kubectl-mcp-server
MCP server for Kubernetes: the agent reads cluster state, diagnoses pod failures and runs operations through kubectl
- 972 ★ on the repository
- Last commit
- MIT
Broad access
Why this level
- Runs real kubectl operations against the cluster, including mutating ones
- Its scope equals the kubeconfig permissions
- An agent mistake can affect a live cluster
Install
- Works in
In your terminal, with SkillFoxx CLI
npx skillfoxx add mcp/kubectl-mcp-serverDetects the agents on your machine, shows the access level and pins the version.
Other ways to install
Access and checks
How we reviewBroad accessThe tool can change data, run commands or handle secrets.
- Runs real kubectl operations against the cluster, including mutating ones
- Its scope equals the kubeconfig permissions
- An agent mistake can affect a live cluster
This is third-party code. Review the repository files before installing.
What it does
The server connects Kubernetes to an agent through your existing kubeconfig. The agent sees pods, deployments and namespaces, explains why a pod is crashing, works through network problems and creates or scales resources. It installs via npx, pip or docker and fits Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf and other MCP clients. It supports the stdio transport for local use and sse to run as a networked service. The repository also ships skill sets on Kubernetes topics for agents that read them.
Who it is for. For devops engineers and developers who operate Kubernetes clusters and want to drive them from an agent.
Good fit when
- You need to quickly find why a pod or deployment is failing
- You want to inspect cluster state without typing kubectl by hand
- You want to create or scale a resource from a chat with the agent
Not a fit when
- You have no cluster access or rights in the kubeconfig
- You do not want to give an agent write access to a live cluster
- You need guarantees that the agent will not run a dangerous operation without confirmation
Example request
Show all pods in the kube-system namespace and explain why nginx-deployment is crashingMCP
- Transport
- stdio, sse
- Authentication
- not required
Environment variables
KUBECONFIG- Path to a kubeconfig file when you need one other than the environment default
Limitations
It works against the cluster and permissions set in your kubeconfig, so its scope equals that context's rights. The pip install needs Python 3.9 or newer, the npx path needs Node.js. The server runs real kubectl operations, including mutating ones, so the risk of a mistake is on the user.
How to disable. Remove the kubernetes entry from your MCP client config. If installed via pip or npm, uninstall the kubectl-mcp-server package.
FAQ
How do I run it without a system install?
Run npx -y kubectl-mcp-server so nothing is installed globally. There are also pip and a docker image.
Where does it get cluster access?
From your kubeconfig. Set the KUBECONFIG variable to point at a specific config file.
Discussion
No questions or reviews yet.
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Comparison with similar tools
Cards that share the main search query, and how they differ.
| Tool | Official | Authentication | Repository stars | Main difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| kubectl-mcp-server (this card) | no | not required | 972 | |
| Unreal Engine MCP Server | no | not required | 1,032 | Unreal Engine assets, actors and blueprints |
| Android MCP | no | not required | 924 | controls an Android device through ADB |
| VectorCode | no | not required | 874 | code RAG for LLMs |
README in short
The README leads with an npx quick start, plus pip installs and docker images from Docker Hub and GHCR. It documents configs for Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf and running via python -m kubectl_mcp_tool.mcp_server with KUBECONFIG. It includes example prompts for troubleshooting, deployments and networking, plus the CLI commands info, tools and call. The project is listed in the CNCF Landscape and is MIT licensed.