Benny ChatBenny Docs

Smithery Setup Guide

MCP server host for all integrations

Package: smitheryView on Smithery

Smithery Setup Guide

Smithery is the MCP (Model Context Protocol) server host that powers all integrations in Benny Chat. This guide will help you create and configure your Smithery account, which is required before setting up any MCP integrations.

What is Smithery?

Smithery provides hosted MCP servers that allow Benny Chat to securely connect to external services like Todoist, GitHub, Perplexity, and more. It handles authentication, API key management, and server hosting so you can focus on using the integrations.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, you'll need:

  • A GitHub account (required for Smithery authentication)

Step 1: Create Your Smithery Account

  1. Visit smithery.ai
  2. Click "Sign in with GitHub"
  3. Authorize Smithery to access your GitHub account

Step 2: Create Your Smithery Profile

  1. Click on your avatar in the top right
  2. Select "Profiles & API Keys"
  3. Click "Create a Profile"
  4. Enter a Name for your profile (e.g., "Benny Chat Profile")
  5. Add a Description (e.g., "Profile for Benny Chat integrations")
  6. Click "Create"
  7. Important: Copy your Profile ID - you'll find it displayed at the top of the profile page, just below the profile name you created

Step 3: Generate Your API Key

  1. Still in "Profiles & API Keys", navigate to the "API Keys" section
  2. Click "Create API Key"
  3. Give your key a Name (e.g., "Benny Chat Key")
  4. Click "Add"
  5. Click "Copy API Key" to copy your key
  6. Important: Save this key securely - you won't be able to see it again!

Note: Each API key can access every profile in your account. The Profile ID tells Benny Chat which specific profile to use.

Step 4: Configure Smithery in Benny Chat

  1. Open Benny Chat and click on your profile icon
  2. Select "Settings" from the dropdown menu
  3. At the top of Settings, find "Smithery API Key"
  4. Paste your API key from Step 3
  5. Below that, find "Smithery Profile"
  6. Enter your Profile ID from Step 2
  7. Click "Save" or close the settings

Step 5: Test Your Configuration

To verify everything is working:

  1. Go to Smithery and add an MCP server to your profile
  2. In Benny Chat Settings, scroll down to "MCP Tool Settings"
  3. Find the integration you added and toggle it on
  4. Click "Test Connection"
  5. If you see "Connection successful", your setup is complete!

Adding MCP Integrations in Smithery

For each service you want to use with Benny Chat:

  1. Visit the MCP server page on Smithery (e.g., Todoist MCP)
  2. Click "Add to Profile"
  3. Select your profile
  4. Configure any required settings (like API keys for that service)
  5. Save the configuration

Troubleshooting

General Debugging Steps

When debugging Smithery setup:

  1. Test any MCP tool connection - If you can successfully connect to at least one tool in Benny Chat, your API key and Profile ID are configured correctly
  2. If all tools fail - Check your API key and Profile ID configuration in Benny Chat Settings
  3. If only specific tools fail - The issue is with that specific service configuration in your Smithery profile

"Invalid API Key" Error

  • Ensure you copied the entire API key without spaces
  • Check that the API key is in the correct field (top of Settings)
  • Generate a new API key if needed
  • Remember: API keys can access all profiles, so the issue is likely the key itself

"Profile Not Found" Error

  • Verify you entered the Profile ID (not the profile name)
  • The Profile ID is shown at the top of your profile page, below the profile name
  • Make sure there are no typos or extra spaces

Connection Test Failed

  • First: Try connecting to a different MCP tool - if it works, your Smithery setup is correct
  • If working: Check the specific service configuration in your Smithery profile:
    • Is the MCP server added to your profile?
    • Are all required API keys/settings configured for that service?
  • If not working: Review your API key and Profile ID in Benny Chat Settings
  • Try disabling and re-enabling the integration in Benny Chat

Security Best Practices

  1. Never share your Smithery API key - treat it like a password
  2. Use one profile for Benny Chat - keeps configurations organized
  3. Store service API keys in Smithery - not in Benny Chat directly
  4. Rotate keys periodically - delete old keys you're no longer using

Next Steps

Now that Smithery is configured, you can set up individual integrations:

Need Help?

Last updated: September 14, 2025 at 6:38 PM