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AWS MCP: Model Context Protocol on AWS

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Introduction to Model Context Protocol (MCP)

Getting Started with MCP

MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an open protocol that standardizes how applications provide context to large language models (LLMs). Think of MCP like a USB-C port for AI applications. Just as USB-C provides a standard method for connecting devices to various accessories, MCP provides a standard method for connecting AI models to different data sources and tools.

Why Use MCP?

MCP enables building complex agents and automated workflows based on LLMs. LLMs often need to integrate with data and tools, and MCP provides:

  • A growing list of ready-to-use integrations that allow your LLM to connect directly.

  • Flexibility to switch between LLM providers.

  • Best data security practices within your infrastructure.

General Architecture

At its core, MCP follows a client-server architecture where a host application can connect to multiple servers:

  • MCP Hosts: Programs like Claude Desktop, IDEs, or AI tools that want to access data through MCP.

  • MCP Clients: Protocol clients that maintain 1:1 connections with servers.

  • MCP Servers: Lightweight programs, each providing specific capabilities through the Model Context Protocol.

  • Local Data Sources: Files, databases, and services on your computer that MCP servers can securely access.

  • Remote Services: External systems available on the Internet (e.g., via APIs) that MCP servers can connect to.


Related MCP server: AWS Resources MCP Server

Introduction to AWS MCP

AWS MCP (Model Context Protocol) is a server that enables AI assistants like Claude to interact with AWS environments through natural language. This makes it easy to manage and query AWS resources without using the traditional AWS Console or CLI.

AWS MCP can be considered a powerful alternative to Amazon Q, offering greater flexibility and security.

Key Features

  • Query and modify AWS resources using natural language

  • Support for multiple AWS profiles and SSO authentication

  • Multi-region AWS support

  • Secure credential management (credentials are never exposed externally, only used locally)

  • Local execution with your AWS credentials

Prerequisites

To use AWS MCP, ensure your environment has:

  • Node.js

  • Claude Desktop application

  • Locally configured AWS credentials (AWS Configure) (stored in ~/.aws/)

Installation Guide

1. Clone the repository

First, download the source code from GitHub to your computer:

git clone https://github.com/ihatesea69/AWS-MCP
cd aws-mcp

2. Install dependencies

You can use pnpm or npm to install:

pnpm install
# or
npm install

Configuration and Usage with Claude Desktop

1. Configure in Claude Desktop

Open the Claude Desktop application and navigate to:

Settings -> Developer -> Edit Config

Then add the following entry to the claude_desktop_config.json file:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "aws": {
      "command": "npm", // or pnpm
      "args": [
        "--silent",
        "--prefix",
        "/Users/<YOUR USERNAME>/aws-mcp",
        "start"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Note: Replace /Users/<YOUR USERNAME>/aws-mcp with the actual path to your project directory.

2. Restart Claude Desktop

Run your project by navigating (cd) to the directory containing index.ts and running the NPM start command.

After editing the configuration, restart the Claude Desktop application. If the installation is correct, you will see a successful connection message with MCP.

3. Using AWS MCP in Claude

You can start using it by entering natural language commands such as:

  • "List available AWS profiles"

  • "List all EC2 instances in my account"

  • "Show me S3 buckets with their sizes"

  • "What Lambda functions are deployed in us-east-1?"

  • "List all ECS clusters and their services"

Configuration with nvm

If you use Node.js through nvm, compile from source first and add the following configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "aws": {
      "command": "/Users/<USERNAME>/.nvm/versions/node/v20.10.0/bin/node",
      "args": [
        "<WORKSPACE_PATH>/aws-mcp/node_modules/tsx/dist/cli.mjs",
        "<WORKSPACE_PATH>/aws-mcp/index.ts",
        "--prefix",
        "<WORKSPACE_PATH>/aws-mcp",
        "start"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Note: Replace <USERNAME> and <WORKSPACE_PATH> with the actual paths on your system.

