MCP Server rate limiting

Rate limiting helps administrators control the number of requests made to Splunk MCP Server, protecting shared resources and supporting server performance.

Administrators with the mcp_tool_admin capability can configure global and per-tool rate limits in the Splunk MCP Server app.

How rate limiting works

Splunk MCP Server supports global and per-tool rate limits. Global limits control the total number of tool calls, while per-tool limits control requests to individual tools.

Rate limiting uses a fixed-window counter. Requests are counted within a configured time window, and the counter resets when a new window begins.

Rate limiting operates as described in the following table:

Function Description
Fixed-window counter

Counts requests within fixed time intervals. The counter resets at the beginning of each new window.
Global rate limit

Limits the total number of tool calls across all tools during the configured rate-limit window.
Per-tool rate limit Limits the number of calls to an individual MCP tool during the configured rate-limit window.

The rate-limit window is configurable from 1 to 1440 minutes. Global and per-tool rate limits use the same configured window. Entering 0 for a global or per-tool rate limit disables that limit.

Note: Rate-limit counting occurs on each node independently and is not replicated across the stack.

Configure rate limiting

You can configure global and per-tool rate limits through the Splunk MCP Server app. You must have the mcp_tool_admin capability to modify these settings.

Configure the global rate limit

The global rate limit controls the maximum number of tool calls permitted across all tools during the configured rate-limit window.

Complete the following steps:

  1. In the Splunk MCP Server app, select Setting, and then Server.

  2. Select Edit.

  3. In the Edit server settings window, enter the maximum number of tool calls allowed in the Global rate limit field. Enter a positive whole number to set a limit, or 0 to disable global rate limiting.

  4. If needed, modify the Rate limit window field to specify the counting window in minutes. Enter an integer from 1 to 1440.

  5. Select Save to save your changes.

Configure a per-tool rate limit

Per-tool rate limits control the number of requests that can be made to an individual MCP tool.

Complete the following steps:

  1. In the Splunk MCP Server app, select Setting, and then Tools.

  2. Locate the tool you want to configure.

  3. Expand the tool's details.

  4. Select Edit rate limit.

  5. In the Set rate limit window, enter the maximum number of tool calls allowed during the configured rate-limit window. Enter a positive whole number to set a limit, or 0 to disable rate limiting for that tool.

  6. Select Save to save your changes.