kubectl-mcp-server for Claude Desktop: Setup & Config

What you can do with kubectl-mcp-server in Claude Desktop

A broad Kubernetes operations surface for assistant-led diagnostics, Helm work, and resource analysis.

• Investigate a crashed pod using logs and events.
• Create, scale, or roll back deployments.
• Inspect Helm releases and manage chart installations.

Before you start: kubectl-mcp-server in Claude Desktop

• Node.js 14+ for the npx method
• kubectl installed and configured
• Access to a Kubernetes cluster

The README recommends this npx launch for MCP clients. Python installation instead requires Python 3.9+. Optional UI features have a separate dependency extra. Docker can use stdio or --transport sse. The tool list here is a selection of explicitly named README operations, not the entire catalog.

kubectl-mcp-server Claude Desktop configuration

1. Choose Claude Desktop configuration scope

   For kubectl-mcp-server, open macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json. Merge under mcpServers via Settings → Developer → Edit Config when available.

2. Add kubectl-mcp-server to Claude Desktop

   Use the kubectl-mcp-server entry below in mcpServers. Keep kubectl-mcp-server's documented stdio connection fields and your other Claude Desktop entries.

3. Check kubectl-mcp-server in Claude Desktop

   kubectl-mcp-server: Fully quit and reopen Claude Desktop; check developer diagnostics.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "kubectl-mcp-server": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "kubectl-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

kubectl-mcp-server tools available to Claude Desktop

kubectl-mcp-server's stored tool list documents 23 tools; compare it with Claude Desktop's connected tool list, because the stored list is not a live check.

get_pods

When Claude Desktop requests get_pods from kubectl-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

List pods for a Kubernetes namespace.

get_logs

When Claude Desktop requests get_logs from kubectl-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

Retrieve logs from a pod.

get_pod_events

When Claude Desktop requests get_pod_events from kubectl-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

Inspect events associated with a pod.

diagnose_pod_crash

When Claude Desktop requests diagnose_pod_crash from kubectl-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

Investigate pod failures using diagnostic information.

create_deployment

When Claude Desktop requests create_deployment from kubectl-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

Create a Kubernetes deployment.

scale_deployment

When Claude Desktop requests scale_deployment from kubectl-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

Change the replica count of a deployment.

kubectl_rollout

When Claude Desktop requests kubectl_rollout from kubectl-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

Manage deployment rollout operations.

diagnose_network_connectivity

When Claude Desktop requests diagnose_network_connectivity from kubectl-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

Investigate service and workload connectivity problems.

check_dns_resolution

When Claude Desktop requests check_dns_resolution from kubectl-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

Check DNS behavior relevant to cluster connectivity.

audit_rbac_permissions

When Claude Desktop requests audit_rbac_permissions from kubectl-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

Analyze Kubernetes role and permission configuration.

check_secrets_security

When Claude Desktop requests check_secrets_security from kubectl-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

Inspect secrets for security concerns.

helm_list

When Claude Desktop requests helm_list from kubectl-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

List Helm releases in the cluster.

install_helm_chart

When Claude Desktop requests install_helm_chart from kubectl-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

helm_rollback

When Claude Desktop requests helm_rollback from kubectl-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

get_current_context

When Claude Desktop requests get_current_context from kubectl-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

switch_context

When Claude Desktop requests switch_context from kubectl-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

list_contexts

When Claude Desktop requests list_contexts from kubectl-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

get_resource_recommendations

When Claude Desktop requests get_resource_recommendations from kubectl-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

get_idle_resources

When Claude Desktop requests get_idle_resources from kubectl-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

get_cost_analysis

When Claude Desktop requests get_cost_analysis from kubectl-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

get_overprovisioned_resources

When Claude Desktop requests get_overprovisioned_resources from kubectl-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

delete_resource

When Claude Desktop requests delete_resource from kubectl-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

show_cluster_overview_ui

When Claude Desktop requests show_cluster_overview_ui from kubectl-mcp-server, review the action before approving it.

kubectl-mcp-server: full stored tool descriptions

Troubleshooting kubectl-mcp-server in Claude Desktop

• Fully quit and reopen Claude Desktop for kubectl-mcp-server. If npx kubectl-mcp-server (Node.js/npm) is missing, check the desktop process's PATH, which may differ from your terminal.
• kubectl-mcp-server uses stdio here: Claude Desktop must keep the configured process running; protocol output belongs on stdout and diagnostics on stderr.
• Known limitation: Needs kubectl configuration and working cluster access.
• Known limitation: The tool catalog includes destructive resource operations.
• Known limitation: Interactive dashboards require optional dependencies.
• General Claude Desktop troubleshooting lives in the /clients/claude-desktop guide.

Frequently asked questions