Sshmcp

io.github.NikolaNddTeslaPublished by GitHub account NikolaNddTeslav1.2.1Updated Oct 24, 2026

SSH server management with zero-token SFTP file transfer and SOCKS proxy support

Overview

AI-generated overview

Lets an AI assistant manage remote servers over SSH: run commands, transfer files, and work across several hosts at once.

What you can do
Manage connection profiles: list, add, update, delete and rename servers, test connectivity, or open a temporary quick connection. Run shell commands on remote hosts with a configurable timeout. Read and write remote files, upload or download single files and whole directories, and check progress of background transfers. Manage SOCKS4/5 proxy presets. Work across several servers at once through a connection pool, naming the target with a server_id.
When to use it
Use it when you want to operate remote Linux servers through natural conversation, such as running commands, deploying builds, moving files, or working across several hosts at once. It also fits connections that go through a jump host or SOCKS proxy.
Requirements
Node.js 18 or newer to run the npm package locally, an MCP-compatible client, and a remote server reachable over SSH. Connections need a host, username and an authentication method such as a password, private key, ssh-agent or OTP.
Before you install
Server and proxy settings are stored in a config file under the user's home directory, and passwords are stored in plaintext; prefer private key authentication for production. The assistant can run arbitrary remote shell commands and write, overwrite or delete remote files, so mistakes can affect live systems. Connection credentials and private key paths are passed to the local server.

Installation

In SourceWeft

  1. Open Sshmcp in the dashboard and add it to a workspace.
  2. Enable the server for the chats that should use its tools.

Desktop only via STDIO. STDIO servers start a local process, so they need the SourceWeft desktop host.

Other MCP clients

Follow the launch instructions in the repository.

README

@nl4ever/sshmcp

[npm version] [MCP Registry] [License: MIT]

中文文档

Let AI manage your remote servers. A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that gives AI assistants full SSH access — execute commands, transfer files, manage multiple servers simultaneously, all through natural conversation.

You:   "Deploy the latest build to production server"AI:    connects → uploads build → restarts service → verifies status

Features

  • 21 Tools — Connect, execute, upload, download, write files, and more
  • Connection Pool — Operate multiple servers simultaneously, each command tagged with server_id
  • Zero-Token File Transfer — SFTP path-based transfer, file content never enters AI context
  • Directory Upload — Auto tar.gz compress → upload → remote decompress (fast for many small files)
  • Async Transfer + Progress — Background transfer for large files with real-time progress tracking
  • Quick Connect — Temporary connections without saving config, returns host:port as temp ID
  • SOCKS4/5 Proxy — Per-connection proxy support
  • Jump Host — SSH ProxyJump for bastion/gateway access
  • Multi-Auth — Password, private key, ssh-agent, keyboard-interactive (OTP/2FA)

Quick Start

Install globally

bash
npm install -g @nl4ever/sshmcp

Add to Claude Code

bash
claude mcp add sshmcp sshmcp

Add to Claude Desktop

Edit claude_desktop_config.json:

json
{  "mcpServers": {    "sshmcp": {      "command": "npx",      "args": ["-y", "@nl4ever/sshmcp"]    }  }}

Add to Cursor

Go to Settings → MCP Servers → Add:

json
{  "sshmcp": {    "command": "npx",    "args": ["-y", "@nl4ever/sshmcp"]  }}

Tools Overview

Connection Management

ToolDescription
list_serversList all configured servers and active connections
get_serverView server config details
add_serverAdd/update server config (password, key, agent, OTP)
update_serverModify server config (only pass fields you want to change)
delete_serverRemove a server
rename_serverRename a server ID
connectManually connect (usually not needed, tools auto-connect)
quick_connectTemporary connection, returns host:port as ID
disconnectDisconnect specific server or all connections
test_connectionTest connectivity without affecting existing connections

Command Execution

ToolDescription
executeRun shell commands on remote server (with configurable timeout)

