Errata Tool

This FastMCP server provides integration with the Red Hat Errata Tool, allowing AI assistants to query product advisories, statuses, and details through a controlled MCP channel. It enables automated advisory lookups and status checks within your tooling and workflows.

How to use

You run the Errata Tool MCP Server locally and connect your MCP client to it. The server exposes functions to list available products, list advisory states, fetch advisory details, and (with restricted access) list advisories for a product/state. Use the MCP client to send requests for products, states, and advisories, and receive structured responses suitable for automation and AI-assisted workflows.

How to install

Prerequisites you need on your host before starting:

• Podman installed and in your PATH
• Kerberos client available for authentication (kinit) if you plan to access restricted advisories
• Python installed for quick local tests

Install and run the MCP server locally using the container workflow described here. Execute the following steps in order:

# Build and run
./build-container.sh build
./build-container.sh run-sse

# Get interactive shell with working Kerberos
./build-container.sh interactive
kinit your_username@IPA.REDHAT.COM

# Test functions
python -c "from mcp_server import list_products; print(list_products())"
python -c "from mcp_server import get_advisory_info; print(get_advisory_info('149143'))"

Additional content

Configuration, security, and troubleshooting notes help you operate the Errata Tool MCP Server with confidence.

MCP client configuration shown here is the recommended way to connect to the server. The MCP client uses a local container to host the server and exposes an SSE endpoint at http://localhost:8000. Authentication must be established for access to restricted data.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "errata_tool": {
      "command": "podman",
      "args": [
        "run", "-d", "--rm", "--name", "errata-mcp-sse", "-p", "8000:8000", 
        "-v", "/etc/krb5.conf:/etc/krb5.conf:ro", "--network", "host", 
        "localhost/errata-mcp:latest"
      ],
      "transport": { "type": "sse", "url": "http://localhost:8000" }
    }
  }
}

Available tools

list_products

Return the list of available products such as RHEL and RHIVOS that the Errata Tool MCP server can report.

list_states

Return the list of advisory states available for filtering advisories (for example QE, SHIPPED_LIVE).

list_advisories

Return a list of advisories for a given product and state, with an optional limit (advisories access may be restricted).

get_advisory_info

Return detailed information for a specific advisory ID, with authentication as required.