Configure ChatGPT

Prerequisites

ChatGPT connects to your ScaleOut MCP service from OpenAI’s cloud infrastructure. The service must therefore be reachable at a public HTTPS URL with a DNS name and a valid TLS certificate. A URL that is accessible only from your local network will not work.

If your ScaleOut cluster has multiple hosts, configure a load balancer to provide a single public entry point. Use the load balancer’s URL when connecting ChatGPT, and ensure that it routes MCP and authentication requests to the cluster. The installation and configuration of the SSL/TLS certificate and custom DNS name are described in the DNS & Certificate Installation section of the Active Caching User Guide.

Create a Plugin in ChatGPT

ChatGPT connects to the ScaleOut MCP service through a custom MCP app. The names and locations of controls may change as ChatGPT’s interface evolves.

On chatgpt.com:

  1. Go to chatgpt.com/plugins (or select Plugins in the left sidebar).

  2. Click the +/Add button, then Create MCP app.

  3. Name your app and enter the remote MCP server’s URL (e.g. if your cluster is at https://example.com, the MCP URL is https://example.com/mcp).

  4. OAuth should be selected as the authentication method. Under Advanced settings, you don’t need any OAuth optional fields since ChatGPT will connect using Client ID Metadata Document (CIMD).

  5. Click Continue, then click Connect to go through sign-in/authorization.

  6. In a chat, click the + button and enable the plugin so its tools are available for that conversation.

Note

The MCP server needs to be publicly reachable, since ChatGPT connects to it from OpenAI’s cloud infrastructure rather than your local device.