MCP resources are read-only files from Celigo file storage that an MCP server exposes to your agent. When you add resources to an agent, the agent can read those files at runtime to ground its decisions in stable reference data, such as configuration files, lookup tables, schemas, or policy documents, without modifying external systems. Accessing a resource counts as an AI action.
Adding MCP resources to an agent lets you:
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Ground the agent in static reference data so it can make accurate, context-aware decisions.
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Reuse the same files across multiple agents without duplicating content.
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Separate read-only grounding data from executable tools, reducing the risk of unintended side effects.
When you add resources to an agent:
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The agent discovers available resources from the connected MCP server.
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At runtime, the agent reads resource content by name and URI to form the context needed for an agent to take grounded decisions.
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Resources are strictly read-only. They cannot trigger actions on external systems.
MCP server exposes resources from CMFS. Resources must exist in CMFS for the MCP server to select and expose. See Add a resource to an MCP server for setup details.
Prerequisites:
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An AI agent must already exist. See Create an AI agent for setup details.
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The MCP server connected to your agent must have resources added in CMFS.
To add a resource:
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Navigate to AI studio → AI agents → Create AI agent.
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You can select one of the following alternative options: click + Create agent or click an existing agent or click (...) in the Actions column and select Edit AI agent.
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Go to the Tools & capabilities section and click + Add.
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In the Add capabilities page, on the top of the page click MCP connections.
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In MCP connections, you can either:
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On the top right, you can either click + Create an MCP connection to create a new connection, or
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Select an existing MCP serve. For setup details, see MCP server.
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Expand the MCP connection to view available tools, prompts, and resources.
Resources appear in the same expandable list as tools and prompts. The Type column identifies each entry as Tool, Prompt, or Resource.
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Select the resources you want to be exposed via MCP server.
Note
You cannot expose a full folder. You must select each file individually. You can use the top right corner path to move back to parent folder while selecting resources.
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Click Save.
The selected resources are now available to the agent. The agent can read them at runtime using their name and URI.
Resources do not appear when I expand the MCP connection
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Confirm the resource exist in CMFS
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Confirm the MCP server has resources configured. Go to AI studio > MCP servers, open the server, and check the Capabilities section for Resource cards.
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Confirm each resource is toggled On in the MCP server's Capabilities section.
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Confirm the MCP server itself is toggled On in the MCP servers list.
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Refresh the page and expand the MCP connection again to reload its capabilities.
The agent cannot read a resource at runtime
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Confirm the resource file is still present in Celigo File Storage and is under 3 MB. Files larger than 3 MB return an error when the agent attempts to read them.
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Confirm the resource is still enabled on the MCP server.
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Confirm the agent is using an MCP connection that points to the correct MCP server.