Kubernetes

You can manage a Kubernetes cluster directly from your MCP client by running a lightweight MCP Server that connects to your kubectl context. This server lets you list pods, services, deployments, namespaces, and perform pod creation or deletion, all through MCP-compatible tooling.

How to use

To use this MCP server, start it via your MCP client. The server is designed to automatically connect to your current kubectl context, so you can manage your cluster without manual config changes. After it’s running, you can perform common cluster operations such as listing pods, services, deployments, and namespaces, as well as creating or deleting pods. If you encounter issues, verify your cluster connection by running standard kubectl commands in a terminal.

How to install

Prerequisites you need to set up before starting the MCP server:

• kubectl is installed and available in your system PATH
• A valid kubeconfig file with contexts configured
• Access to a Kubernetes cluster configured for kubectl (e.g. minikube, Rancher Desktop, GKE, etc.)

Install and run the MCP server

Install and run the MCP server using your MCP client setup. The server starts by invoking the following command configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "kubernetes": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["mcp-server-kubernetes"]
    }
  }
}

Available tools

listPods

Retrieves all pods in the current namespace or across namespaces, enabling you to inspect pod status and names.

listServices

Lists all services in the current namespace, showing service names, types, and endpoints.

listDeployments

Shows all deployments with their replica counts and statuses to monitor application rollout.

createPod

Creates a new pod in the selected namespace using provided pod specifications.

deletePod

Deletes a specified pod by name in the chosen namespace.

listNamespaces

Lists all namespaces in the cluster to help you switch context for subsequent commands.

portForward

Port-forwards to a pod to expose its service locally (feature available in MCP tooling).