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Vast.ai MCP connector

The Vast.ai connector lets Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, Microsoft Copilot and any MCP client rent and manage GPU instances, network disks, SSH keys, worker groups, endpoint jobs and secrets in Vast.ai, with every action running under the person who signed in.

  • Connects with an API key
  • Free 14-day trial
  • No credit card
ChatGPT Elaichi connected

List every running Vast.ai instance and its bid price

Working in Vast.ai with Elaichi

  • List all Vast.ai instance sshes
  • List all Vast.ai auth apikeys
  • List all Vast.ai workergroups
Ask anything…
Governance / Audit log Last 24 hours
Vast.ai List all Vast.ai workergroups Emily Carter · ChatGPT · 9:41 AM Done
Vast.ai List all Vast.ai auth apikeys Emily Carter · ChatGPT · 9:41 AM Done
Vast.ai List all Vast.ai instance sshes Emily Carter · ChatGPT · 9:41 AM Done
Vast.ai Create a Vast.ai network disk Megan Brooks · Claude · 9:38 AM Done
Vast.ai Create a Vast.ai instance SSH Ryan Hayes · Cursor · 9:35 AM Done

How to connect Vast.ai to Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or Microsoft Copilot

Step by step, for each AI app

Vast.ai MCP connector for Claude

  1. 1

    Open Customize, then Connectors.

  2. 2

    Press Add.

  3. 3

    Name it, paste the MCP server URL, then Continue.

    https://api.elaichi.ai/mcp
  4. 4

    Sign in and approve.

On Team and Enterprise, an Owner adds it once. Everyone else turns it on for themselves.

Vast.ai MCP connector for Claude Code

  1. 1

    In a terminal, run claude mcp add with the endpoint.

    https://api.elaichi.ai/mcp
  2. 2

    Start Claude Code and run /mcp.

  3. 3

    Pick elaichi, then sign in and approve in the browser.

Terminal

$ claude mcp add --transport http elaichi --scope user https://api.elaichi.ai/mcp

Use --scope project instead to share it with the repository through .mcp.json.

Vast.ai MCP connector for ChatGPT

  1. 1

    Open Plugins, then press the + button.

  2. 2

    Name it and paste the endpoint into Server URL.

    https://api.elaichi.ai/mcp
  3. 3

    Leave Authentication on OAuth, then tick the risk acknowledgement.

  4. 4

    Press Create, then sign in and approve.

Works on the web. The plugin directory lives at chatgpt.com/plugins.

Vast.ai MCP connector for Cursor

  1. 1

    Open ~/.cursor/mcp.json.

  2. 2

    Add the endpoint under mcpServers.

    https://api.elaichi.ai/mcp
  3. 3

    Reload Cursor, then sign in and approve.

~/.cursor/mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "elaichi": {
      "url": "https://api.elaichi.ai/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Set up per machine, so repeat it on each computer you work from.

Vast.ai MCP connector for Microsoft Copilot

  1. 1

    In Copilot Studio, open your agent, then Tools, Add a tool, New tool and Model Context Protocol.

  2. 2

    Paste the endpoint into Server URL, choose OAuth 2.0, then Dynamic discovery, and press Create.

    https://api.elaichi.ai/mcp
  3. 3

    Create a new connection, sign in and approve, then press Add to agent.

  4. 4

    Under Channels, open Teams and Microsoft Copilot and make the agent available in Microsoft Copilot.

Server URL
https://api.elaichi.ai/mcp
Authentication
OAuth 2.0
Type
Dynamic discovery

Microsoft Copilot was called Microsoft 365 Copilot. Keep the tool on end-user credentials, so each person signs in as themselves.

Connect Vast.ai to any MCP client

  1. 1

    Add the endpoint as a remote MCP server.

    https://api.elaichi.ai/mcp
  2. 2

    Sign in and approve.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "elaichi": {
      "url": "https://api.elaichi.ai/mcp"
    }
  }
}

The Elaichi Agent already has these tools, with nothing to set up.

What teams do with Vast.ai through Elaichi

Ask in plain English. Each person’s AI can do only what they’re allowed to, and every action it takes in Vast.ai is logged.