Conclusion

AWS MCP is a powerful tool that allows you to manage AWS resources using the Claude AI assistant. With the ability to query and control through natural language, AWS MCP significantly simplifies AWS management. If you are looking for an alternative to Amazon Q, AWS MCP is a worthy consideration!

Credits

Original source: https://github.com/RafalWilinski/aws-mcp

Available Tools

3 tools
list-credentialsB

List all AWS credentials/configs/profiles that are configured/usable on this machine

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault

No parameters

TDQS

B3.1/5.0
Behavior2/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

With no annotations provided, the description carries the full burden of behavioral disclosure. It mentions that credentials are 'configured/usable on this machine', hinting at local scope, but fails to detail critical aspects like whether this is a read-only operation, potential side effects, error handling, or output format, which are essential for safe and effective use.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is a single, efficient sentence that directly states the tool's function without unnecessary words. It is front-loaded with the core action and resource, making it easy to parse and understand quickly.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness2/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Given the tool's simplicity (0 parameters, no output schema) and lack of annotations, the description is minimal. While it covers the basic purpose, it omits important contextual details such as the output structure, potential errors, or how it interacts with sibling tools, making it incomplete for reliable agent operation.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters4/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

The tool has 0 parameters, and the schema description coverage is 100%, so there is no need for parameter documentation in the description. The description appropriately focuses on the tool's purpose without redundant parameter details, aligning with the baseline expectation for parameterless tools.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states the action ('List all') and the resource ('AWS credentials/configs/profiles'), making the tool's purpose evident. However, it does not explicitly differentiate from sibling tools like 'select-profile', which might involve similar resources but different actions, leaving room for minor ambiguity.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines2/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description provides no guidance on when to use this tool versus alternatives such as 'select-profile' or 'run-aws-code'. It lacks context about prerequisites, scenarios for usage, or exclusions, leaving the agent without clear direction on tool selection.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

run-aws-codeC

Run AWS code

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
reasoningYesThe reasoning behind the code
codeYesYour job is to answer questions about AWS environment by writing Javascript code using AWS SDK V2. The code must be adhering to a few rules: - Must be preferring promises over callbacks - Think step-by-step before writing the code, approach it logically - MUST written in Javascript (NodeJS) using AWS-SDK V2 - Avoid hardcoded values like ARNs - Code written should be as parallel as possible enabling the fastest and the most optimal execution - Code should be handling errors gracefully, especially when doing multiple SDK calls (e.g. when mapping over an array). Each error should be handled and logged with a reason, script should continue to run despite errors - DO NOT require or import "aws-sdk", it is already available as "AWS" variable - Access to 3rd party libraries apart from "aws-sdk" is not allowed or possible - Data returned from AWS-SDK must be returned as JSON containing only the minimal amount of data that is needed to answer the question. All extra data must be filtered out - Code MUST "return" a value: string, number, boolean or JSON object. If code does not return anything, it will be considered as FAILED - Whenever tool/function call fails, retry it 3 times before giving up with an improved version of the code based on the returned feedback - When listing resources, ensure pagination is handled correctly so that all resources are returned - Do not include any comments in the code - When doing reduce, don't forget to provide an initial value - Try to write code that returns as few data as possible to answer without any additional processing required after the code is run - This tool can ONLY write code that interacts with AWS. It CANNOT generate charts, tables, graphs, etc. Please use artifacts for that instead Be concise, professional and to the point. Do not give generic advice, always reply with detailed & contextual data sourced from the current AWS environment. Assume user always wants to proceed, do not ask for confirmation. I'll tip you $200 if you do this right.
profileNameNoName of the AWS profile to use
regionNoRegion to use (if not provided, us-east-1 is used)

