Kubernetes Port Forward MCP

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides tools for discovering Kubernetes services and running kubectl port-forward sessions (optionally with separate log windows). It is designed for MCP clients/LLMs that translate natural language into structured tool calls.

Kubernetes Port Forward MCP vs kubectl port-forward

This package provides an MCP interface on top of the standard kubectl workflow.

• kubectl: Best when you already know exact namespace/pod/ports and prefer manual control.
• MCP: Best when an agent should discover services and run one or many port-forwards via tool calls.

Key Features

• Service discovery: list namespaces and infer services (short name → environments → namespace) from running pods.
• Multi-service in one session: start multiple port-forwards with one tool call.
• LLM-friendly API: start_k8s_port_forward accepts an array so each service can use different namespace, environment, localPort, and remotePort.
• Optional logs: open kubectl logs -f in a separate OS-level terminal window per service.

Table of Contents

• Requirements
• Quick Start
• Getting Started
• Examples
• Tools
• Output and Logs
• Configuration
• Validation and Debugging

Requirements

• Node.js 18 or newer
• kubectl installed and configured with access to your cluster
• VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf, Claude Desktop, Cline, or any other MCP client

Quick Start

1. Add this server to your MCP client (use the config in Getting Started below).
2. Ask your assistant: "List available Kubernetes services."
3. Ask your assistant: "Run api service on local port 3002."
4. Open the returned URL (for example http://localhost:3002).
5. When finished, ask: "Stop all port-forwards."

Getting Started

First, install the Kubernetes Port Forward MCP server with your client.

Standard config works in most MCP clients:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "k8s-port-forward": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "k8s-port-forward-mcp@latest"]
    }
  }
}

<img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/VS_Code-VS_Code?style=flat-square&label=Install%20Server&color=0098FF" alt="Install in VS Code"> <img alt="Install in VS Code Insiders" src="https://img.shields.io/badge/VS_Code_Insiders-VS_Code_Insiders?style=flat-square&label=Install%20Server&color=24bfa5">

Add via the Amp VS Code extension settings screen or by updating your settings.json file:

"amp.mcpServers": {
  "k8s-port-forward": {
    "command": "npx",
    "args": [
      "-y",
      "k8s-port-forward-mcp@latest"
    ]
  }
}

Amp CLI Setup:

Add via the amp mcp add command below:

amp mcp add k8s-port-forward -- npx -y k8s-port-forward-mcp@latest

Add via the Antigravity settings or by updating your configuration file:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "k8s-port-forward": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "k8s-port-forward-mcp@latest"]
    }
  }
}

Use the Claude Code CLI to add the Kubernetes Port Forward MCP server:

claude mcp add k8s-port-forward npx -y k8s-port-forward-mcp@latest

Follow the MCP install guide, use the standard config above.

Follow the instruction in the section Configuring MCP Servers

Example: Local Setup

Add the following to your cline_mcp_settings.json file:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "k8s-port-forward": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "timeout": 30,
      "args": ["-y", "k8s-port-forward-mcp@latest"],
      "disabled": false
    }
  }
}

Use the Codex CLI to add the Kubernetes Port Forward MCP server:

codex mcp add k8s-port-forward npx "-y" "k8s-port-forward-mcp@latest"

Alternatively, create or edit the configuration file ~/.codex/config.toml and add:

[mcp_servers.k8s-port-forward]
command = "npx"
args = ["-y", "k8s-port-forward-mcp@latest"]

For more information, see the Codex MCP documentation.

Use the Copilot CLI to interactively add the Kubernetes Port Forward MCP server:

/mcp add

Alternatively, create or edit the configuration file ~/.copilot/mcp-config.json and add:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "k8s-port-forward": {
      "type": "local",
      "command": "npx",
      "tools": ["*"],
      "args": ["-y", "k8s-port-forward-mcp@latest"]
    }
  }
}

For more information, see the Copilot CLI documentation.

Click the button to install:

<img src="https://cursor.com/deeplink/mcp-install-dark.svg" alt="Install in Cursor">

Or install manually:

Go to Cursor Settings -> MCP -> Add new MCP Server. Name to your liking, use command type with the command npx -y k8s-port-forward-mcp@latest. You can also verify config or add command arguments via clicking Edit.

Use the Factory CLI to add the Kubernetes Port Forward MCP server:

droid mcp add k8s-port-forward "npx -y k8s-port-forward-mcp@latest"

Alternatively, type /mcp within Factory droid to open an interactive UI for managing MCP servers.

For more information, see the Factory MCP documentation.

Follow the MCP install guide, use the standard config above.

Click the button to install:

Or install manually:

Go to Advanced settings -> Extensions -> Add custom extension. Name to your liking, use type STDIO, and set the command to npx -y k8s-port-forward-mcp@latest. Click "Add Extension".

Follow the MCP Servers documentation. For example in .kiro/settings/mcp.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "k8s-port-forward": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "k8s-port-forward-mcp@latest"]
    }
  }
}

Click the button to install:

Or install manually:

Go to Program in the right sidebar -> Install -> Edit mcp.json. Use the standard config above.

