MCP Server Management

Overview

The MCP Server Management feature provides a centralized interface for managing Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers. Configure, test, and manage all your MCP servers from one convenient location, with support for importing configurations from Claude Desktop.

Server Registry

Manage all your MCP servers from a centralized registry:

Centralized Management

• Server Inventory: View all configured MCP servers in one place
• Status Monitoring: See real-time connection status for each server
• Quick Actions: Start, stop, restart, or remove servers with one click
• Search and Filter: Find servers quickly using search and filtering options

Server Information

Each server entry displays:

• Server Name: Custom name for easy identification
• Connection Status: Online, offline, or error states
• Server Type: Category or purpose of the server
• Last Connected: Timestamp of last successful connection
• Configuration Summary: Key configuration details at a glance

Organization Features

• Categories: Group servers by type or purpose
• Tags: Add custom tags for better organization
• Favorites: Mark frequently used servers as favorites
• Custom Icons: Assign visual icons to servers for quick recognition

Easy Configuration

Add and configure MCP servers through an intuitive user interface:

UI-based Configuration

• Form-based Setup: Configure servers using guided forms
• Validation: Real-time validation of configuration parameters
• Templates: Use pre-built templates for common server types
• Wizard Mode: Step-by-step guidance for complex configurations

Configuration Options

Basic Settings

• Server Name: Custom display name
• Server URL: Connection endpoint
• Port: Network port (if applicable)
• Protocol: MCP protocol version

Authentication

• API Keys: Secure API key management
• OAuth: OAuth2 authentication flow
• Certificates: SSL/TLS certificate configuration
• Custom Headers: Additional HTTP headers

Advanced Settings

• Timeout Values: Connection and request timeouts
• Retry Logic: Automatic retry configuration
• Rate Limiting: Request rate limiting settings
• Caching: Response caching configuration

JSON Configuration Import

Import server configurations directly from JSON files:

{
  "servers": {
    "filesystem": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem", "/path/to/directory"],
      "env": {
        "NODE_ENV": "production"
      }
    },
    "github": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["@modelcontextprotocol/server-github"],
      "env": {
        "GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN": "your_token_here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Connection Testing

Verify server connectivity before putting servers into production use:

Pre-deployment Testing

• Connection Verification: Test basic connectivity to server endpoints
• Authentication Testing: Verify credentials and authentication flows
• Feature Testing: Test specific MCP capabilities and tools
• Performance Testing: Measure response times and throughput

Testing Features

Connectivity Tests

• Ping Test: Basic network connectivity check
• Handshake Test: MCP protocol handshake verification
• SSL/TLS Test: Certificate validation and encryption testing
• Firewall Test: Network accessibility verification

Functionality Tests

• Tool Discovery: Verify available tools and capabilities
• Sample Requests: Test with sample MCP requests
• Error Handling: Test error conditions and responses
• Protocol Compliance: Verify MCP protocol compliance

Performance Tests

• Response Time: Measure average response times
• Throughput: Test requests per second capacity
• Concurrent Connections: Test multiple simultaneous connections
• Load Testing: Stress test with high request volumes

Test Results

• Visual Indicators: Green/red status indicators for quick assessment
• Detailed Reports: Comprehensive test results with metrics
• Error Diagnostics: Detailed error messages and troubleshooting tips
• Historical Data: Track test results over time

Claude Desktop Import

Seamlessly import server configurations from existing Claude Desktop installations:

Automatic Detection

• Configuration Discovery: Automatically find Claude Desktop config files
• Path Detection: Locate config files in standard locations
• Version Compatibility: Support for different Claude Desktop versions
• Backup Creation: Create backups before importing

Import Process

1. Scan for Configs: Claudia scans for Claude Desktop configuration files
2. Preview Import: Review servers that will be imported
3. Conflict Resolution: Handle naming conflicts and duplicates
4. Import Execution: Import selected servers with validation
5. Verification: Test imported servers for proper functionality

Import Options

• Selective Import: Choose which servers to import
• Conflict Handling: Options for handling duplicate server names
• Configuration Mapping: Map Claude Desktop settings to Claudia format
• Validation: Verify imported configurations work correctly

Supported Configurations

• Standard MCP Servers: All standard MCP server types
• Custom Servers: User-defined server configurations
• Environment Variables: Import environment variable configurations
• Authentication: Import authentication settings and credentials

Server Management Operations

Lifecycle Management

• Start/Stop: Control server execution state
• Restart: Restart servers to apply configuration changes
• Update: Update server configurations and settings
• Remove: Safely remove servers from the registry

Monitoring and Maintenance

• Health Checks: Periodic health monitoring
• Log Viewing: Access server logs and diagnostic information
• Performance Metrics: Monitor server performance over time
• Update Notifications: Get notified of available server updates

Bulk Operations

• Bulk Start/Stop: Control multiple servers simultaneously
• Batch Configuration: Apply configuration changes to multiple servers
• Mass Import: Import multiple server configurations at once
• Group Operations: Perform operations on server groups

Best Practices

Configuration Management

• Consistent Naming: Use clear, descriptive names for servers
• Environment Separation: Separate development, staging, and production servers
• Version Control: Track configuration changes over time
• Documentation: Document server purposes and configurations

Security Guidelines

• Credential Management: Use secure credential storage
• Network Security: Configure appropriate network access controls
• Regular Updates: Keep servers updated with security patches
• Access Logging: Monitor server access and usage

Performance Optimization

• Resource Allocation: Allocate appropriate resources for each server
• Caching Strategy: Implement effective caching for frequently accessed data
• Load Balancing: Distribute load across multiple server instances
• Monitoring: Continuously monitor server performance

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Server Won't Connect

• Check network connectivity
• Verify server configuration
• Test authentication credentials
• Review firewall settings

Import Failures

• Verify Claude Desktop installation
• Check configuration file permissions
• Review configuration syntax
• Try manual configuration

Performance Issues

• Monitor server resource usage
• Check network latency
• Review server logs
• Optimize configuration settings

Diagnostic Tools

• Connection Debugger: Step-by-step connection testing
• Configuration Validator: Verify configuration syntax and values
• Log Analyzer: Analyze server logs for issues
• Network Tracer: Trace network connectivity problems

Ready to learn about version control? Check out our Timeline & Checkpoints documentation for session versioning and management.