Awesome Linux MCP Server

# Linux MCP Server - Product Requirements Document ## Executive Summary The Linux MCP Server is an MCP-compliant server that runs in the background as a TypeScript or Python API, providing AI models with secure control over remote Linux servers and browser automation capabilities. The MVP focuses on essential command execution, file system operations, system monitoring, and browser automation tools, with SSH-based remote access to target Linux systems. ## Objectives ### MVP Objectives (Phase 1) - **Core Server Control**: Enable AI models to execute commands, manage files, and monitor system status on remote Linux servers via SSH - **Browser Automation**: Provide comprehensive browser control and monitoring capabilities - **Security First**: Implement SSH-based authentication with command validation and timeout protection - **MCP Compliance**: Full Model Context Protocol compliance for seamless AI integration ### Future Objectives (Post-MVP) - **Extended Server Management**: Package management, service control, network configuration - **Container Orchestration**: Docker and Kubernetes integration - **Enterprise Features**: Backup/recovery, monitoring/alerting, multi-server management - **AI Enhancement**: Natural language processing, automated troubleshooting, predictive maintenance ## Target Users ### Primary Personas 1. **System Administrators** - DevOps engineers managing infrastructure - IT administrators maintaining enterprise systems - Cloud engineers working with Linux instances 2. **AI Assistant Users** - Users of Claude Desktop, ChatGPT, and other AI assistants - Developers integrating AI into their workflows - Technical teams needing automated server management 3. **Security Professionals** - Penetration testers requiring remote access - Security analysts performing investigations - Compliance officers auditing systems ### Secondary Personas - **Developers** building automation scripts - **Students** learning Linux system administration - **Researchers** conducting system-level experiments ## MVP Features (Phase 1 - Required) ### 1. SSH Connection Management #### Authentication & Connection - **SSH Authentication**: Support for SSH keys and passwords - **Connection Handling**: Establish and maintain SSH connections to remote Linux servers - **Connection Validation**: Verify connection health and authentication status - **Session Management**: Basic session handling with configurable timeouts ### 2. Command Execution Tools #### `execute_command` - **Secure Command Execution**: Run single terminal commands on remote Linux servers - **SSH Integration**: Execute commands via established SSH connections - **Timeout Protection**: Configurable command execution timeouts - **Output Capture**: Capture and return command output, errors, and exit codes - **Security Validation**: Basic command validation and sanitization #### `execute_script` - **Bash Script Execution**: Execute bash scripts with command-line arguments - **Script Upload**: Transfer scripts to remote server for execution - **Argument Passing**: Support for script parameters and environment variables - **Output Handling**: Capture script output and error streams #### `create_bash_script` - **Script Creation**: Generate and deploy bash scripts to remote servers - **Template Support**: Use predefined script templates - **Customization**: Allow parameter substitution and script modification - **Deployment**: Automatically deploy scripts to appropriate locations ### 3. File System Operations #### `list_directory` - **Directory Listing**: List contents of directories on remote servers - **Detailed Information**: Include file permissions, sizes, timestamps, and ownership - **Recursive Support**: Optional recursive directory traversal - **Filtering Options**: Filter by file type, size, date, or name patterns ### 4. System Monitoring #### `get_system_info` - **CPU Information**: Current usage, load averages, core details - **Memory Statistics**: RAM usage, swap usage, memory details - **Disk Usage**: Filesystem utilization, mount points, available space - **System Overview**: OS version, kernel information, uptime, hostname - **Real-time Metrics**: Current system resource utilization ### 5. Browser Automation Tools #### Navigation & Control - **`puppeteer_navigate`**: Navigate browser to specified URLs - **`puppeteer_click`**: Click on web page elements - **`puppeteer_hover`**: Hover over web page elements - **`puppeteer_fill`**: Fill form input fields - **`puppeteer_select`**: Select options from dropdown menus - **`puppeteer_evaluate`**: Execute JavaScript in browser context #### Monitoring & Capture - **`puppeteer_screenshot`**: Capture screenshots of web pages or elements - **`puppeteer_get_screenshot`**: Retrieve current browser screenshot - **`puppeteer_get_console_logs`**: Access browser console output - **`puppeteer_get_network_details`**: Monitor network requests and responses ### 6. MCP Resources #### Browser Resources - **Console Logs Resource**: `console://logs` - Browser console output stream - **Screenshot Resource**: `screenshot://<name>` - Captured screenshot images - **Network Resource**: `network://details` - Network request/response data ## Future Features (Post-MVP) ## Advanced Features ### 8. Container & Orchestration #### Docker Integration - **Container Management**: Create, start, stop, remove containers - **Image Management**: Pull, build, tag, push images - **Docker Compose**: Multi-container application management - **Docker Networks**: Network configuration and management - **Docker Volumes**: Persistent storage