# setup_api_key

Configure AdButler with an existing API key. Use this if the user already has an AdButler account and API key.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `setup_api_key`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/adbutler/setup-api-key

## Facts

- Tool: `setup_api_key`
- Server: AdButler (`adbutler/mcp-server`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/adbutler.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/adbutler/mcp-server
- Risk category: Write (Medium risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 1 (1 required)
- Recommended policy verdict: Rate-limited

## Parameters

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `api_key` | string | yes | The AdButler API key |

Parameters from the server's own tool schema.

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "setup_api_key",
    "arguments": {
      "api_key": "<api_key>"
    }
  }
}
```

## Why setup_api_key is rated Medium

This tool writes a configuration setting (API key) that is stored persistently and enables access to the AdButler platform. It does not delete data (not Destructive), execute arbitrary code (not Execute), or move money (not Financial).

From the tool's own definition: "Tool description states 'Configure AdButler with an existing API key', which persists a credential to enable API access. The action modifies system configuration (storing authentication material)."

Risk signals: Handles credentials or secrets (api_key)

## Use case

AI agents use setup_api_key to create or update resources in AdButler, usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your AdButler environment.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Rate-limited**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches AdButler:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "setup_api_key": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "setup_api_key_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

## Other tools on AdButler (621)

- `archive_advertiser` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/adbutler/archive-advertiser.md
- `archive_channel` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/adbutler/archive-channel.md
- `archive_contract` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/adbutler/archive-contract.md
- `archive_email_zone` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/adbutler/archive-email-zone.md
- `archive_publisher` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/adbutler/archive-publisher.md
- `bulk_upload_remove_data_list` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/adbutler/bulk-upload-remove-data-list.md
- `bulk_upload_replace_user_db` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/adbutler/bulk-upload-replace-user-db.md
- `campaign_bulk_delete_catalog_ad_items` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/adbutler/campaign-bulk-delete-catalog-ad-items.md
- `cancel_signature_request` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/adbutler/cancel-signature-request.md
- `delete_advertiser` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/adbutler/delete-advertiser.md
- `delete_archived_campaign` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/adbutler/delete-archived-campaign.md
- `delete_archived_channel` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/adbutler/delete-archived-channel.md
- `delete_archived_contract` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/adbutler/delete-archived-contract.md
- `delete_audience` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/adbutler/delete-audience.md
- `delete_audio_creative` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/adbutler/delete-audio-creative.md
- `delete_beacon_signing_key` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/adbutler/delete-beacon-signing-key.md
- `delete_bidder` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/adbutler/delete-bidder.md
- `delete_campaign` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/adbutler/delete-campaign.md
- `delete_campaign_assignment` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/adbutler/delete-campaign-assignment.md
- `delete_catalog_ad_item` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/adbutler/delete-catalog-ad-item.md
- `delete_catalog_zone` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/adbutler/delete-catalog-zone.md
- `delete_channel` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/adbutler/delete-channel.md
- `delete_channel_zone_assignment` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/adbutler/delete-channel-zone-assignment.md
- `delete_contact` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/adbutler/delete-contact.md
- `delete_contract` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/adbutler/delete-contract.md
- `delete_contract_document` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/adbutler/delete-contract-document.md
- `delete_contract_payment` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/adbutler/delete-contract-payment.md
- `delete_contract_template` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/adbutler/delete-contract-template.md
- `delete_creative` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/adbutler/delete-creative.md
- `delete_custom_html_ad_item` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/adbutler/delete-custom-html-ad-item.md
- …and 591 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/adbutler.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

---

Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=adbutler · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/adbutler
