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SolarWinds Logs MCP Server

by jakenuts

SolarWinds Logs MCP Server

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for accessing and visualizing SolarWinds Observability logs.

Note -

This server is currently incomplete as it does not support structured data search (a limitation of the REST API?). I'm uncertain if it also needs to accept a data center to use in the api endpoint calls. Will address both when time allows (needed it for a real work problem, have to fix that first)

Tools

search_logs

Search SolarWinds Observability logs with optional filtering

  • Takes search parameters including filter, time range, and pagination options

  • Returns formatted log entries with timestamps, hostnames, and messages

  • Supports advanced filtering by group, entity, and more

  • Default search range is the last 24 hours

visualize_logs

Generate a histogram json response for of log events

  • Formatted for Claude and canvas representations

  • Configurable time intervals (minute, hour, day)

  • Supports UTC or local time zones

  • Customizable query filters and time ranges

  • Default visualization range is the last 24 hours

Resources

  • URI Template: solarwinds://{query}/search

  • Returns log entries matching the specified query

  • Example: solarwinds://error/search

Related MCP server: Log Analyzer MCP Server

Installation

Optionally install from npm:

npm install -g mcp-solarwinds

Or clone and build from source:

git clone https://github.com/@jakenuts/mcp-solarwinds.git
cd mcp-solarwinds
npm install
npm run build

Or just use npx in your configurations

For Cline VSCode Extension

Add to %APPDATA%/Code - Insiders/User/globalStorage/saoudrizwan.claude-dev/settings/cline_mcp_settings.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "solarwinds": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "mcp-solarwinds"],
      "env": {
        "SOLARWINDS_API_TOKEN": "your-api-token"
      },
      "autoApprove": ["search_logs", "visualize_logs"]
    }
  }
}

For Claude Desktop

Add to the appropriate config file:

Windows: %APPDATA%/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json MacOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "solarwinds": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "mcp-solarwinds"],
      "env": {
        "SOLARWINDS_API_TOKEN": "your-api-token"
      }
    }
  }
}

Special Windows Configuration

If you encounter the ENOENT spawn npx issue on Windows, use this alternative configuration that specifies the full paths:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "solarwinds": {
      "command": "C:\\Users\\[username]\\AppData\\Roaming\\nvm\\[node-version]\\node.exe",
      "args": [
        "C:\\Users\\[username]\\AppData\\Roaming\\npm\\node_modules\\npm\\bin\\npx-cli.js",
        "-y",
        "mcp-solarwinds"
      ],
      "env": {
        "SOLARWINDS_API_TOKEN": "your-api-token"
      }
    }
  }
}

Configuration

The SolarWinds Observability MCP server requires an API token to authenticate with the SolarWinds Observability API.

Configuration Methods

There are multiple ways to provide the API token:

  1. MCP Settings Configuration (Recommended): Configure the token in your MCP settings file

  2. Environment Variable: Set the SOLARWINDS_API_TOKEN environment variable

  3. Local .env File (For Testing): Create a .env file in the project root with SOLARWINDS_API_TOKEN=your-token

For local testing, you can:

  1. Copy .env.example to .env and add your token

  2. Run the example script: node examples/local-test.js

Tool Usage Examples

search_logs

Basic search:

{
  "filter": "error"
}

Advanced search with time range and pagination:

{
  "filter": "error",
  "entityId": "web-server",
  "startTime": "2025-03-01T00:00:00Z",
  "endTime": "2025-03-05T23:59:59Z",
  "pageSize": 100,
  "direction": "backward"
}

visualize_logs

Basic histogram (ASCII chart):

{
  "filter": "error",
  "interval": "hour"
}

Advanced visualization (ASCII chart):

{
  "filter": "error",
  "entityId": "web-server",
  "startTime": "2025-03-01T00:00:00Z",
  "endTime": "2025-03-05T23:59:59Z",
  "interval": "day",
  "use_utc": true
}

Claude visualization (JSON format):

{
  "filter": "error",
  "interval": "hour",
  "format": "json"
}

The JSON format returns data that Claude can visualize as a chart:

{
  "timeRanges": ["12:02", "12:03", "12:04", "12:05", "12:06", "12:07", "12:08", "12:09"],
  "counts": [261, 47, 48, 48, 31, 262, 270, 33],
  "total": 1000,
  "queryParams": {
    "query": "error",
    "startTime": "2025-03-05T00:00:00.000Z",
    "endTime": "2025-03-05T23:59:59.000Z"
  }
}

Development

Install dependencies:

npm install

Build the server:

npm run build

Debugging

Since MCP servers communicate over stdio, debugging can be challenging. The MCP Inspector provides helpful debugging tools:

npm run debug:inspector

This will provide a URL to access the inspector in your browser, where you can:

  • View all MCP messages

  • Inspect request/response payloads

  • Test tools interactively

  • Monitor server state

For local testing without the MCP framework:

# Create a .env file with your token
cp .env.example .env
# Edit .env to add your token
# Run the example script
node examples/local-test.js

