Introduction
Managing multiple Model Context Protocol (MCP) server configurations across clients can be time-consuming and error-prone. mcpenetes emerges as a powerful command-line interface (CLI) tool designed to automate and simplify this process. Whether you’re working with Claude Desktop, Windsurf, or VS Code extensions, this open-source solution ensures seamless configuration synchronization, backup, and recovery.

Key Features Explained

1. Intelligent Server Discovery

The search command enables effortless discovery of MCP servers:

  • Fuzzy search across pre-configured registries
  • Direct server ID specification for quick access
  • Cached results for faster queries (use --refresh to bypass cache)

bash

¨K1K

mcpenetes search claude-3-opus-0403

2. One-Click Configuration Sync

The apply command automates configuration deployment:

  • Auto-detection of supported clients (Claude Desktop, Windsurf, etc.)
  • Pre-application backups to prevent data loss
  • Real-time status feedback

3. Robust Recovery System

Built-in safeguards ensure reliability:

  • Automatic backups stored in ~/.config/mcpenetes/cache/
  • Rollback to any historical version via mcpenetes restore
  • AES-256 encryption for backup files

Installation & Configuration

Installation Methods

Method Use Case Steps
Source Build Custom modifications git clone → make build → Use binary
Go Install Quick deployment go install github.com/tuannvm/mcpenetes@latest

Configuration Architecture

mcpenetes uses a hierarchical configuration system:

  1. Global Settings (config.yaml): Registry URLs, default servers
  2. Server Configurations (mcp.json): Encrypted credentials, protocol versioning
  3. Cache Directory: Registry response caching (24-hour TTL), backup archives

Advanced Usage Tips

Clipboard Integration

Load configurations directly from your clipboard:
bash
echo "your_config_data" | pbcopy
mcpenetes load

Supports JSON/YAML format auto-detection.

Registry Management

  • Add registries: Edit registries in config.yaml
  • Remove registries:
    bash <br />mcpenetes remove registry my-registry <br />

Client Compatibility

Currently supported clients include:

  • Claude Desktop (full support)
  • Windsurf (requires v2.3+)
  • VS Code Extensions (via plugin bridge)

Technical Deep Dive

Cache Mechanism

A three-tier caching strategy optimizes performance:

  1. In-Memory Cache: Stores recent search results (last 5 queries)
  2. Disk Cache: Registry responses cached for 24 hours
  3. Network Cache: ETag validation reduces bandwidth usage

Security Protocols

  • Sensitive data purged from memory after 300 seconds
  • All network requests enforce TLS 1.3 encryption
  • Backup files encrypted with AES-256

Troubleshooting & Optimization

Common Issues Resolved

  1. Failed Configuration Deployment:
  • Check logs in ~/.config/mcpenetes/logs/
  • Run mcpenetes --verbose apply for detailed output
  • Verify client version compatibility
  1. Performance Tuning:
  • Clear cache periodically: rm -rf ~/.config/mcpenetes/cache/*
  • Set up local registry mirrors
  • Enable SSH connection multiplexing

Real-World Use Cases

Case Study 1: Cross-Team Collaboration

An AI research lab streamlined operations by:

  • Managing 32 MCP servers across 7 teams
  • Reducing onboarding setup time from 2 hours to 5 minutes
  • Preventing data loss via automated backups

Case Study 2: CI/CD Pipeline Integration

Integration steps for DevOps pipelines:

  1. Load test configurations during builds
  2. Switch to production settings pre-deployment
  3. Implement rollback workflows with Jenkins/Bamboo

Roadmap & Ecosystem

Upcoming Features (2024-2025)

  • Q3 2024: Native Windows support
  • Q4 2024: REST API for remote management
  • H1 2025: Web-based monitoring dashboard

Related Projects

  • mcp-trino: High-performance MCP server implementation
  • mcp-validator (WIP): Configuration syntax checker

Getting Started Resources