MCP ConnectFeatured

What is MCP Connect?

MCP Connect is a tiny Node.js bridge that converts HTTP/HTTPS requests to Stdio communication, enabling cloud-based AI services to interact with local MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers. It runs on any machine with Node.js and is built for developers who want to leverage local MCP tools remotely.

How to use MCP Connect?

Clone the repository, copy .env.example to .env to configure the port and auth token, install dependencies with npm install, then run npm run build followed by npm run start (or npm run dev for hot reload). MCP Connect will listen on http://localhost:3000/bridge. For a public URL, set NGROK_AUTH_TOKEN in .env and run npm run start:tunnel.

Key features of MCP Connect

• Cloud integration for local Stdio-based MCP servers
• Protocol translation from HTTP/HTTPS to Stdio
• Token-based authentication for secure access
• Built-in Ngrok tunnel support for public URLs
• Zero modification required to existing MCP servers
• Lightweight and easy to set up

Use cases of MCP Connect

• Connect cloud AI tools (e.g., ConsoleX AI) to local MCP servers securely
• Expose local MCP tools to remote applications without changing server code
• Enable HTTP-based clients to call Stdio-only MCP servers
• Tunnel local MCP services to the internet using Ngrok

FAQ from MCP Connect

How does MCP Connect differ from running MCP servers directly?

MCP Connect adds an HTTP/HTTPS bridge layer, allowing cloud-based AI services to access Stdio‑only MCP servers that otherwise cannot be reached remotely. It requires no changes to the server itself.

What platforms and Node.js versions are supported?

Any system with Node.js can run MCP Connect. It is designed to run locally; a tunneling service (Ngrok, Cloudflare Zero Trust, or LocalTunnel) is needed for public access.

Does MCP Connect support any MCP server?

Yes. It works with any MCP server that communicates via Stdio. You can pass the server’s command, arguments, and environment variables in the POST request to the bridge.

Is MCP Connect free and what is its license?

It is open source under the MIT License. There is no additional cost for using the tool itself; you may need a paid Ngrok account for longer tunnels.

What are the known limitations of MCP Connect?

The bridge must run on a local machine, and you still need an external tunnel to make it accessible from the cloud. It does not handle WebSocket transport—only HTTP/HTTPS to Stdio. The built‑in authentication is token‑based and simple.