DBHub

[!NOTE]

If you need an enterprise-level database MCP server with built-in guardrails like approval flow, access control, data masking, and audit logging beyond what DBHub offers, check out Bytebase ↗.

            +------------------+    +--------------+    +------------------+
            |                  |    |              |    |                  |
            |  Claude Desktop  +--->+              +--->+    PostgreSQL    |
            |                  |    |              |    |                  |
            |  Claude Code     +--->+              +--->+    SQL Server    |
            |                  |    |              |    |                  |
            |  Cursor          +--->+    DBHub     +--->+    Oracle        |
            |                  |    |              |    |                  |
            |  VS Code         +--->+              +--->+    SQLite        |
            |                  |    |              |    |                  |
            |  Copilot CLI     +--->+              +--->+    MySQL         |
            |                  |    |              |    |                  |
            |                  |    |              +--->+    MariaDB       |
            |                  |    |              |    |                  |
            +------------------+    +--------------+    +------------------+
                 MCP Clients           MCP Server             Databases

DBHub is a minimal MCP server: token-efficient, zero-dependency, and just two tools by default with opt-in extras. This lightweight gateway allows MCP-compatible clients to connect to and explore different databases:

• Minimal: Zero dependency, token efficient with a minimal set of MCP tools to maximize context window
• Multi-Database: PostgreSQL, MySQL, MariaDB, SQL Server, Oracle, and SQLite through a single interface
• Multi-Connection: Connect to multiple databases simultaneously with TOML configuration
• Guardrails: Read-only mode, row limiting, and query timeout to prevent runaway operations
• Secure Access: SSH tunneling and SSL/TLS encryption

DBHub is the official example in the Claude Code docs ↗ for connecting to PostgreSQL via MCP.

Token Efficiency

DBHub loads just 2 tools by default at 1.4k tokens — 13-14x fewer than alternatives — keeping the context window open for your actual work.

· MCP Server · Default Config · Default Tools ·

· DBHub · 1.4k · 2 (execute_sql, search_objects) ·

· MCP Toolbox · 19.0k · 28 ·

· Supabase MCP · 19.3k · all ·

Use Cases

• Local Development: Schema exploration, query validation, and data debugging with Claude Code, VS Code, Cursor, etc.
• Non-Technical Access: Expose curated, read-only views to non-technical staff via Claude Desktop, VS Code, Cursor, etc.
• Multi-Database Consolidation: Replace separate MCP servers for each database with a single DBHub process
• Production Troubleshooting: Read-only diagnostics with guardrails against runaway queries

Supported Databases

PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQL Server, MariaDB, Oracle, and SQLite.

MCP Tools

DBHub implements MCP tools for database operations:

• execute_sql ↗: Execute SQL queries with transaction support and safety controls
• search_objects ↗: Search and explore database schemas, tables, columns, indexes, and procedures with progressive disclosure
• explain_sql ↗ (opt-in): Show a query's execution plan without running it
• health_check ↗ (opt-in): Report connection pool state and buffer cache hit ratio
• Custom Tools ↗: Define reusable, parameterized SQL operations in your dbhub.toml configuration file

Workbench

DBHub includes a built-in web interface ↗ for interacting with your database tools. It provides a visual way to execute queries, run custom tools, and view request traces without requiring an MCP client.

Installation

npx @bytebase/dbhub@latest --transport http --port 8080 --dsn "postgres://user:password@localhost:5432/dbname?sslmode=disable"

Also available as:

• Docker image ↗
• MCP Bundle ↗ (one-click install, read-only)
• Claude Code plugin ↗

See the Installation Guide ↗ for all options, Command-Line Options ↗ for parameters, and Multi-Database Configuration ↗ for connecting several databases at once.

Development

Requires Node.js >= 22.5.0 (DBHub uses the built-in node:sqlite module).

# Install dependencies
pnpm install

# Run in development mode
pnpm dev

# Build and run for production
pnpm build && pnpm start --transport stdio --dsn "postgres://user:password@localhost:5432/dbname"

See Testing ↗ and Debug ↗.

Contributors

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