# MCP Server Configuration for Claude Desktop
## Configuration File Location
**macOS/Linux**: `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`
**Windows**: `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json`
## Configuration
Add this to your `claude_desktop_config.json`:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"aruba-email": {
"command": "python",
"args": [
"-m",
"mcp_aruba.server"
],
"env": {
"IMAP_HOST": "imaps.aruba.it",
"IMAP_PORT": "993",
"IMAP_USERNAME": "your_email@aruba.it",
"IMAP_PASSWORD": "your_password_here",
"SMTP_HOST": "smtps.aruba.it",
"SMTP_PORT": "465",
"CALDAV_URL": "https://syncdav.aruba.it/calendars/your_email@aruba.it/",
"CALDAV_USERNAME": "your_email@aruba.it",
"CALDAV_PASSWORD": "your_password_here"
}
}
}
}
```
**Important**: Replace `your_email@aruba.it` and `your_password_here` with your actual Aruba credentials.
## Installation Steps
### 1. Install the MCP Server
```bash
# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/jackfioru92/mcp-aruba-email.git
cd mcp-aruba-email
# Create virtual environment
python -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate # On Windows: .venv\Scripts\activate
# Install dependencies
pip install -e .
```
### 2. Activate Virtual Environment
**CRITICAL**: Before configuring Claude Desktop, you must activate the virtual environment:
```bash
cd /path/to/mcp-aruba-email
source .venv/bin/activate # On Windows: .venv\Scripts\activate
# Verify the server works
python -m mcp_aruba.server
```
If the server starts without errors, press Ctrl+C to stop it.
### 3. Configure Claude Desktop
1. Open the configuration file:
- **macOS**: `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`
- **Windows**: `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json`
2. Add the configuration above (replace credentials)
3. **Completely quit Claude Desktop** (Cmd+Q on macOS, not just close window)
4. Reopen Claude Desktop
5. Look for the MCP icon (🔌) in the bottom-right corner of the chat input
## Testing the MCP Server
Once configured, you can test with prompts like:
- "List the last 5 emails from my inbox"
- "Show me emails from colleague@example.com"
- "Search for emails about 'project update' from the last week"
- "Read email with ID 123"
- "Send an email to john@example.com about the meeting"
- "Create a calendar event for tomorrow at 3pm"
- "Show my calendar for this week"
## Available Tools
The server provides **15 MCP tools**:
### Email Tools (7)
- `list_emails` - List recent emails with optional sender filter
- `read_email` - Read full content of a specific email
- `search_emails` - Search emails by subject/body with date filters
- `send_email` - Send emails with optional signature
- `check_bounced_emails` - Check for delivery failures
- `set_email_signature` - Create custom email signature with photo
- `get_email_signature` - Retrieve saved signature
- `list_email_signatures` - List all signatures
### Calendar Tools (6)
- `create_calendar_event` - Create events with attendees
- `list_calendar_events` - View upcoming events
- `accept_calendar_event` - Accept invitations
- `decline_calendar_event` - Decline invitations
- `tentative_calendar_event` - Respond "maybe"
- `delete_calendar_event` - Remove events
## Troubleshooting
### MCP Icon Doesn't Appear
1. **Check JSON syntax** in `claude_desktop_config.json`:
- Use a JSON validator: https://jsonlint.com/
- Ensure no trailing commas
- Check all quotes are properly closed
2. **Verify virtual environment is activated**:
```bash
cd /path/to/mcp-aruba-email
source .venv/bin/activate
which python # Should show .venv/bin/python
```
3. **Test the server manually**:
```bash
python -m mcp_aruba.server
# Should start without errors
```
4. **Check credentials in config**:
- Verify email address is correct
- Verify password is correct
- No extra spaces in values
5. **Restart Claude Desktop properly**:
- **macOS**: Cmd+Q (not just close window)
- **Windows**: Right-click system tray → Quit
- Wait 5 seconds before reopening
6. **Check Claude Desktop logs**:
- **macOS**: Open Console.app → Filter by "Claude"
- **Windows**: Check `%APPDATA%\Claude\logs\`
- Look for MCP connection errors
### Common Errors
**"Module not found: mcp_aruba"**
- Solution: Make sure you ran `pip install -e .` in the project directory
**"Authentication failed"**
- Solution: Double-check email and password in config
**"Connection refused"**
- Solution: Verify Aruba servers are accessible (check firewall/VPN)
**"Python command not found"**
- Solution: Use full path to Python in virtual environment:
```json
"command": "/full/path/to/mcp-aruba-email/.venv/bin/python"
```
### Still Not Working?
1. Remove the MCP config from Claude Desktop
2. Test the server from terminal first:
```bash
source .venv/bin/activate
python -m mcp_aruba.server
```
3. If it works in terminal, add config back to Claude Desktop
4. Make sure to **fully quit and restart** Claude Desktop
### Alternative: Use with VS Code Copilot
If Claude Desktop doesn't work, you can use VS Code Copilot instead.
See [VSCODE_SETUP.md](VSCODE_SETUP.md) for instructions.
## Security Notes
- Your credentials are stored in Claude Desktop's config file
- The file is stored locally and never sent to Anthropic's servers
- The MCP server runs locally on your machine
- Consider using environment variables instead of hardcoding passwords
