Guide
What Is an MCP Server? A Real Example You Can Connect
What is an MCP server? It is a program that provides context and tools to AI applications over the Model Context Protocol. If you’ve wondered how Claude or ChatGPT can actually do something in another product, this is the part that lets them.
What is an MCP server? The short definition
The Model Context Protocol site calls MCP an open-source standard for connecting AI applications to external systems, and compares it to a USB-C port: one standard way to connect.
An MCP server is the program that serves context to those applications, wherever it runs, on your machine or on a company’s servers.
Hosts, clients and servers
In MCP’s architecture the host is the AI application, such as Claude Desktop. It creates one client per server, and each client keeps its own connection.
Local servers use the stdio transport and normally serve one client. Remote servers use Streamable HTTP, serve many clients, and MCP recommends OAuth to get tokens.
What a server can offer
Three primitives: tools, which are executable functions the AI can invoke; resources, which are data for context; and prompts, which are reusable templates.
A client lists the tools first, then calls one by name with arguments. The model decides when a tool fits the conversation.
A real example: Dripost’s server
Dripost’s MCP server at mcp.dripost.com is a remote server that exposes 10 tools for social posting: workspace and channels, list posts, get a post, list media, create, update and delete a post, import media from a link, publish, and retry a failed platform.
Claude and ChatGPT have been connected to it and tested end to end. The full action list is on Dripost’s AI actions page and the REST side is at dripost.com/docs/api.
Why access rules matter
A server that can act needs limits. Dripost starts every connection drafts-only; scheduling and publishing need a “post” permission you tick, “publish now” needs your approval on dripost.com, and an AI-written post is held 10 minutes so you can cancel it.
Facebook MCP server
If you run a Facebook Page, an MCP server lets an assistant like Claude or ChatGPT handle the writing and scheduling while you keep the final say. Dripost’s MCP server posts to Facebook Pages, with drafts-only access until you choose otherwise.
Point your assistant at the server. MCP is described by its own documentation as a USB-C port for AI applications: one standard way to plug into outside systems. Dripost’s end of that plug is mcp.dripost.com/mcp.
Give it a task that has an end. “Look at what I’ve scheduled for the Page this week and suggest two gaps” uses the list-posts tool. “Add a post about Saturday’s sale with this photo link” uses media import and create-post.
Decide how much it may do. Out of the box the connection can only read and make drafts. Scheduling and publishing need a “post” permission you tick yourself.
Instagram MCP server
An Instagram MCP server is a connection that lets an AI assistant work on your Instagram account through tools you approve. Dripost’s MCP server, at mcp.dripost.com, does that for professional Instagram accounts, and Claude and ChatGPT have both been connected to it and tested end to end.
Connect your Instagram account to Dripost. Link your Instagram professional account in Dripost’s Channels page first. Instagram posting through Dripost is for professional accounts.
Add Dripost to Claude or ChatGPT. In Claude, open Customize, then Connectors, choose Add custom connector and enter the server address, mcp.dripost.com/mcp. Claude’s help page says custom connectors work on Free, Pro, Max, Team and Enterprise plans, with Free limited to one.
Ask for the post in plain words. Say what you want: “Make a Reel draft from this video link, caption it in my voice, aim for Friday at 6.” The assistant imports the video, creates the post and shows you what it made.
X MCP server
An X MCP server turns “post this tomorrow morning” into a tool call. Dripost’s MCP server posts to X as text only, which suits short takes, threads of words and scheduled announcements.
Connect X in Dripost. Add your X account under Channels. It appears in the workspace the assistant reads.
Connect the assistant. OpenAI’s page says custom MCP servers aren’t developed or verified by OpenAI, and advises connecting only to servers you know and trust. Check you are using Dripost’s own address, mcp.dripost.com/mcp, before you paste it in.
Ask for the post. “Write three versions of an announcement for the new release and queue the shortest for noon.” Using the create-post tool, it saves a draft in your workspace.
YouTube MCP server
A YouTube MCP server lets an assistant handle the fiddly parts of an upload: title, description and timing. Dripost’s MCP server sends videos to YouTube, and the assistant can prepare them but not release one on its own.
Add your YouTube channel. Connect the channel in Dripost under Channels. The assistant reads the workspace and sees it listed among the connected channels.
Add the server to the assistant. MCP’s architecture page notes that remote servers use the Streamable HTTP transport and recommends OAuth for authentication. Dripost apps can connect with OAuth instead of a key.
Brief it like an editor. Try “Import this render, write a title and a three-line description, and schedule it for Thursday 5 pm.” The assistant makes a draft first; scheduling needs the “post” permission.
Sources
Questions
Is an MCP server the same as an API?
An API is built for programmers to call. An MCP server describes its tools in a standard way so an AI application can find and use them. Dripost has both, a REST API and an MCP server.
Do I have to run an MCP server myself?
No. Remote servers like Dripost’s are hosted for you; you add the address to your assistant.
Will the assistant post twice if Facebook is slow?
No. Each post goes to each platform once; if the result is unclear Dripost asks a person instead of sending again.
Can I try this for free?
Every account starts with 14 days of Pro, no card. After that the Free plan lets assistants read and make drafts.
Does Instagram have its own MCP server?
This page covers Dripost’s MCP server, which posts to Instagram professional accounts. Dripost doesn’t speak for what other servers offer.
Which assistants work?
Claude and ChatGPT have been connected to Dripost’s MCP server and tested end to end. No other assistant is claimed.
Can the assistant post images to X?
Through Dripost, X posts are text only.
What if X refuses a post?
You get X’s own reason, and a retry sends only to the platform that failed.
Can the assistant upload from my computer?
It imports media from a link. Dripost’s MCP server has no tool that reads files from your machine.
Does this replace the Dripost composer?
No. Drafts the assistant makes show up in Dripost, where you can edit them like any other post.