Network Sketcher Local MCP
Cisco's local MCP server: an agent designs a network and builds L1, L2 and L3 diagrams in SVG and PowerPoint plus a device table
- 417 ★ on the repository
- Last commit
- Apache-2.0
Extended access
Why this level
- The server runs code on your machine and writes diagram files to the workspace
- Addresses and topology of the network design pass through the agent to the model
Install
- Works in
Manual install
git clone https://github.com/cisco-open/network-sketcher/ && cd network-sketcher/network-sketcher_local_mcp && python -m pip install -r requirements_mcp.txtNeeds Python 3.10 or newer and the whole repository.
Access and checks
How we reviewExtended accessThe tool runs code or makes network calls and only reads external data.
- The server runs code on your machine and writes diagram files to the workspace
- Addresses and topology of the network design pass through the agent to the model
This is third-party code. Review the repository files before installing.
What it does
Network Sketcher designs a network from structured data and commands. The Local MCP edition opens its engine to LLM clients such as Cursor and Claude Code: the agent calls commands such as adding a device as MCP tools, with no browser and no copy-paste. The output is physical L1 diagrams, L2 broadcast-domain and VLAN diagrams and L3 IP topology in SVG and PowerPoint. The server also builds a combined HTML diagram viewer and an interactive device table. An AI Context file lets another model review a finished design and extend it. Master files stay on your machine in the .nsm format. A diagram can also be built from platform exports: converters of the Cisco extension turn ACI, Catalyst Center, Meraki and NetBox data and IOS, NX-OS or ASA configs into commands that the agent runs through `run_commands`, then it calls `build_default_outputs`.
Who it is for. For network engineers and architects who want to sketch or document a topology in a conversation with an agent.
Good fit when
- You need a five-site network design with a headquarters, two data centers and two branches from a chat description
- You need three diagrams of one network: physical L1, L2 VLANs and L3 IP addressing
- IOS or NX-OS configs have to become a diagram through a converter of the Cisco extension
- Another model needs the design context for a review, and you want an AI Context file
- You need PowerPoint diagrams for a presentation and an HTML viewer with a device table for the browser
Not a fit when
- You need HTTP or SSE access: the Local MCP edition works over stdio only
- You need multi-user work: a separate web edition exists for that, and Local MCP is meant for one user
- The network is very large: building diagrams for big networks takes noticeable time
- You need IPv6: the web edition supports IPv4 only, so check this limit for Local MCP in advance
Example request
Using Network Sketcher, design a five-site network: headquarters, two data centers, two branches, edge routers, simple L2 segments and IP addressing. Build the L1, L2 and L3 diagrams and the device table.MCP
- Transport
- stdio
- Authentication
- not required
Limitations
Running it needs Python 3.10 or newer and the full repository, because the engine comes from the network-sketcher_online folder. The edition was tested on Windows, and it is compatible with macOS and Linux by design.
The authors recommend Claude Opus 4.7 or newer: the server needs multi-step tool calls and adherence to diagram layout rules, and weaker models cope worse. An LLM client cannot view binary PPTX and SVG output directly, so you open the result yourself.
Converters of the Cisco extension produce only a draft that must be checked. Whether the install is reachable from Russia was not checked for this card.
How to disable. Run `claude mcp remove network-sketcher` or delete the network-sketcher entry from mcp.json in Cursor. The cloned repository folder can be deleted by hand, and the master files sit in your workspace.
FAQ
How do I connect Network Sketcher to Claude Code?
Clone the repository, install the dependencies from requirements_mcp.txt and run `claude mcp add network-sketcher -- python "/path/to/network-sketcher_local_mcp/ns_mcp_server.py"`. The `--` separator is required, otherwise the script path is read as a flag of the command.
How is Local MCP different from Online and Offline?
Online is a multi-user web service in a browser with xlsx and nsm formats. Offline is a desktop app and CLI on xlsx. Local MCP gives the engine to LLM clients over stdio and works with the nsm format only.
Which diagrams does Network Sketcher build?
L1 physical connections, L2 VLANs and broadcast domains, L3 IP topology. Outputs are SVG and PowerPoint, an HTML L1, L2 and L3 viewer, a device table and an AI Context file.
Can I load an existing network into Network Sketcher?
Yes, through converters of the separate Network Sketcher Cisco Extension project: they turn exports from ACI, Catalyst Center, Catalyst SD-WAN, Meraki, Nexus Dashboard, CML, NetBox and configs into `ns_commands.txt` commands. The result counts as a draft.
Which model suits the server best?
The authors recommend Claude Opus 4.7 or newer: the server relies on multi-step tool calls and diagram layout rules.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Network Sketcher Local MCP (this card) | yes | not required | 417 | |
| drawio-skill | no | 10,621 | a skill that draws editable draw.io diagrams from text and code, while Network Sketcher builds L1, L2 and L3 network diagrams with a device table | |
| MCP Server Chart | yes | not required | 4,415 | an AntV MCP for general diagrams and charts, with no network model of devices and interfaces |
README in short
The page presents the three editions in a comparison table and starts with a three-step quick start for Local MCP. Sections per edition follow, with requirements, installation and links to guides in English and Japanese. The server is listed in the MCP Registry, Glama, PulseMCP and LobeHub.