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Help Center›Zeus AI› Zeus AI: Agent Setup›How to manage Zeus AI Tools
Table of contents
  • Overview
  • Getting started
  • How to set up a native tool
  • Build the flow on the canvas
  • Publish the tool
  • How to edit a tool
  • How to duplicate a tool
  • How to delete a tool
  • How to set up an MCP server
  • Server statuses
  • How to manage an MCP server
  • FAQs & Troubleshooting
  • How do tools get real-time data?
  • What happens when I turn a tool's switch on or off?
  • Why is my server "Unverified"?
  • Why is my server "Disconnected"?
  • Why aren't newly added tools showing up?

    • How to manage Zeus AI Tools

    Last updated October 23, 2026

    Overview

    Who can use this feature?
    Admins and Agents can view and edit. Viewers can't open Zeus AI.
    Zeus AI is a paid add-on available for any Atlas plan.

    Tools are the action-taking capabilities of your Zeus AI agent. Knowledge gives the agent information to read, and Tools let it perform live actions and exchange real-time data with external platforms, for example tracking a shipment, pulling database records or updating a ticket.

    Zeus AI offers two ways to power actions:

    • Native tools: Custom workflows built directly in Atlas with branching blocks, code blocks or API connections. Once published, you can call the tool directly in protocol instructions.
    • MCP servers: Direct connections to external software (such as Linear, Notion or custom backends) using the Model Context Protocol.
    Related articles:
    •  Learn about key components in Zeus AI native tools: Blocks, connections and branches.
    •  Learn about blocks in Zeus AI native tools: What each block does.
    •  How to manage Zeus AI Protocols: Call your published tools from a protocol.
    •  How to manage Zeus AI Profiles: Create the profiles a tool applies to.

    Getting started

    When you open  "Zeus AI > Agent > Tools"  for the first time, or when no tools are configured, you see the "Welcome to Tools builder" screen. Choose one of two options:

    • Click "Setup Tool" to build a native workflow on the visual canvas.
    • Click "Add MCP" to link an external Model Context Protocol server.

    How to set up a native tool

    Requirements:
    The profile used by the tool must already exist in "Zeus AI > Configurations > Profiles".
    1. Go to  "Zeus AI > Agent > Tools"  and click "Setup Tool" (or "+ Set up Tool" from the main dashboard).
    2. Enter a descriptive "Tool name". The "Tool key" fills in automatically.
    3. Enter the "Tool description".
    4. Select the "Profile" this tool applies to.
    5. Turn the action permissions on or off as needed (see the table below).
    6. Click "Get started". The canvas builder opens.
    PermissionWhat it allows
    Allow acceptApprove and run the tool action directly when Zeus AI triggers it.
    Allow editAdjust parameters, payload data or configuration settings before running the tool action.
    Allow respondGenerate and return an automated or manual response to the customer after the tool runs.
    Allow ignoreDiscard the tool request without taking any action.

    Build the flow on the canvas

    1. Drag blocks from the left menu onto the canvas:
    • "Branching": Condition blocks such as "By business hours" or "Code branching".
    • "Workflows": Custom "Code" scripts or "API" calls.
    • "Return": Pass the output back to the agent with the "Tool result" block.
    1. Configure the blocks and connect the paths.
    Important:
    The setup is saved automatically as a "Draft", so you can keep editing and publish later. The last auto-save time appears at the top left of the canvas.

    To delete a connection or block, select it, click the ellipsis icon and select "Delete", or press Delete or Backspace.

    Important:
    The "API", "Code" and "Code branching" blocks may not be available in all cases. Contact Support if you have questions about availability.

    Publish the tool

    1. Click "Publish tool" in the top right corner, or go to the tool list, click the ellipsis icon on the tool and select "Publish". The tool becomes "Live".
    Important:
    If a block configuration or connection is incorrect, an error message appears and the affected block is highlighted in red. Once published, you can call the tool directly in protocol instructions.

    How to edit a tool

    1. Go to  "Zeus AI > Agent > Tools" , then click the tool, or click its ellipsis icon and select "Edit".
    2. Apply the changes.
    Warning:
    The tool is updated with the new configuration, and the previous configuration can't be restored. If a "Live" tool has unpublished changes, the "Unpublished changes" label appears.

