Install on a fresh copy of ubuntu

1)Install MCP packet tracer

git clone https://github.com/hanley/MCP-PT.git

cd MCP-PT

sudo apt install python3.12-venv

python3 -m venv mcp-pkt

source mcp-pkt/bin/activate

pip install -e .

Related MCP server: Cisco SD-WAN MCP Server

2)Install claude

sudo apt update

sudo apt install curl ca-certificates gnupg -y

Update Claude repository

tmp_key="$(mktemp)"
tmp_gnupg="$(mktemp -d)"
status_code=1

if curl -fsSLo "$tmp_key" https://downloads.claude.ai/claude-desktop/key.asc && \
   key_metadata="$(GNUPGHOME="$tmp_gnupg" gpg --batch --show-keys --with-colons "$tmp_key")"; then
    fingerprint="$(printf '%s\n' "$key_metadata" | awk -F: '$1 == "fpr" {print $10; exit}')"
    printf 'Anthropic key fingerprint: %s\n' "$fingerprint"

    if [ "$fingerprint" = "31DDDE24DDFAB679F42D7BD2BAA929FF1A7ECACE" ]; then
        sudo install -Dm644 "$tmp_key" /usr/share/keyrings/claude-desktop-archive-keyring.asc
        status_code=$?
    else
        echo "Unexpected Anthropic signing key fingerprint" >&2
    fi
else
    echo "Anthropic key download or inspection failed" >&2
fi

rm -rf "$tmp_key" "$tmp_gnupg"
[ "$status_code" -eq 0 ]

Sign the app

arch="$(dpkg --print-architecture)"

case "$arch" in
    amd64|arm64)
        echo 'deb [arch=amd64,arm64 signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/claude-desktop-archive-keyring.asc] https://downloads.claude.ai/claude-desktop/apt/stable stable main' \
        | sudo tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/claude-desktop.list > /dev/null
        ;;
    *)
        printf 'Unsupported Claude Desktop architecture: %s\n' "$arch" >&2
        false
        ;;
esac

sudo apt update

apt-cache policy claude-desktop

sudo apt install claude-desktop -y

claude-desktop

3)Install ollama

cd ~

curl -fsSL https://ollama.com/install.sh | sh

export ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL=http://localhost:11434

ollama pull qwen2.5:3b

sudo systemctl edit ollama

[Service]

Environment="OLLAMA_HOST=0.0.0.0:11434"

sudo systemctl daemon-reload

sudo systemctl restart ollama

curl http://VM_IP_ADDRESS:11434/api/tags

4)Install mcp ollama

cd ~

sudo apt install npm

git clone https://github.com/MikeyBeez/mcp-ollama.git

cd mcp-ollama

npm install --save-dev @types/node-fetch@2

npm run build

npm uninstall node-fetch

npm install node-fetch@2

rm -rf dist

npm run build

Install mcp packet tracer - continue

cd ~/MCP-PT

source mcp-pkt/bin/activate

pip install -e . => install using local python file

python -m packet_tracer_mcp --stdio

**if working, no error message. Control-C to exit

5)Install Packet Tracer

Download from Cisco Netacad

cd ~/Downloads

sudo apt install ./CiscoPacketTracer_901_Ubuntu_64bit.deb

If import given OVA, OVA comes with all the above installed

Start claude-desktop and login for claude to generate the claude_desktop_config.json.

Shutdown claude-desktop before doing the steps below.

cd MCP-PT

source mcp-pkt/bin/activate

nano /home/analyst/.config/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

  "mcpServers": {
    "ollama": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/home/analyst/mcp-ollama/dist/index.js"],
      "env": {
        "OLLAMA_BASE_URL": "http://< VM_IP_ADDRESS>:11434"
      }
    }
  },

**When using claude-desktop, no way to choose the model, must specify in the prompt such as

"Use the Ollama MCP server to list the available Ollama models.

Use qwen2.5:3b through Ollama to answer my next networking question."

or

"Use the Ollama MCP server and ask qwen2.5:3b:

Explain how to configure a VLAN on a Cisco IOS switch."

nano /home/analyst/.config/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

,
  "packet-tracer": {
    "command": "/home/analyst/MCP-PT/mcp-pkt/bin/python",
    "args": [
      "-m",
      "packet_tracer_mcp",
      "--stdio"
    ] 
}

Use web browser to go to https://github.com/Mats2208/MCP-Packet-Tracer to download V5.2.pts

Add to Scripting > Configure PT Script Modules

Create token on terminal if No MCP token found on this machine.

Do this on the Ubuntu machine where you run packet_tracer_mcp:

cd MCP-PT

source mcp-pkt/bin/activate

echo "$PT_MCP_BRIDGE_TOKEN"

If it is empty, generate one:

export PT_MCP_BRIDGE_TOKEN=$(python3 -c "import secrets; print(secrets.token_urlsafe(32))")

Need to ask the prompt

"Use the Packet Tracer MCP tool pt_bridge_status and tell me the connection status."

To allow the connection from claude desktop

How to start the system

cd MCP-PT

source mcp-pkt/bin/activate

export PT_MCP_BRIDGE_TOKEN=$(python3 -c "import secrets; print(secrets.token_urlsafe(32))")

python -m packet_tracer_mcp --stdio

open another terminal (don’t start claude from menu)

claude-desktop

import packet tracer skill into claude

start packet tracer

if MCP control center still not connected,

send a prompt in claude-desktop

“Use the ollama MCP and Packet Tracer MCP tool pt_bridge_status and tell me the connection status.”

Restart packet

Example Prompt:

Using ollama mcp, Using the Packet Tracer MCP tools, create a topology plan with

2 routers, 2 switches and 4 PCs.

Do not deploy it yet.

Using ollama mcp, Validate the topology.

Using ollama mcp, deploy the topology into Packet Tracer.