Follow the MCP Servers documentation. For example in ~/.config/opencode/opencode.json:

{
  "$schema": "https://opencode.ai/config.json",
  "mcp": {
    "k8s-port-forward": {
      "type": "local",
      "command": ["npx", "-y", "k8s-port-forward-mcp@latest"],
      "enabled": true
    }
  }
}

Open Qodo Gen chat panel in VSCode or IntelliJ -> Connect more tools -> + Add new MCP -> Paste the standard config above.

Click <code>Save</code>.

Click the button to install:

<img src="https://img.shields.io/badge/VS_Code-VS_Code?style=flat-square&label=Install%20Server&color=0098FF" alt="Install in VS Code"> <img alt="Install in VS Code Insiders" src="https://img.shields.io/badge/VS_Code_Insiders-VS_Code_Insiders?style=flat-square&label=Install%20Server&color=24bfa5">

Or install manually:

Follow the MCP install guide, use the standard config above. You can also install the Kubernetes Port Forward MCP server using the VS Code CLI:

# For VS Code
code --add-mcp '{"name":"k8s-port-forward","command":"npx","args":["-y","k8s-port-forward-mcp@latest"]}'

After installation, the Kubernetes Port Forward MCP server will be available for use with your GitHub Copilot agent in VS Code.

Go to Settings -> AI -> Manage MCP Servers -> + Add to add an MCP Server. Use the standard config above.

Alternatively, use the slash command /add-mcp in the Warp prompt and paste the standard config from above:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "k8s-port-forward": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "k8s-port-forward-mcp@latest"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Follow Windsurf MCP documentation. Use the standard config above.

Examples

Quick reference (natural language → tool calls)

• "Run api and auth services on local ports 3002, 3003"
  → list_k8s_services({}) then start_k8s_port_forward({ services: [{ serviceName: "api", localPort: 3002 }, { serviceName: "auth", localPort: 3003 }] })

• "Run order service from shared services namespace in local port 3000"
  → start_k8s_port_forward({ services: [{ serviceName: "order", namespace: "shared-services", localPort: 3000 }] })

• "Run order service from shared services namespace and remote port 3000 in local port 3000"
  → start_k8s_port_forward({ services: [{ serviceName: "order", namespace: "shared-services", localPort: 3000, remotePort: 3000 }] })

• "Run api service in qa environment on local port 3001"
  → start_k8s_port_forward({ services: [{ serviceName: "api", environment: "qa", localPort: 3001 }] })

• "Run auth service in prod environment from production namespace on local port 3002"
  → start_k8s_port_forward({ services: [{ serviceName: "auth", environment: "prod", namespace: "production", localPort: 3002 }] })

• "Stop all port-forwards"
  → stop_k8s_port_forward({})

Detailed workflow example

User: "Run the frontend service in qa on port 3001"

AI workflow:

1. Call list_k8s_services({}) to find the exact service name.
2. Receive list containing e.g. frontend: qa (ns: ...), dev (ns: ...).
3. Call start_k8s_port_forward({ services: [{ serviceName: "frontend", environment: "qa", localPort: 3001 }] }).
4. Result: port-forwards run in the MCP server process; if includeLogs is true, logs open in a separate window. The tool result includes http://localhost:3001 and the exact kubectl commands.

Tools

• list_k8s_namespaces

  • Title: List namespaces
  • Description: List all available Kubernetes namespaces.
  • Parameters: None
  • Read-only: true

• list_k8s_services

  • Title: List services
  • Description: List available services grouped by short name and environment.
  • Parameters:
    • namespace (string, optional): Filter results to a namespace.
  • Read-only: true

• start_k8s_port_forward

  • Title: Start port-forward
  • Description: Start port-forwarding for one or more services.
  • Parameters:
    • services (array, required): List of service configs.
      • serviceName (string, required): Short name of the service. (Call list_k8s_services first.)
      • localPort (number, required): Local port to bind (1-65535).
      • namespace (string, optional): Namespace to target.
      • remotePort (number, optional): Remote (cluster) port.
      • environment (string, optional): dev | qa | stg | prod.
      • includeLogs (boolean, optional): Whether to open logs in a separate window (default: true).
  • Read-only: false

• stop_k8s_port_forward

  • Title: Stop port-forward
  • Description: Stop all active port-forward processes started by this MCP server.
  • Parameters: None
  • Read-only: false

Validation and Debugging

Since the MCP server spawns actual kubectl processes in the background, you may want to verify what's running and see the exact commands being executed.

Checking running kubectl processes

Windows (PowerShell):

# List all kubectl processes
tasklist /fi "imagename eq kubectl.exe"

# See the exact commands with process IDs
Get-CimInstance Win32_Process -Filter "Name='kubectl.exe'" | Select-Object ProcessId,CommandLine

Linux/macOS:

# List all kubectl processes
ps aux | grep kubectl

# See the exact commands with process IDs
ps -ef | grep kubectl

This helps you:

• Verify port-forwards are actually running
• See the exact namespaces and ports being used
• Identify stuck processes that might need manual termination
• Debug connectivity issues by examining the actual commands

Common failures and fixes

• Port already in use: choose another local port or stop the conflicting process.
• Connection refused: verify service name, namespace, and selected environment.
• No logs window: set includeLogs: true in the port-forward request.
• Stuck process: terminate by PID (taskkill /PID <pid> on Windows, kill <pid> on Linux/macOS).