management #### Kubernetes Integration - **Pod Management**: Create, manage, monitor pods - **Service Management**: Kubernetes services and ingress - **ConfigMaps/Secrets**: Configuration and secret management - **Helm Charts**: Package management for Kubernetes - **Cluster Operations**: Node management and cluster administration ### 9. Database Operations #### Database Management - **Multi-Database Support**: MySQL, PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis - **Database Operations**: Create, backup, restore databases - **User Management**: Database users and permissions - **Query Execution**: Safe SQL/NoSQL query execution - **Performance Monitoring**: Database performance metrics ### 10. Backup & Recovery #### Backup Management - **Automated Backups**: Scheduled backup operations - **Backup Verification**: Integrity checking and validation - **Multiple Storage**: Local, remote, cloud storage options - **Incremental Backups**: Efficient incremental backup strategies - **Backup Encryption**: Encrypted backup storage #### Recovery Operations - **Point-in-Time Recovery**: Restore to specific timestamps - **File-level Recovery**: Individual file restoration - **System Recovery**: Full system recovery procedures - **Disaster Recovery**: Comprehensive disaster recovery plans ### 11. Monitoring & Alerting #### System Monitoring - **Metrics Collection**: Comprehensive system metrics - **Threshold Alerts**: Configurable alerting thresholds - **Log Aggregation**: Centralized log collection and analysis - **Performance Monitoring**: Real-time performance tracking - **Anomaly Detection**: Automated anomaly detection ### 12. AI-Powered Features #### Intelligent Operations - **Natural Language Commands**: Convert natural language to system commands - **Automated Troubleshooting**: AI-driven problem diagnosis - **Performance Optimization**: AI recommendations for system optimization - **Security Analysis**: Automated security assessment and recommendations - **Predictive Maintenance**: Predictive failure detection #### Learning & Adaptation - **Command Learning**: Learn from user patterns and preferences - **Context Awareness**: Understand system context for better operations - **Automated Workflows**: Create automated workflows from repeated tasks - **Knowledge Base**: Build knowledge base from system operations ## Technical Requirements ### Architecture - **MCP Server Implementation**: Background service implemented in TypeScript or Python - **MCP Protocol Compliance**: Full Model Context Protocol compliance for AI integration - **SSH Client Architecture**: Connects to remote Linux servers via SSH (no installation required on target) - **Browser Automation**: Integrated Puppeteer for headless browser control - **Resource Management**: MCP resources for browser console logs, screenshots, and network data ### Implementation Options - **TypeScript Implementation**: Node.js-based MCP server using official MCP SDK - **Python Implementation**: Python-based MCP server using MCP SDK - **Background Service**: Runs as a system service or background process - **Configuration**: JSON-based configuration for SSH connections and browser settings ### Performance Requirements (MVP) - **Latency**: <500ms for command execution, <2s for browser operations - **Throughput**: Support 10-20 concurrent operations - **Connection Management**: Efficient SSH connection pooling and reuse - **Resource Usage**: Minimal resource overhead on the MCP server host ### Compatibility - **Remote Linux Systems**: Works with any SSH-accessible Linux server - **No Target Installation**: Does not require software installation on remote Linux hosts - **Browser Support**: Headless Chrome/Chromium for browser automation - **SSH Requirements**: Standard SSH server on target Linux systems ## Security Considerations ### Authentication & Authorization - **Zero Trust Architecture**: Never trust, always verify - **Role-Based Access Control**: Granular permission system - **Audit Logging**: Comprehensive audit trails - **Session Security**: Secure session management - **Encryption**: End-to-end encryption for all communications ### Security Features - **Command Whitelisting**: Allow/deny lists for commands - **Path Restrictions**: Configurable allowed paths - **Resource Quotas**: Prevent resource exhaustion attacks - **Intrusion Detection**: Monitor for suspicious activities - **Compliance**: Support for security compliance standards ### Data Protection - **Data Encryption**: Encrypt sensitive data at rest and in transit - **Secure Deletion**: Secure data deletion methods - **Backup Security**: Encrypted and secure backup storage - **Access Logging**: Detailed access logging and monitoring ## Integration Capabilities ### MCP Ecosystem - **Tool Integration**: Expose Linux operations as MCP tools - **Resource Management**: Manage system resources via MCP resources - **Prompt Engineering**: Provide system-aware prompts - **Context Sharing**: Share system context with AI models ### Third-Party Integrations - **Cloud Platforms**: AWS, Azure, GCP integration - **Monitoring Tools**: Prometheus, Grafana, Nagios integration - **Configuration Management**: Ansible, Puppet, Chef integration - **CI/CD Pipelines**: Jenkins, GitLab CI, GitHub Actions integration - **Log Management**: ELK Stack, Splunk integration ### API Integrations - **REST API**: Comprehensive REST API for external access - **WebSocket API**: Real-time event streaming - **GraphQL API**: Flexible query interface - **Webhook Support**: Event-driven integrations ## User Experience ### Interface Design - **Natural