# Integrating with Claude Desktop
This guide details how to integrate K8s MCP Server with Claude Desktop.
## Setting Up Claude Desktop
1. **Locate the Claude Desktop configuration file**:
- macOS: `/Users/YOUR_USER_NAME/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`
- Windows: `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json`
2. **Edit the configuration file** to include the K8s MCP Server:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"kubernetes": {
"command": "docker",
"args": [
"run",
"-i",
"--rm",
"-v",
"/Users/YOUR_USER_NAME/.kube:/home/appuser/.kube:ro",
"ghcr.io/alexei-led/k8s-mcp-server:latest"
]
}
}
}
```
> **Note**: Make sure to replace `/Users/YOUR_USER_NAME/.kube` with the absolute path to your Kubernetes configuration directory, and update the image name if using a custom image.
3. **Restart Claude Desktop** to apply the changes
- After restarting, you should see a hammer 🔨 icon in the bottom right corner of the input box
- This indicates that the K8s MCP Server is available for use
## Common Configuration Examples
### Basic Configuration with Specific Namespace
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"kubernetes": {
"command": "docker",
"args": [
"run",
"-i",
"--rm",
"-v",
"/Users/YOUR_USER_NAME/.kube:/home/appuser/.kube:ro",
"-e",
"K8S_CONTEXT=my-cluster",
"-e",
"K8S_NAMESPACE=my-namespace",
"ghcr.io/alexei-led/k8s-mcp-server:latest"
]
}
}
}
```
### Permissive Mode Configuration
To run in permissive mode (allow all commands, including potentially dangerous ones):
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"kubernetes": {
"command": "docker",
"args": [
"run",
"-i",
"--rm",
"-v",
"/Users/YOUR_USER_NAME/.kube:/home/appuser/.kube:ro",
"-e",
"K8S_MCP_SECURITY_MODE=permissive",
"ghcr.io/alexei-led/k8s-mcp-server:latest"
]
}
}
}
```
### Custom Security Configuration
To use a custom security configuration file:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"kubernetes": {
"command": "docker",
"args": [
"run",
"-i",
"--rm",
"-v",
"/Users/YOUR_USER_NAME/.kube:/home/appuser/.kube:ro",
"-v",
"/path/to/my-security-config.yaml:/app/security_config.yaml:ro",
"-e",
"K8S_MCP_SECURITY_CONFIG=/app/security_config.yaml",
"ghcr.io/alexei-led/k8s-mcp-server:latest"
]
}
}
}
```
## Using Kubernetes Tools in Claude
Once configured, you can ask Claude to perform Kubernetes operations:
- "Show me the pods in my default namespace using kubectl"
- "Help me deploy a new application with Helm"
- "Check the status of my Istio service mesh"
- "List all my Kubernetes deployments"
Claude will automatically use the appropriate Kubernetes CLI tools via the K8s MCP Server.
## Troubleshooting
1. **Missing Tools Icon**: If you don't see the hammer icon, check that:
- Claude Desktop is properly restarted
- The configuration file is correctly formatted
- The specified paths are accessible
2. **Permission Issues**: Make sure that:
- Your `.kube` directory has correct permissions (600 for the files)
- The Docker container has read access to your configuration files
3. **Command Execution Fails**: Verify that:
- Your Kubernetes context is valid and accessible
- The command isn't being blocked by security rules (consider permissive mode for testing)
- The timeout is sufficient for the command to complete