    How to duplicate a tool

    1. Go to  "Zeus AI > Agent > Tools" , click the ellipsis icon on the tool and select "Duplicate". You can also do this from the ellipsis icon at the top right of the canvas.
    2. Complete the tool setup.

    How to delete a tool

    1. Go to  "Zeus AI > Agent > Tools" , click the ellipsis icon on the tool and select "Delete". You can also do this from the ellipsis icon at the top right of the canvas.
    2. Click "OK" to confirm.
    Warning:
    Deleted tools can't be restored.

    How to set up an MCP server

    1. Go to  "Zeus AI > Agent > Tools"  and click "+ Add MCP Server".
    2. In "Provider", select the provider:
    • "Linear": Connect your Linear workspace for task and issue management.
    • "Notion": Connect your Notion workspace for documents and databases.
    • "Custom": Connect an internal database, custom-built API or external third-party service. Enter your server endpoint in "Custom MCP server URL".
    1. Optionally, enter a descriptive "Server name".
    2. Optionally, in "Headers", enter any required JSON authorization headers or API keys.
    3. Click "Continue".
    Important:
    For "Linear" and "Notion", the server URL fills in automatically, and you're taken to their authorization page to approve the connection.

    Server statuses

    StatusWhat it means
    Healthy (green)The server is connected, authenticated and active. Zeus AI can use its tools in real time.
    Unverified (blue)The server was added, but authentication or connection verification failed. No tools are available until it's configured or authenticated.
    Degraded (yellow)The server works but has partial failures or limited performance. Some tools may be unavailable, slow or restricted.
    Disconnected (red)The connection was lost, for example because of an expired OAuth token, server downtime or an invalid URL. Zeus AI can't use its tools until the connection is restored.

    How to manage an MCP server

    EditRefreshEnable or disable all toolsEnable or disable one toolTest a toolDelete
    1. Go to "Zeus AI > Agent > Tools", click the ellipsis icon on the MCP server and select "Edit".
    2. Update the setup and click "Save Changes".

    Editing an MCP serverEditing an MCP server. Click the image to enlarge.

    Important:
    The "Provider" can't be edited. You can edit the custom server URL, server name and headers.

    Use this to sync the server status or fetch tools newly added to your server.

    1. Go to "Zeus AI > Agent > Tools" and click the refresh icon (↻) next to the status badge, or click the ellipsis icon and select "Refresh Tools". Zeus AI re-checks the connection and refreshes the tool list.
    1. Go to "Zeus AI > Agent > Tools", click the ellipsis icon on the MCP server and select "Enable All Tools" or "Disable All Tools".
    1. Go to "Zeus AI > Agent > Tools" and click the MCP server to expand its tools.
    2. Find the tool and turn its switch on or off.

    Turning an MCP tool on or offTurning an MCP tool on or off. Click the image to enlarge.

    Use "Test Tool" to check that an MCP tool works and see the results it returns.

    1. Go to "Zeus AI > Agent > Tools" and click the MCP server to expand its tools.
    2. Click the ellipsis icon (⋮) next to the tool and select "Test Tool".
    3. Enter the required data and click "Run Tool". The results appear in "Test Result".

    Testing an MCP toolTesting an MCP tool. Click the image to enlarge.

    1. Go to "Zeus AI > Agent > Tools", click the ellipsis icon on the MCP server and select "Delete".
    2. Click "OK" to confirm.
    Warning:
    Deleted MCP servers are removed permanently and can't be restored.

    FAQs & Troubleshooting

    How do tools get real-time data?

    Zeus AI connects to external applications through MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers, which act as a secure bridge between Zeus AI and third-party software such as Linear, Notion or custom systems.

    What happens when I turn a tool's switch on or off?

    On enables the tool and off disables it, so you control exactly what Zeus AI can and can't do at any time.

    Why is my server "Unverified"?

    Authentication or connection verification failed when the server was added or configured. For Linear or Notion, make sure you completed the approval on their authorization page. For a custom server, check that the server URL is valid and that the headers or API keys are correct.

    Why is my server "Disconnected"?

    The connection was lost, for example because of an expired OAuth token, server downtime or an invalid URL. Click the refresh icon (↻) next to the status badge, or select "Refresh Tools", to re-check the connection.

    Why aren't newly added tools showing up?

    Click the refresh icon (↻) next to the MCP server's status badge, or select "Refresh Tools", to fetch the new tools.

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