Language Processing**: Understand natural language commands - **Context Awareness**: Maintain context across conversations - **Error Handling**: User-friendly error messages and recovery - **Progress Tracking**: Real-time progress updates for long operations - **Interactive Mode**: Support for interactive operations ### Accessibility - **Command Line Interface**: Full CLI support - **GUI Integration**: Web-based management interface - **API Access**: Programmatic access for automation - **Mobile Support**: Mobile-friendly interfaces - **Voice Integration**: Voice command support ### Documentation & Support - **Interactive Help**: Context-sensitive help system - **Command Examples**: Comprehensive command examples - **Troubleshooting Guide**: Built-in troubleshooting assistance - **Community Support**: Community forums and documentation - **Training Resources**: Tutorials and training materials ## Success Metrics ### Technical Metrics - **Uptime**: 99.9% service availability - **Response Time**: <500ms average response time - **Error Rate**: <0.1% error rate - **Security Incidents**: Zero security breaches - **Performance**: Meet or exceed performance benchmarks ### User Metrics - **User Adoption**: Number of active users - **Task Completion**: Percentage of tasks completed successfully - **User Satisfaction**: User satisfaction scores - **Feature Usage**: Usage statistics for different features - **Time Savings**: Time saved compared to manual operations ### Business Metrics - **Cost Reduction**: Reduction in operational costs - **Efficiency Gains**: Improvement in operational efficiency - **Error Reduction**: Reduction in human errors - **Scalability**: Ability to scale with user growth - **ROI**: Return on investment metrics ## Implementation Phases ### Phase 1: MVP (Weeks 1-6) **Required Tools & Features:** - `execute_command` - Secure SSH-based command execution - `execute_script` - Bash script execution with arguments - `create_bash_script` - Script creation and deployment - `list_directory` - Directory listing with details - `get_system_info` - CPU, memory, disk monitoring - `puppeteer_navigate` - Browser navigation - `puppeteer_screenshot` - Screenshot capture - `puppeteer_click` - Element clicking - `puppeteer_hover` - Element hovering - `puppeteer_fill` - Form input filling - `puppeteer_select` - Dropdown selection - `puppeteer_evaluate` - JavaScript execution - `puppeteer_get_console_logs` - Console log access - `puppeteer_get_screenshot` - Screenshot retrieval - `puppeteer_get_network_details` - Network monitoring **Technical Implementation:** - MCP server in TypeScript or Python - SSH connection management - Puppeteer browser automation integration - Basic security and timeout protection - MCP resource implementation for browser data ### Phase 2: Extended Server Management (Months 2-4) - Package management (apt, yum, dnf support) - Service management (systemd integration) - Network configuration and firewall management - User and access management - File system operations (CRUD, permissions, transfers) ### Phase 3: Enterprise Features (Months 5-7) - Container orchestration (Docker, Kubernetes) - Database operations and management - Backup and recovery systems - Advanced monitoring and alerting - Multi-server management capabilities ### Phase 4: AI Enhancement (Months 8-10) - Natural language command interpretation - Automated troubleshooting and diagnostics - Predictive maintenance and anomaly detection - Learning and context awareness - Advanced integrations and plugins ## Risks and Mitigations ### Technical Risks - **Security Vulnerabilities**: Comprehensive security testing and code review - **Performance Issues**: Performance testing and optimization - **Compatibility Problems**: Extensive testing across platforms - **Scalability Challenges**: Architecture designed for scale ### Operational Risks - **Data Loss**: Comprehensive backup and recovery procedures - **Service Downtime**: High availability and failover mechanisms - **Security Breaches**: Multi-layered security approach - **Compliance Issues**: Built-in compliance features ### Business Risks - **Market Competition**: Differentiated feature set and superior UX - **Adoption Challenges**: Comprehensive documentation and support - **Regulatory Changes**: Flexible architecture for compliance - **Resource Constraints**: Phased implementation approach ## Conclusion The Linux MCP Server MVP provides a focused, secure solution for AI-driven Linux server management and browser automation. By implementing the specified tools as an MCP-compliant background service (TypeScript or Python), this server enables AI models to securely execute commands on remote Linux servers via SSH and control web browsers, all without requiring any software installation on the target systems. The MVP focuses on core functionality that addresses the most common automation needs while maintaining security through SSH-based access and command validation. The modular MCP architecture ensures seamless integration with AI assistants like Claude Desktop, providing a foundation for future expansion into comprehensive server management capabilities. With the specified 16 tools and features, the MVP delivers immediate value for system administration, web automation, and AI-assisted workflows while establishing the groundwork for enterprise-grade Linux server control. --- ## Appendices ### Appendix A: Feature Priority Matrix ### Appendix B: Security Requirements Detail ### Appendix C: Performance Benchmarks ### Appendix D: Integration API Specifications ### Appendix E: Testing Strategy