to try Obsilo without purchasing a separate API key.
Next steps
- Skills, Rules & Workflows: Customize the agent's behavior
- Office Documents: Create presentations and documents
- Multi-Agent & Tasks: Delegate work to sub-agents