notebooklm-mcp

# WSL Usage Guide This guide explains how to use the NotebookLM MCP HTTP Server from WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux). ## Architecture Overview Due to browser requirements (Playwright needs Chrome), the server must run on **Windows** to access Chrome. However, you can interact with it from WSL using the provided helper script. ``` ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ WINDOWS │ │ ┌─────────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────────────────┐ │ │ │ MCP HTTP Server │ │ Chrome Browser │ │ │ │ (node.exe) │◄──►│ (Playwright-controlled) │ │ │ │ localhost:3000 │ │ │ │ │ └─────────────────────┘ └─────────────────────────────┘ │ │ ▲ │ └────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │ PowerShell Invoke-RestMethod │ (bypasses WSL network isolation) ┌────────────┼─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ │ WSL │ │ ┌─────────┴───────────────────────────────────────────────┐│ │ │ mcp-wsl-helper.sh ││ │ │ - Calls Windows PowerShell for HTTP requests ││ │ │ - Manages server lifecycle (start/stop) ││ │ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│ │ │ │ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐│ │ │ Your Agent / Script ││ │ │ - Uses helper script or direct PowerShell calls ││ │ └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘│ └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘ ``` ## Quick Start ### 1. Start the Server ```bash # Using the helper script /mnt/d/Claude/notebooklm-mcp-http/scripts/mcp-wsl-helper.sh start # Or manually via PowerShell powershell.exe -Command "Start-Process -NoNewWindow -FilePath 'node' -ArgumentList 'D:/Claude/notebooklm-mcp-http/dist/http-wrapper.js' -WorkingDirectory 'D:/Claude/notebooklm-mcp-http'" ``` ### 2. Check Server Status ```bash /mnt/d/Claude/notebooklm-mcp-http/scripts/mcp-wsl-helper.sh status ``` ### 3. Authenticate (First Time) ```bash /mnt/d/Claude/notebooklm-mcp-http/scripts/mcp-wsl-helper.sh auth ``` This opens Chrome on Windows for Google authentication. ### 4. Ask a Question ```bash /mnt/d/Claude/notebooklm-mcp-http/scripts/mcp-wsl-helper.sh ask "What is CNV?" corpus-cnv ``` ## Helper Script Reference Location: `/mnt/d/Claude/notebooklm-mcp-http/scripts/mcp-wsl-helper.sh` | Command | Description | | ------------------------------ | --------------------------------------------- | | `start` | Start the server (Windows background process) | | `stop` | Stop the server | | `status` | Check server status and health | | `health` | Get health status (JSON) | | `auth` | Launch authentication (opens Chrome) | | `ask "question" [notebook_id]` | Ask a question | | `notebooks` | List available notebooks | ## Direct API Calls from WSL If you need to make direct API calls without the helper script, use PowerShell: ### Health Check ```bash powershell.exe -Command "Invoke-RestMethod -Uri 'http://localhost:3000/health' | ConvertTo-Json" ``` ### Ask Question ```bash powershell.exe -Command "Invoke-RestMethod -Uri 'http://localhost:3000/ask' -Method Post -ContentType 'application/json' -Body '{\"question\": \"Your question here\", \"notebook_id\": \"corpus-cnv\"}' | ConvertTo-Json -Depth 10" ``` ### List Notebooks ```bash powershell.exe -Command "Invoke-RestMethod -Uri 'http://localhost:3000/notebooks' | ConvertTo-Json -Depth 10" ``` ## Why Not Use curl Directly? WSL2 uses a virtualized network that doesn't share `localhost` with Windows by default. While there are ways to configure this (WSL mirrored networking, firewall rules), the most reliable approach is to use PowerShell's `Invoke-RestMethod` which runs on Windows and accesses `localhost:3000` directly. ## Troubleshooting ### Server won't start ```bash # Check if port 3000 is already in use cmd.exe /c "netstat -ano | findstr :3000" # Kill the process if needed cmd.exe /c "taskkill /PID <PID> /F" ``` ### Authentication expired ```bash # Check health first /mnt/d/Claude/notebooklm-mcp-http/scripts/mcp-wsl-helper.sh health # If authenticated: false, re-authenticate /mnt/d/Claude/notebooklm-mcp-http/scripts/mcp-wsl-helper.sh auth ``` ### Chrome profile locked Close all Chrome windows and try again: ```bash cmd.exe /c "taskkill /IM chrome.exe /F" /mnt/d/Claude/notebooklm-mcp-http/scripts/mcp-wsl-helper.sh start ``` ## Data Sharing Between WSL and Windows The server stores authentication and data in: - **Windows**: `C:\Users\<user>\AppData\Local\notebooklm-mcp\Data\` - **WSL symlink**: `~/.local/share/notebooklm-mcp` → Windows path This symlink ensures both environments share the same authentication state. To create the symlink (already done): ```bash rm -rf ~/.local/share/notebooklm-mcp ln -sf /mnt/c/Users/<user>/AppData/Local/notebooklm-mcp/Data ~/.local/share/notebooklm-mcp ```