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Connect a Databricks workspace to Modus so it becomes context that Modus can reason over. Modus understands your catalogs, schemas, tables, and columns and makes them available as context when Modus answers questions and queries your data. Modus connects read-only and stores your credentials encrypted in AWS Secrets Manager.

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Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:
  • A Databricks workspace with Unity Catalog.
  • A SQL warehouse (or cluster) that is running — Modus queries through its HTTP endpoint.
  • Permission to create an access token and grant read access (see below).

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Set up access

1

Get your Server Hostname and HTTP Path

In Databricks, open SQL Warehouses, select your warehouse, and open the Connection details tab. Copy the Server hostname (without https://) and the HTTP path (e.g. /sql/1.0/warehouses/abc123).
2

Create an access token

Modus authenticates with a token — either a personal access token or a service principal token (recommended for production).
  • Personal access token: Settings → Developer → Access tokens → Generate new token.
  • Service principal: create a service principal, then generate an OAuth/token for it.
3

Grant read access

Grant the token’s principal read access to the catalogs and schemas Modus should use as context. In a Databricks SQL editor, run:
Replace <principal> with the user email or service principal application ID. Repeat the schema grants for each schema you want Modus to use.
Modus reads table and column metadata from each catalog’s INFORMATION_SCHEMA, which is covered by the grants above. No write access is required.

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Network access

If your workspace restricts inbound access with an IP access list, allow Modus’s egress IP addresses. See IP Allowlisting.

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Connect in Modus

1

Open the Databricks connection form

  1. Log into Modus.
  2. Click Integrations in the left sidebar.
  3. Find the Databricks card under Databases and click Connect.
2

Fill in the connection details

Complete the form using the field reference below.
Modus Databricks connection form
3

Test and save

  1. Click Test Connection to verify Modus can reach your workspace.
  2. Click Save Connection.
4

Select schemas

After saving, Modus lists the catalogs and schemas the token can access. Select the schemas you want Modus to use as context, then save. Nothing is scanned without your explicit selection.

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Connection form field reference

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Troubleshooting

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Verification

Your Databricks workspace is now connected. Modus turns the selected catalogs, schemas, tables, and columns into context so Modus can give accurate, data-aware answers. Need help? Contact us at support@getmodus.com.
Modus connects read-only and requests only the minimum permissions needed to understand and query your data. All credentials are encrypted and stored in AWS Secrets Manager — your token is never stored in plaintext.