MCP server
Kubernetes MCP Server (Red Hat)
- Maintainer
- Community
- Runs
- Local (stdio)
- GitHub
- ★ 2,179, last push 2026-10-23 (checked 2026-10-24)
- License
- Apache-2.0
- Registry
- io.github.containers/kubernetes-mcp-server
- Connects to
- Helm, Kubernetes, OpenShift
Install the Kubernetes MCP Server (Red Hat)
Pick your client. Each tab starts the same local command. Config shapes checked against each client's docs on 2026-10-25.
Run in a terminal. Everything after -- is the command that starts the server. docs
claude mcp add --transport stdio kubernetes -- npx -y kubernetes-mcp-server
Claude Desktop only: Settings > Developer > Edit Config opens claude_desktop_config.json. Add this, save and restart the app. docs
{
"mcpServers": {
"kubernetes": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"kubernetes-mcp-server"
]
}
}
}Add to ~/.cursor/mcp.json (all projects) or .cursor/mcp.json (this project), or use the install button. docs
{
"mcpServers": {
"kubernetes": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"kubernetes-mcp-server"
]
}
}
}Add to .vscode/mcp.json (note the "servers" key and the type), or use the install button. Command Palette > "MCP: Open User Configuration" for all workspaces. docs
{
"servers": {
"kubernetes": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"kubernetes-mcp-server"
]
}
}
}Run codex mcp add kubernetes -- npx -y kubernetes-mcp-server, or add this to ~/.codex/config.toml. docs
[mcp_servers.kubernetes] command = "npx" args = ["-y", "kubernetes-mcp-server"]
Run in a terminal (-s user adds it for all projects; the default is this project). docs
gemini mcp add -s user kubernetes npx -- -y kubernetes-mcp-server
Run in a terminal; it writes ~/.copilot/mcp-config.json. docs
copilot mcp add kubernetes -- npx -y kubernetes-mcp-server
Add to mcp_config.json: ~/.config/devin/mcp_config.json on macOS and Linux (older installs: ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json), %APPDATA%\devin\ on Windows. docs
{
"mcpServers": {
"kubernetes": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"kubernetes-mcp-server"
]
}
}
}Add to Zed's settings.json (or Settings > AI > MCP Servers > Add Server). Remote servers without an Authorization header sign in with OAuth. docs
{
"context_servers": {
"kubernetes": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"kubernetes-mcp-server"
]
}
}
}Add to opencode.json in the project (or ~/.config/opencode/opencode.json). docs
{
"$schema": "https://opencode.ai/config.json",
"mcp": {
"kubernetes": {
"type": "local",
"command": [
"npx",
"-y",
"kubernetes-mcp-server"
],
"enabled": true
}
}
}Add to ~/.kiro/settings/mcp.json (all projects) or .kiro/settings/mcp.json (this project). docs
{
"mcpServers": {
"kubernetes": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"kubernetes-mcp-server"
]
}
}
}MCP Servers > Configure > Configure MCP Servers opens cline_mcp_settings.json; add this entry. docs
{
"mcpServers": {
"kubernetes": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"kubernetes-mcp-server"
]
}
}
}Security notes
- The local server runs with your user's permissions (npx downloads it from npm on first run).
- It acts on real infrastructure with your credentials. Use a read-only role or a sandbox account first.
- Community code: read it (or at least the tools it registers) before you give it credentials.
Alternatives
- Kubesharkofficial · ★ 12k
Live Kubernetes network traffic: HTTP, gRPC, Redis, Kafka and DNS calls between services.
- Kubernetes (Flux159)community · ★ 1.6k
kubectl and Helm operations with a non-destructive mode.
- Cloudflareofficial · ★ 4.4k
A set of hosted servers (docs, Workers bindings, builds, observability, Radar and more), each at its own URL; the docs one is shown.
- Azureofficial · ★ 3.8k
Azure resources, storage, Cosmos DB, Key Vault, monitoring and CLI commands from one server.
- Fly.ioofficial · ★ 1.7k
MCP server built into flyctl to manage Fly apps, machines, volumes and logs.
- Terraformofficial · ★ 1.6k
Look up Terraform providers, modules and policies in the registry, and manage HCP Terraform workspaces.
- Google Cloud Runofficial · ★ 632
Deploy code or containers to Cloud Run and list services and logs.
- Argo CDofficial · ★ 596
List, sync and inspect Argo CD applications and their resources.
Comparing servers for one product? Helm MCP servers · Kubernetes MCP servers · OpenShift MCP servers
FAQ
What does the Kubernetes MCP Server (Red Hat) do?+
Native Go server for Kubernetes and OpenShift: pods, resources, logs, Helm; no kubectl needed.
Is the Kubernetes (Red Hat) MCP server official?+
Community-maintained (containers on GitHub), not by the company whose product it connects to.
How do I add Kubernetes (Red Hat) to Claude Code?+
Run: claude mcp add kubernetes -- npx -y kubernetes-mcp-server. Add --scope project to share it with your team through .mcp.json.
How do I use the Kubernetes (Red Hat) MCP server in Cursor or VS Code?+
Open the Cursor or VS Code tab above: it has the mcp.json entry and a one-click install link. Cursor uses the "mcpServers" key; VS Code uses "servers" and needs a type ("stdio").
Does Kubernetes (Red Hat) work in ChatGPT and claude.ai?+
No: it runs locally over stdio, and ChatGPT and claude.ai only connect to remote servers. Use it in Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code or another client that can start a local process.
What are the alternatives to the Kubernetes (Red Hat) MCP server?+
Other cloud & devops MCP servers: Kubeshark, Kubernetes (Flux159), Cloudflare, Azure and Fly.io.