Ubuntu
A secure protocol server that allows AI assistants to safely interact with Ubuntu systems through controlled file operations, command execution, package management, and system information retrieval.
What is Ubuntu?
Ubuntu is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to secure protocol server that allows ai assistants to safely interact with ubuntu systems through controlled file operations, command execution, package management, and system information retrieval.
A secure protocol server that allows AI assistants to safely interact with Ubuntu systems through controlled file operations, command execution, package management, and system information retrieval.
This server falls under the File Systems category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- A secure protocol server that allows AI assistants to safely
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
Manual Installation
npx ubuntu-mcp-serverConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use Ubuntu
The Ubuntu MCP server gives AI assistants controlled access to an Ubuntu Linux system through a set of purpose-built tools covering file operations, command execution, package management, and system information retrieval. A configurable security policy (secure or dev mode) enforces allowed paths, command timeouts, and audit logging so administrators can tune the level of access granted to the AI. System administrators and developers use it to automate routine Ubuntu tasks — checking disk space, searching for packages, reading log files — through a natural-language interface without granting unrestricted shell access.
Prerequisites
- Ubuntu Linux (or compatible Debian-based system)
- Python 3.10+ and pip installed
- An MCP client such as Claude Desktop (Linux community package) or Claude Code
- Absolute path to the project's virtual environment Python interpreter for client configuration
Clone the repository
Clone the ubuntu_mcp_server repository and navigate into the project directory.
git clone https://github.com/pazuzu1w/ubuntu_mcp_server.git
cd ubuntu_mcp_serverCreate and activate a virtual environment
Create an isolated Python virtual environment to avoid dependency conflicts with system packages.
python3 -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activateInstall dependencies
Install all required Python packages from the requirements file.
pip install -r requirements.txtVerify the installation
Run the built-in test to confirm the server starts and all tools are registered correctly before connecting a client.
python main.py --testConfigure your MCP client
Add the server to your MCP client config using the absolute path to the virtual environment's Python interpreter. Set MCP_POLICY to 'secure' for production use or 'dev' for unrestricted local development.
{
"mcpServers": {
"ubuntu-mcp": {
"command": "/absolute/path/to/ubuntu_mcp_server/.venv/bin/python",
"args": ["main.py", "--policy", "secure"],
"env": {
"MCP_LOG_LEVEL": "INFO"
}
}
}
}Ubuntu Examples
Client configuration
MCP client config block for the Ubuntu server running in secure policy mode. Replace the path with the actual absolute path to your cloned repo.
{
"mcpServers": {
"ubuntu-mcp": {
"command": "/home/user/ubuntu_mcp_server/.venv/bin/python",
"args": ["main.py", "--policy", "secure"],
"env": {
"MCP_LOG_LEVEL": "INFO",
"MCP_CONFIG_PATH": "/home/user/ubuntu_mcp_server/config.json"
}
}
}
}Prompts to try
These prompts exercise the file, system, and package management tools exposed by the Ubuntu MCP server.
- "Check my system status and show current disk space usage"
- "List the files in my home directory and identify the largest ones"
- "Check if Python 3 is installed and show me the version"
- "Search for available nginx packages and tell me which versions are available"
- "Read the last 50 lines of /var/log/syslog and summarize any errors"Troubleshooting Ubuntu
python main.py --test fails with ModuleNotFoundError
Make sure you have activated the virtual environment ('source .venv/bin/activate') before running the test. If the error persists, re-run 'pip install -r requirements.txt' inside the active venv.
MCP client cannot launch the server (command not found)
Use the full absolute path to the virtual environment's Python binary in your MCP config, not 'python' or 'python3'. Find it with: 'source .venv/bin/activate && which python'.
execute_command is blocked by the security policy
In secure mode, commands and paths are restricted by config.json. Edit 'security.allowed_paths' to include the directories you need access to, or switch to 'dev' policy for unrestricted local use.
Frequently Asked Questions about Ubuntu
What is Ubuntu?
Ubuntu is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that secure protocol server that allows ai assistants to safely interact with ubuntu systems through controlled file operations, command execution, package management, and system information retrieval. It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install Ubuntu?
Follow the installation instructions on the Ubuntu GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.
Which AI clients work with Ubuntu?
Ubuntu works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is Ubuntu free to use?
Yes, Ubuntu is open source and available under the MIT License license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
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