mcp -mysql

This MCP server provides secure access to a MySQL database through SSH tunnels and exposes the database via the MCP protocol for use with Claude Code and other LLM-driven workflows. It supports multiple databases and project configurations, along with tunnel management hooks that integrate with Claude start/stop events. With this server, Claude can inspect schemas, run read queries, and perform controlled write operations according to the environment variable permissions you enable. The included SSH tunnel support helps you securely connect to remote databases without exposing them publicly. To get started, configure the required environment variables for your MySQL instance, install the MCP server package, and run it through your preferred runner (npx, local repo, or a global installation). Once running, you can add this MCP server to Claude Code, verify its status, and begin issuing SQL-related prompts and operations through the MCP interface.

Prerequisites:

• Node.js v20 or higher
• npm (comes with Node.js) or pnpm
• Access credentials to the MySQL database you will expose through MCP

Installation options:

1. Quick start with npx (no local install):

• Ensure you have credentials for your MySQL instance and SSH tunnel (if remote).
• Run in your project or Claude environment:

npx -y @benborla29/mcp-server-mysql

2. Global installation (preferred if you plan to reuse across projects):

npm install -g @benborla29/mcp-server-mysql

Then add the server to Claude Code (examples assume default local host and database):

claude mcp add mcp_server_mysql \
  -e MYSQL_HOST="127.0.0.1" \
  -e MYSQL_PORT="3306" \
  -e MYSQL_USER="root" \
  -e MYSQL_PASS="your_password" \
  -e MYSQL_DB="your_database" \
  -e ALLOW_INSERT_OPERATION="false" \
  -e ALLOW_UPDATE_OPERATION="false" \
  -e ALLOW_DELETE_OPERATION="false" \
  -- npx @benborla29/mcp-server-mysql

If you are developing locally from a repository, you can run the server with a direct node path once you build/run the dist or src entry point, for example:

claude mcp add mcp_server_mysql \
  -e MYSQL_HOST="127.0.0.1" \
  -e MYSQL_PORT="3306" \
  -e MYSQL_USER="root" \
  -e MYSQL_PASS="your_password" \
  -e MYSQL_DB="your_database" \
  -- /path/to/node /full/path/to/mcp-server-mysql/dist/index.js

3. Using a package.json script (optional):

"scripts": {
  "start-mcp-mysql": "npx -y @benborla29/mcp-server-mysql"
}

Then run:

npm run start-mcp-mysql

Prerequisites for SSH tunnels and multi-database setups are covered in the README and configuration sections of the project. Ensure your environment variables reflect the desired access controls and that SSH keys or port forwarding are properly configured for your remote MySQL instances.

• This MCP server leverages SSH tunnels for remote databases; ensure your SSH keys, agents, and tunnel commands are accessible in the execution environment.
• For multi-database setups, omit the MYSQL_DB variable to enable multi-database mode.
• You can adjust permissions at runtime by setting ALLOW_INSERT_OPERATION, ALLOW_UPDATE_OPERATION, and ALLOW_DELETE_OPERATION to true/false as needed.
• If using Claude Code, you can import the server configuration via Claude Desktop or add it using the Claude Code CLI as shown in the README examples.
• If you encounter path issues when running from a local repository, ensure PATH and NODE_PATH are correctly set to your Node.js installation.