  • Machine learning

    Spin up a GPU box for training

    Ask for a new instance with the right disk and SSH access, then adjust the bid price if the job needs to keep running through a busy hour.

  • Data engineering

    Move datasets onto a network disk

    Create a network disk for a project and queue a copy of training data onto it with an rclone command, then clear the command when the transfer is done.

  • Platform

    Keep worker groups and endpoint jobs in shape

    List the worker groups serving a model, change the settings on one, and add or retire endpoint jobs as traffic changes.

  • Security

    Rotate API keys and secrets without a console

    See which Vast.ai API keys exist, create a fresh one for a new pipeline, and delete keys and secrets that are no longer needed.

  • Finance

    Trim spend on running instances

    Review what is running, lower the bid price on instances that can wait, and remove SSH access from boxes that are being wound down.

  • Hosting

    Take a machine in and out of maintenance

    Cancel scheduled maintenance on a host machine when the fix lands early, or run a cleanup on a machine before it goes back into the market.

Try asking

  • “List every running Vast.ai instance and its bid price”
  • “Which Vast.ai machines are in maintenance right now”
  • “Show network disks attached to instances in Research”

See all 89 Vast.ai tools →

What connecting Vast.ai gets you

6 screens from Elaichi, each doing one job for your Vast.ai account.

Elaichi Agent

Ask Elaichi to work across your apps.

List every running Vast.ai instance and its bid price

Which Vast.ai machines are in maintenance right now

Show network disks attached to instances in Research

Also runs in Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or Microsoft Copilot

The agent

Ask about Vast.ai instances in plain language.

Answers come from live Vast.ai instances, machines and network disks, not stale exports.

ElaichiAI apps
Claude ChatGPT Cursor Microsoft Copilot

Copy the endpoint

https://api.elaichi.ai/mcp
Client Connected by Status Last used
Claude
E

Emily Carter

• Connected 4 minutes ago
Cursor
M

Megan Brooks

• Connected 2 hours ago
ChatGPT
R

Ryan Hayes

• Connected Yesterday

AI apps

Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor and Microsoft Copilot reach Vast.ai here.

One org MCP endpoint over OAuth, no SDK and no shared API key.

ElaichiTools
Tool Action Description
Create a Vast.ai network disk Create Add a network disk in vast to be used for creating network volume offers, or add machines to an existing network disk. Returns: success, disk_id. Required: mount_point.
Create a Vast.ai instance SSH Create Attach an SSH key to a vast instance, granting SSH access using the provided key. Returns: success, msg. Required: id, ssh_key.
Delete a Vast.ai instance SSH by ID Delete Detach an SSH key from a vast instance, removing SSH access for that key. Returns: success, msg. Required: id, ssh_key_id.
List all Vast.ai instance sshes List List SSH keys associated with a vast instance. Returns: success, ssh_keys. Required: instance_id.
Update a Vast.ai commands copy direct by ID Update Initiate a remote copy operation in vast to transfer data from one instance to another or between an instance and the local machine. Returns: success, msg. Required: src_path, dst_path.

Tool catalog

89 Vast.ai tools ready with no custom code.

Instances, SSH keys, machines, network disks, bid prices and rclone commands, all callable.

ElaichiToolboxes
Name Source template Tools Created

ML Research toolbox

Vast.ai · training instances and network disks

Vast.ai starter 18 Mar 4, 2026

Platform Engineering toolbox

Vast.ai · machines and maintenance windows

— 9 Mar 2, 2026

MLOps toolbox

Vast.ai · instance provisioning and rclone commands

— 24 Feb 27, 2026

Data Engineering toolbox

Vast.ai · network disks and copy jobs

Vast.ai starter 6 Feb 19, 2026

Security toolbox

Vast.ai · api keys and ssh keys

— 31 Jan 30, 2026

Finance toolbox

Vast.ai · bid prices and instance spend

— 12 Jan 22, 2026

Toolboxes

Each team gets its own Vast.ai toolbox.

Curate one toolbox of Vast.ai tools per team and expose only that.

