# Linux MCP Server (MCP server)

> Linux MCP Server is an MCP server that adds tools to AI assistants such as Claude Desktop, Claude Code and Cursor. MCP server for read-only Linux system administration, diagnostics, and troubleshooting. It has 314 GitHub stars, is released under the Apache-2.0 license and runs locally with uvx linux-mcp-server.

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for read-only Linux system administration, diagnostics, and troubleshooting on RHEL-based systems.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
|---|---|
| Repository | https://github.com/rhel-lightspeed/linux-mcp-server |
| GitHub stars | 314 |
| License | Apache-2.0 |
| Language | Python |
| Transport | stdio |
| Packages | pypi: linux-mcp-server |
| Remote URL | none |
| Needs API key | yes |
| Official | no |
| Works with | Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code |
| Category | Other |
| Latest release | 1.7.0 (Oct 2, 2026) |
| Last commit | Oct 2, 2026 |
| MCP registry name | io.github.rhel-lightspeed/linux-mcp-server |

## Install

### Claude Desktop (claude_desktop_config.json)

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "linux-mcp-server": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "linux-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "LINUX_MCP_KEY_PASSPHRASE": "your-value"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

Settings > Developer > Edit Config. macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/, Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\. Restart Claude Desktop afterwards.

### Claude Code

```sh
claude mcp add --env LINUX_MCP_KEY_PASSPHRASE=your-value --transport stdio linux-mcp-server -- uvx linux-mcp-server
```

### Cursor (.cursor/mcp.json)

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "linux-mcp-server": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "linux-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "LINUX_MCP_KEY_PASSPHRASE": "your-value"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

Project file; use ~/.cursor/mcp.json to enable it in every project.

### VS Code (.vscode/mcp.json)

```json
{
  "inputs": [
    {
      "type": "promptString",
      "id": "linux_mcp_key_passphrase",
      "description": "LINUX_MCP_KEY_PASSPHRASE",
      "password": true
    }
  ],
  "servers": {
    "linux-mcp-server": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "linux-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "LINUX_MCP_KEY_PASSPHRASE": "${input:linux_mcp_key_passphrase}"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

Config formats checked against the official docs on 2026-10-07.

## Environment variables

- `LINUX_MCP_USER`: Default username for SSH connections
- `LINUX_MCP_SSH_KEY_PATH`: Path to SSH private key
- `LINUX_MCP_KEY_PASSPHRASE` (secret): Passphrase for encrypted SSH key
- `LINUX_MCP_SEARCH_FOR_SSH_KEY`: Auto-discover keys in ~/.ssh
- `LINUX_MCP_COMMAND_TIMEOUT`: SSH command timeout in seconds (default: 30)
- `LINUX_MCP_VERIFY_HOST_KEYS`: Verify remote host identity via known_hosts
- `LINUX_MCP_KNOWN_HOSTS_PATH`: Custom path to known_hosts file
- `LINUX_MCP_ALLOWED_LOG_PATHS`: Comma-separated allowlist of log files
- `LINUX_MCP_LOG_DIR`: Server log directory
- `LINUX_MCP_LOG_LEVEL`: Log verbosity (DEBUG, INFO, WARNING)
- `LINUX_MCP_LOG_RETENTION_DAYS`: Days to keep log files

## Similar MCP servers

- [Reactive Resume](https://appsgit.com/mcp-servers/reactive-resume): A one-of-a-kind resume builder that keeps your privacy in mind. (43,921 stars, MIT)
- [N8n MCP](https://appsgit.com/mcp-servers/n8n-mcp): A MCP for Claude Desktop / Claude Code / Windsurf / Cursor to build n8n workflows for you. (23,047 stars, MIT)
- [XHS Downloader](https://appsgit.com/mcp-servers/xhs-downloader): 小红书（XiaoHongShu、RedNote）链接提取/作品采集工具. (12,922 stars, GPL-3.0)
- [MCP Use](https://appsgit.com/mcp-servers/mcp-use): The fullstack MCP framework to develop MCP Apps for ChatGPT / Claude & MCP Servers for AI Agents. (10,726 stars, MIT)
- [Ha MCP](https://appsgit.com/mcp-servers/ha-mcp): Comprehensive Model Context Protocol server for managing Home Assistant through AI assistants. (4,964 stars, MIT)
- [MCP Server Chart](https://appsgit.com/mcp-servers/mcp-server-chart): A Model Context Protocol server for generating charts using AntV. (4,391 stars, MIT, needs API key)

---

Canonical page: https://appsgit.com/mcp-servers/linux-mcp-server
Source: appsgit (https://appsgit.com), the app store for github. Data from the GitHub API, refreshed nightly.
Machine access: JSON API https://appsgit.com/api/v1/apps (OpenAPI: https://appsgit.com/openapi.json), MCP server https://mcp.appsgit.com/mcp, full index https://appsgit.com/llms-full.txt.