File Operations

ToolDescription
read_fileRead remote file content (with optional line range)
write_fileWrite text content to remote file
upload_fileUpload local file to remote (supports async mode)
upload_directoryUpload directory with auto compress → transfer → decompress
download_fileDownload remote file to local (supports async mode)
download_directoryDownload directory with remote compress → transfer → local decompress
transfer_statusCheck progress of async transfers (size/speed/ETA)

Proxy Management

ToolDescription
list_proxiesList all SOCKS proxy presets
add_proxyAdd SOCKS4/5 proxy preset
delete_proxyRemove a proxy preset

Connection Pool: Multi-Server Operations

All operation tools take a server_id parameter. The connection pool auto-manages connections — no manual connect/disconnect needed:

AI: execute(server_id="prod", command="nginx -s reload")         ← auto-connects to prodAI: execute(server_id="dev", command="tail -f /var/log/app.log") ← auto-connects to dev, prod staysAI: execute(server_id="prod", command="curl localhost")           ← reuses prod connection

For temporary servers, use quick_connect which returns host:port as the ID:

AI: quick_connect(host="1.2.3.4", username="root", password="***")→ "Connected: [email protected]:22, use server_id="1.2.3.4:22""
AI: execute(server_id="1.2.3.4:22", command="df -h")AI: disconnect(server_id="1.2.3.4:22")

Async Transfer (Large Files)

For large files, enable background transfer mode to avoid blocking:

AI: upload_file(server_id="prod", local_path="big.tar.gz", remote_path="/data/", async_transfer=true)→ "Background upload started: tf_1"
AI: transfer_status("tf_1")→ "🔄 Uploading: 638.2 MB / 1.2 GB (53.2%) — 12.4 MB/s, ETA 46s"
AI: transfer_status("tf_1")→ "✅ Upload complete: 1.2 GB, 98s, 12.3 MB/s"

Small files use synchronous mode by default — no config needed.

Connection Examples

Password authentication

AI: add_server(server_id="prod", name="Production", host="10.0.0.1", username="deploy", password="***")AI: execute(server_id="prod", command="systemctl status nginx")

Private key authentication

AI: add_server(server_id="aws", name="AWS EC2", host="ec2-xx.compute.amazonaws.com", username="ubuntu", private_key="~/.ssh/id_rsa")

Quick connect (no config saved)

AI: quick_connect(host="192.168.1.100", username="root", password="***")→ server_id="192.168.1.100:22"
AI: execute(server_id="192.168.1.100:22", command="df -h")AI: disconnect(server_id="192.168.1.100:22")

Via SOCKS5 proxy

AI: add_proxy(proxy_id="tunnel", name="SSH Tunnel", host="127.0.0.1", port=1080, type="5")AI: add_server(server_id="internal", ..., proxy="tunnel")

Via jump host

AI: add_server(server_id="bastion", name="Bastion", host="bastion.example.com", username="admin", private_key="~/.ssh/id_rsa")AI: add_server(server_id="internal", name="Internal DB", host="10.0.0.5", username="dbadmin", password="***", jump_host="bastion")

Config Location

Server and proxy configurations are stored in:

~/.ssh-mcp/config.json

Passwords are stored in plaintext. For production use, prefer private key authentication.

Requirements

  • Node.js >= 18
  • An MCP-compatible client (Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, etc.)
  • Remote server with SSH access

License

MIT

Source: README.md at commit 88bb44e

Tools

0
SourceWeft has not started this package in its sandbox yet, so its tools are not known.

Version history

1
  1. v1.2.1LatestSep 16, 2026

Score

40% of the applicable checks met

How complete this listing is, computed from the registry entry, the endpoint and public sources. Not a rating of the server and not a statement that it is safe or working today: reachability is a dated check, and no installs or reviews go into the score.

  • Reached in the last 30 days25 pts

    Keep the endpoint answering the MCP handshake; SourceWeft probes it every 30 days.

  • Auth declared10 pts

    Declare the credential headers in the registry entry, or keep the endpoint answering the probe so its auth can be classified.

  • Tools listed15 pts

    Answer tools/list without a credential, or ship a package that starts in a sandbox without one.

  • DescriptionRequired15 pts
  • Logo10 pts
  • Documentation15 pts
  • License10 pts

    Declare a license in the repository or the registry entry.