ElaichiConnections
Connection Scope Status Access
VA

Vast.ai (ML Research)

Connected by Emily Carter

Personal • Active 1 team · 6 members
VA

Vast.ai (Platform Engineering)

Connected by Jake Morgan

Organization • Active 3 teams · 24 members
VA

Vast.ai (MLOps)

Connected by Megan Brooks

Organization • Active 2 teams · 11 members
VA

Vast.ai (Data Engineering)

Connected by Tyler Reed

Personal • Needs re-auth 1 team · 3 members
VA

Vast.ai (Security)

Connected by Ryan Hayes

Personal • Active Not shared
VA

Vast.ai (Finance)

Connected by Ashley Parker

Personal • Active 2 teams · 9 members

Shared connections

Teammates use Vast.ai accounts without seeing keys.

Every connection shows who connected it and which teams and members share it.

ElaichiAudit log
When Who What happened Type

2 minutes ago

Mar 6, 2026, 3:10 PM

E

Emily Carter

[email protected]

Restriction Created Access

8 minutes ago

Mar 6, 2026, 3:04 PM

J

Jake Morgan

[email protected]

Restriction Updated Access

14 minutes ago

Mar 6, 2026, 2:58 PM

M

Megan Brooks

[email protected]

Role Assigned Access

20 minutes ago

Mar 6, 2026, 2:52 PM

T

Tyler Reed

[email protected]

Vast.ai Users Updated MCP

26 minutes ago

Mar 6, 2026, 2:46 PM

R

Ryan Hayes

[email protected]

Vast.ai Instances Created MCP

32 minutes ago

Mar 6, 2026, 2:40 PM

A

Ashley Parker

[email protected]

Vast.ai Instances List Toolbox

Audit log

Every Vast.ai call is written down.

When, who, what happened, type and resource, appended for each instance and disk.

From answering questions to doing the work

A trigger starts the work, inside the same permissions and the same audit log as everything else. Automations, collections and live dashboards come with the Black plan.

Vast.ai digest

Run 418 · started 2 minutes ago · on behalf of Emily Carter

  1. ✓

    Schedule

    Every weekday at 8:00 AM

    0.2s
  2. ✓

    Fetch instances

    Vast.ai

    1.4s
  3. ✓

    Group by owner

    Transform

    0.1s
  4. ✓

    Draft the digest

    Agent step

    Ran with 4 tools, returned a structured summary

    6.2s
  5. Approve the digest

    Needs approval

    Assigned to Jake Morgan

    Approve
  6. Post the digest

    Vast.ai

    Queued

Automations

A schedule starts real Vast.ai work.

Fetch instances, group them, draft a digest, get approval, post back to Vast.ai.

Vast.ai health

Refreshed 4 minutes ago · every 15 minutes · from the instances collection

Live

Instances

1,284 ↓ 12%

Machines

96 ↓ 8%

Needs attention

3 ↑ 2

Updated this week

412 ↑ 9%

Instances created

Last 14 days

By team

Share of activity

ML Research 34%

Platform Engineering 27%

MLOps 21%

Data Engineering 18%

Collections and dashboards

Vast.ai numbers land before anyone asks.

Four metrics, 14 days of instances created and a team breakdown, refreshed on schedule.

For IT and engineering

Elaichi vs Zapier MCP vs Composio for Vast.ai

All three can connect Vast.ai to an AI assistant, and all three have admin controls. They differ in where access lives and how you pay.

Elaichi compared with Zapier MCP and Composio for Vast.ai, by what to check
What to check Elaichi Zapier MCP Composio
Where the AI connects One address for the whole organization. https://api.elaichi.ai/mcp A server per member, created at sign-in. An MCP endpoint per team, or an SDK.
Control over Vast.ai tools Allow or restrict single Vast.ai tools, per role or user. App and action restrictions on the account. Role permissions, down to the action.
Record of calls One audit entry per Vast.ai call. A History tab of tool calls. A log of every tool call.
Single sign-on SAML or OIDC, plus SCIM, on Gold. SAML on Enterprise. SAML and OIDC on Enterprise.
Price Free for one person; $15 per user per month on Gold. 2 tasks per successful call. Billed per tool call.

Sources: Zapier MCP docs, security, usage; Composio docs, gateway, enterprise, pricing. Checked September 2026.

