# Claude Desktop - Installation Guide
Claude Desktop is the native macOS desktop application. Installing the F5 XC Cloud Status MCP server requires editing a configuration file and restarting the application.
## Prerequisites
Before starting, ensure you have:
- **Claude Desktop** installed (available from https://claude.ai/desktop)
- **Node.js** 18.0.0 or higher (`node --version`)
- **npm** installed (comes with Node.js)
## Installation
### Step 1: Backup Configuration
First, create a backup of your existing configuration:
```bash
cp ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json.backup
```
### Step 2: Edit Configuration File
Open the Claude Desktop configuration file:
```bash
# macOS
vim ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
# Or use your preferred editor
code ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
```
### Step 3: Add MCP Server Configuration
Add the F5 XC Cloud Status server to the `mcpServers` section:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"f5xc-cloudstatus": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@robinmordasiewicz/f5xc-cloudstatus-mcp@latest"]
}
},
"preferences": {
"quickEntryDictationShortcut": "capslock"
}
}
```
### Step 4: Verify JSON Syntax
Before restarting, verify the JSON is valid:
```bash
python -m json.tool ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
```
You should see no errors. If there are syntax errors, fix them before proceeding.
### Step 5: Restart Claude Desktop
Completely close and restart Claude Desktop:
```bash
# Close Claude Desktop
pkill -f "Claude" || killall Claude
# Or manually: Cmd+Q or menu → Claude → Quit Claude
# Then relaunch the application
open -a Claude
```
Wait for Claude Desktop to fully start (watch for the tray icon to appear).
## Verification
### Method 1: New Conversation
1. Create a new conversation in Claude Desktop
2. Try this prompt:
```
"What is the current status of F5 Cloud services?"
```
3. You should see F5 Cloud status in the response
### Method 2: Check Available Tools
Look at the available tools list (usually shown in the chat interface) and verify `f5xc-cloudstatus` appears.
### Step 3: Command Line Verification
```bash
# Test the package directly
npx @robinmordasiewicz/f5xc-cloudstatus-mcp@latest --version
# You should see version information if successful
```
## Quick Test Prompts
After installation, try these prompts to verify all tools work:
**Basic Status Check:**
```
Prompt: "What is the current status of F5 Cloud services?"
Expected: Overall status, operational indicator, timestamp
Response Time: < 5 seconds
```
**Component Listing:**
```
Prompt: "Show me all F5 Cloud service components"
Expected: 100+ components organized by category
Response Time: < 5 seconds
```
**Incident Check:**
```
Prompt: "Are there any active incidents affecting F5 Cloud?"
Expected: Active incidents or confirmation of no issues
Response Time: < 5 seconds
```
## Complete Configuration Example
Here's what your complete configuration file should look like:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"f5xc-cloudstatus": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@robinmordasiewicz/f5xc-cloudstatus-mcp@latest"]
}
},
"preferences": {
"quickEntryDictationShortcut": "capslock"
}
}
```
## Multiple MCP Servers
You can configure multiple MCP servers in the same file:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"f5xc-cloudstatus": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@robinmordasiewicz/f5xc-cloudstatus-mcp@latest"]
},
"other-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "other-mcp-package"]
}
},
"preferences": {
"quickEntryDictationShortcut": "capslock"
}
}
```
## Using Local Development Build
If you're developing the MCP server locally:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"f5xc-cloudstatus": {
"command": "node",
"args": ["/path/to/f5xc-cloudstatus-mcp/dist/index.js"]
}
}
}
```
Replace `/path/to/f5xc-cloudstatus-mcp` with your actual project path.
## Configuration Reference
| Setting | Value | Purpose |
|---------|-------|---------|
| `command` | `npx` | Node package executor |
| `args[0]` | `-y` | Auto-confirm package execution |
| `args[1]` | `@robinmordasiewicz/f5xc-cloudstatus-mcp@latest` | Package name and version |
## Troubleshooting
### "npx: command not found"
- **Cause**: Node.js or npm not properly installed
- **Solution**: Install Node.js from https://nodejs.org (v18.0.0+)
- **Verify**: Run `npm --version`
### "Cannot find module '@robinmordasiewicz/f5xc-cloudstatus-mcp'"
- **Cause**: Package not on npm registry or network issue
- **Solution**: Check internet connection, run `npm cache clean --force`, then retry
- **Verify**: Run `npm search @robinmordasiewicz/f5xc-cloudstatus-mcp`
### "Invalid JSON syntax"
- **Cause**: Missing commas, quotes, or brackets in config file
- **Solution**: Validate JSON:
```bash
python -m json.tool ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
```
- **Fix**: Edit file and correct syntax errors
### Server not appearing after restart
- **Cause**: Configuration file not properly saved or syntax error
- **Solution**:
1. Verify JSON is valid: `python -m json.tool ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`
2. Check file was saved: `cat ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json | grep f5xc-cloudstatus`
3. Fully restart Claude Desktop (not just window)
4. Check that Node.js can execute the package: `npx @robinmordasiewicz/f5xc-cloudstatus-mcp@latest --version`
- **Verify**: After restart, look for error messages in Claude Desktop
### "EACCES: permission denied"
- **Cause**: Node.js modules directory permission issue
- **Solution**: Fix npm permissions: https://docs.npmjs.com/resolving-eacces-permissions-errors-when-installing-packages-globally
- **Verify**: Run `npm list -g` without sudo
## Recovery
If something goes wrong, restore from your backup:
```bash
# Restore backup
cp ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json.backup ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
# Restart Claude Desktop
pkill -f "Claude" || killall Claude
open -a Claude
```
## Configuration Paths by Platform
### macOS
```
Configuration: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
Backup location: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json.backup
```
### Windows
```
Configuration: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json
Backup location: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json.backup
```
### Linux
```
Note: Claude Desktop is only available for macOS and Windows
```
## Uninstallation
To remove the F5 XC Cloud Status MCP server:
1. Edit `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`
2. Remove the `f5xc-cloudstatus` block from the `mcpServers` object
3. Verify JSON is valid
4. Restart Claude Desktop
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
// f5xc-cloudstatus block removed
},
"preferences": {
"quickEntryDictationShortcut": "capslock"
}
}
```
## Comparison with Other Platforms
| Feature | Claude Desktop | Claude Code | OpenCode | VS Code |
|---------|---|---|---|---|
| **Platform** | macOS/Windows | macOS/Windows/Linux | macOS/Windows/Linux | macOS/Windows/Linux |
| **Configuration** | JSON file | `.mcp.json` | `opencode.json` | Settings or CLI |
| **Restart Required** | Yes | No | No | Yes (reload) |
| **Setup Time** | 3-5 minutes | 2 minutes | 2-3 minutes | 1-2 minutes |
| **GUI Interface** | Native app | CLI | Terminal UI | IDE |
## Next Steps
- Review [Troubleshooting Guide](troubleshooting.md) if issues arise
- Check [Home](../index.md) for tool descriptions and verification queries
---
**Installation Time:** ~3-5 minutes (includes restart)
**Difficulty Level:** Easy
**Restart Required:** Yes
**Last Updated:** January 2026
