mcp-router

MCP Router is a desktop application that centralizes the management of MCP servers. It provides a CLI integration that lets you connect to MCP routers and manage them from a single interface, including toggling tools on or off, organizing servers into projects and workspaces, and viewing request logs. To get started from the command line, you can connect to MCP Router using the CLI package: npx -y @mcp_router/cli connect. Before connecting, set your authentication token as an environment variable (MCPR_TOKEN). You can also specify a project to streamline organization by running: npx -y @mcp_router/cli connect --project <project-name>. Once connected, the interface will allow you to add local or remote MCP servers, enable or disable individual tools, and monitor traffic and logs in real time. The tool supports universal connectivity to any MCP server and provides one-click integrations with supported AI tools and clients through the central dashboard.

Prerequisites:

• Node.js and npm installed on your machine
• Access to the internet to fetch the CLI package

Installation steps:

1. Ensure Node.js is installed. You can verify with:

node -v
npm -v

2. Use npm or npx to install/run the MCP Router CLI:

# Directly connect using npx (no global install needed)
npx -y @mcp_router/cli connect

# Or install the CLI globally for repeated use (optional)
npm install -g @mcp_router/cli
#mcp-router connect

3. Configure environment (optional): set MCPR_TOKEN to your MCP Router token before connecting:

export MCPR_TOKEN="mcpr_your_token"

4. Connect to MCP Router:

npx -y @mcp_router/cli connect

5. To connect to a specific project on first run, you can use:

npx -y @mcp_router/cli connect --project <project-name>

Notes:

• The CLI stores configuration locally on your machine; data remains on your device.
• You can connect to multiple MCP servers (local or remote) and manage them from the desktop interface.
• If you run into network or authentication issues, verify your MCPR_TOKEN and ensure network access to the MCP routers.

Tips and common issues:

• Environment variables: MCPR_TOKEN is required to authenticate with MCP Router; you can also set MCPR_DEFAULT_PROJECT to auto-select a project on connect.
• Data locality: All data such as logs and server configurations are stored locally on your device.
• CLI updates: Use npx to fetch the latest CLI version automatically; if you experience issues, clear npm cache or reinstall the CLI.
• Supported workflows: You can connect to both local MCP servers and remote instances; organize servers into Projects and Workspaces for efficient navigation.
• If the CLI cannot connect, check firewall rules, ensure the MCP Server is reachable, and verify the token scope.
• For troubleshooting, consult the MCP Router docs or their community channels.