Longer take: Zapier MCP alternative and when you don't need an MCP gateway.

Vast.ai tools for your AI agents

89 tools are ready to call through Elaichi's MCP endpoint the moment you connect Vast.ai, governed by the same roles, restrictions, and audit log as everything else in Elaichi.

Questions, answered

How do I connect Vast.ai to Claude?

First connect Vast.ai in Elaichi by pasting an API key from your Vast.ai account, then in Claude go to Customize, then Connectors, then Add, and paste https://api.elaichi.ai/mcp. Vast.ai signs in with an API key, so there is no OAuth application to register and no client ID or secret to generate. Once both steps are done, Claude can work with your Vast.ai instances, disks and keys as you.

Does Vast.ai work with ChatGPT and Cursor as well as Claude?

Yes. Vast.ai is connected once in Elaichi, and the same endpoint, https://api.elaichi.ai/mcp, is pasted into Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, Microsoft Copilot, any other MCP client and the Elaichi Agent. There is nothing extra to set up for each client.

What can an AI agent actually do with my Vast.ai account?

An agent can create Vast.ai instances and network disks, add or remove SSH access, change the bid price on a running instance, and queue copy or rclone commands to move data. It can also list, create, update and delete worker groups, endpoint jobs, API keys and secrets, and take a host machine out of maintenance or run a cleanup on it. Short, concrete asks such as "lower the bid on instance 4821" work better than long paragraphs.

Does connecting Vast.ai give the AI access to everything in my account?

No. Every call to Vast.ai runs under the API key the signed-in person provided, so the agent can only reach the instances, disks, worker groups and secrets that key can already reach. Elaichi can narrow that further by restricting specific actions, and it never widens what the key allows.

Can my team share one Vast.ai connection?

Yes. One person connects Vast.ai in Elaichi and shares the connection with a team, and nobody else ever handles the API key. Each teammate still signs in to Elaichi as themselves, so the audit log names the actual person who created an instance or deleted a secret.

Can I stop an agent from deleting or changing things in Vast.ai?

Yes. Restrictions in Elaichi work per action, so you can allow listing Vast.ai instances and worker groups while restricting deletion of instances, API keys or secrets. A restricted action still appears in Elaichi's tool search, flagged as restricted, but Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor or Microsoft Copilot cannot run it, whatever the prompt says.

What happens to a Vast.ai connection when someone leaves?

Offboarding that person in Elaichi ends their access to Vast.ai through every client at once. If they had shared a Vast.ai connection, it keeps working for everyone else on the team. Disconnecting Vast.ai once in Elaichi removes it from Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, Microsoft Copilot and every other client together.

Does the Vast.ai MCP connector work with Gemini, Codex, Claude Code or other MCP clients?

Yes. Vast.ai is reached over the same MCP endpoint every client uses, so anything that speaks MCP can call it — Gemini, Codex, Claude Code, Windsurf, Cline, Zed and OpenCode among them — alongside Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor, Microsoft Copilot, and the Elaichi Agent. The tools on offer and the access behind them are identical whichever client asks. Only the setup screen differs.

Is Elaichi an alternative to Zapier MCP for Vast.ai?

Yes. Both let Claude, ChatGPT or Cursor use Vast.ai. Zapier MCP fits a team that already automates in Zapier, since each person signs in and acts as themselves in that account. Elaichi fits when IT wants one address for the whole company, per-tool rules by role, and a record of every Vast.ai call.

How is Elaichi different from Composio for Vast.ai?

Composio gives AI agents tools and sign-in handling across 1,000+ apps, for developers building agents or people using an assistant, billed per tool call. Elaichi gives a company's own people governed access to Vast.ai: one address, restrictions per role or user, and $15 per user per month. Both have role permissions and a log of every call.

Put Vast.ai in front of your team

14 days of Black, no credit card. Connect it once and pick what each team can call.

When the trial ends, nothing is deleted. You move to the free Personal plan, and connections, roles and the audit log stay where they are.

Add one link to your AI app

The same link for everyone on your team.

https://api.elaichi.ai/mcp
  • ChatGPT
  • Claude
  • Cursor
  • Microsoft Copilot