TDQS

C2.2/5.0
Behavior2/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

With no annotations provided, the description carries the full burden of behavioral disclosure but offers minimal information. 'Run AWS code' suggests execution but doesn't disclose whether this is a read or write operation, what permissions are required, whether it has side effects, rate limits, or error handling behavior. The description fails to provide the behavioral context needed for safe and effective tool invocation.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is extremely concise at just two words, with zero wasted language. While this conciseness comes at the expense of completeness, from a pure structural perspective, it's front-loaded and contains no unnecessary verbiage. Every word in the description directly relates to the tool's function.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness1/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Given the complexity of running AWS code (which involves execution, potential mutations, security implications, and error handling), the description is completely inadequate. With no annotations, no output schema, and a minimal description, an agent lacks critical information about what this tool actually does, what it returns, and how to use it safely. The description fails to provide the contextual completeness needed for a tool of this nature.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

With 100% schema description coverage, the input schema already documents all four parameters thoroughly. The description adds no additional parameter semantics beyond what's already in the schema. The baseline score of 3 reflects that the schema does the heavy lifting, though the description could have provided higher-level context about how parameters relate to each other or typical usage patterns.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose2/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description 'Run AWS code' is essentially a tautology that restates the tool name without providing meaningful specificity. It doesn't clarify what type of AWS code is run, what resources it interacts with, or what distinguishes it from sibling tools like list-credentials and select-profile. The description lacks a clear verb+resource combination that would help an agent understand the tool's actual function.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines1/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description provides absolutely no guidance about when to use this tool versus alternatives. There's no mention of appropriate contexts, prerequisites, or relationships to sibling tools. An agent would have no information about whether this tool should be used for AWS operations versus the other available tools, making selection decisions difficult.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

select-profileA

Selects AWS profile to use for subsequent interactions. If needed, does SSO authentication

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
profileYesName of the AWS profile to select
regionNoRegion to use (if not provided, us-east-1 is used)

TDQS

A4/5.0
Behavior3/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

With no annotations provided, the description carries full burden. It discloses the tool's stateful nature (affects subsequent interactions) and conditional SSO authentication, which are valuable behavioral traits. However, it doesn't mention potential side effects, error conditions, or what happens if authentication fails.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is perfectly concise with two sentences that each earn their place. The first sentence states the core function, and the second adds important conditional behavior. There's zero wasted language or redundancy.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness4/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

For a tool with 2 parameters, 100% schema coverage, and no output schema, the description provides adequate context about the tool's purpose and behavioral characteristics. The main gap is the lack of information about return values or what constitutes successful execution.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 100%, providing complete parameter documentation. The description adds no additional parameter semantics beyond what's in the schema, so it meets the baseline score of 3 where the schema does the heavy lifting.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose5/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states the tool's purpose with specific verbs ('selects', 'does SSO authentication') and identifies the resource ('AWS profile'). It distinguishes from sibling tools by focusing on profile selection rather than credential listing or code execution.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines4/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description provides clear context about when to use this tool ('for subsequent interactions') and mentions SSO authentication as a conditional behavior. However, it doesn't explicitly state when NOT to use it or name specific alternatives among the sibling tools.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

TDQS

C2.9/5.0
Disambiguation5/5

Each tool has a clearly distinct purpose: list-credentials handles credential enumeration, run-aws-code executes AWS code, and select-profile manages profile selection and authentication. There is no overlap in functionality, making tool selection unambiguous for an agent.

Naming Consistency4/5

The tools follow a consistent verb-noun pattern with hyphens (list-credentials, run-aws-code, select-profile), which is predictable and readable. The minor deviation is that 'aws-code' includes a hyphenated noun, but this does not break the overall naming convention.

Tool Count3/5

With only 3 tools, the server feels thin for an AWS integration, as it lacks core operations like managing resources (e.g., EC2, S3) or performing common AWS tasks. However, the tools cover basic setup and execution, making it borderline appropriate for a minimal scope.

Completeness2/5

The tool surface is significantly incomplete for an AWS server, as it only handles credential management and code execution without any tools for interacting with AWS services (e.g., creating instances, uploading files, querying databases). This will likely cause agent failures when attempting broader AWS operations.

Maintenance

ActivityInactive
ResponsivenessSyncing

Resources

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