Technical Details

  • Built with TypeScript and the MCP SDK

  • Uses axios for API communication

  • Supports ISO 8601 date formats for time ranges

  • Generates ASCII histograms for log visualization

  • Default search range: last 24 hours

  • Default page size: 50 logs

  • Supports multiple authentication methods

Available Tools

2 tools
search_logsC

Search SolarWinds Observability logs with optional filtering

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
filterNoA search query string. Use AND/OR operators to combine terms (e.g., "error AND timeout"). The search is performed across all fields including message, hostname, program, and nested JSON fields like Context.CorrelationId. Field-specific queries like "field:value" are not supported.
groupNoFilter logs by a specific group name
entityIdNoFilter logs by a specific entity ID
startTimeNoUTC start time (ISO 8601 format)
endTimeNoUTC end time (ISO 8601 format)
directionNoSort order: backward (oldest to newest), forward (newest to oldest), or tail (oldest to newest)backward
pageSizeNoMaximum messages to return per page
skipTokenNoToken to skip to the next page of results

TDQS

C2.9/5.0
Behavior2/5

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

No annotations are provided, so the description carries the full burden of behavioral disclosure. It states the tool searches logs with filtering, but lacks details on permissions, rate limits, pagination behavior (beyond schema hints), or what the response looks like (e.g., format, error handling). For a search tool with 8 parameters and no annotation coverage, this is insufficient.

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 front-loads the core purpose ('search SolarWinds Observability logs') and adds a key feature ('optional filtering'). There's no wasted text, and it's appropriately sized for the tool's complexity.

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 complexity (8 parameters, no annotations, no output schema), the description is incomplete. It doesn't address behavioral aspects like pagination, error handling, or response format, which are crucial for effective use. The schema covers parameters well, but the description fails to provide necessary context for a search operation.

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?

The schema description coverage is 100%, so the schema already documents all parameters thoroughly. The description adds no additional meaning beyond the schema, such as examples of complex queries or practical usage tips. Baseline 3 is appropriate as the schema does the heavy lifting, but the description doesn't compensate with extra insights.

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 verb ('search') and resource ('SolarWinds Observability logs'), making the purpose evident. However, it doesn't explicitly differentiate from the sibling 'visualize_logs' tool, which likely serves a different purpose (visualization vs. searching). The mention of 'optional filtering' adds some specificity but could be more distinct.

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 the sibling 'visualize_logs'. It mentions 'optional filtering' but doesn't specify scenarios where filtering is necessary or when other tools might be more appropriate. There's no explicit when/when-not or alternative usage context.

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

visualize_logsC

Generate a histogram visualization of log events

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
intervalNoTime interval for histogram bucketshour
startTimeNoUTC start time (ISO 8601 format), defaults to 24 hours ago
endTimeNoUTC end time (ISO 8601 format), defaults to current time
filterNoA search query string
groupNoFilter logs by a specific group name
entityIdNoFilter logs by a specific entity ID
pageSizeNoMaximum messages to analyze
use_utcNoUse UTC time instead of local time
formatNoOutput format: text for ASCII chart, json for Claude visualizationtext

TDQS

C2.9/5.0
Behavior2/5

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

No annotations are provided, so the description carries the full burden of behavioral disclosure. It states the tool generates a visualization but doesn't describe what happens during execution (e.g., whether it processes data in real-time, accesses a database, has rate limits, requires specific permissions, or returns an image or text). For a tool with 9 parameters and no annotation coverage, this is a significant gap in transparency.

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 purpose without unnecessary words. It's front-loaded with the core action and resource, making it easy to parse. Every word earns its place, achieving optimal conciseness.

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 complexity (9 parameters, no annotations, no output schema), the description is incomplete. It doesn't address behavioral aspects like execution details, return format (beyond implied visualization), or error handling. For a visualization tool with multiple filtering options, more context is needed to guide effective use.

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?

The description adds no parameter-specific information beyond what's already in the input schema, which has 100% description coverage. It doesn't explain how parameters like 'filter' or 'group' affect the histogram or provide context for their usage. With high schema coverage, the baseline is 3, as the schema does the heavy lifting without additional value from the description.

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 tool's purpose: 'Generate a histogram visualization of log events.' It specifies the action (generate), resource (histogram visualization), and target (log events). However, it doesn't explicitly differentiate from its sibling tool 'search_logs' beyond the visualization aspect, which is why it doesn't reach a perfect score.

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 its sibling 'search_logs' or any alternatives. There's no mention of use cases, prerequisites, or exclusions. The agent must infer usage from the purpose alone, which is insufficient for optimal tool selection.

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

TDQS

B3.1/5.0
Disambiguation5/5

The two tools have clearly distinct purposes: one searches logs with filtering, and the other generates visualizations. There is no overlap in functionality, making it impossible to confuse them.

Naming Consistency5/5

Both tools follow a consistent verb_noun pattern (search_logs, visualize_logs) with the same naming style. This predictability helps agents understand the tool set structure easily.

Tool Count2/5

With only two tools, the server feels too thin for a logs domain, lacking essential operations like creating, updating, or deleting logs. This minimal set limits agent capabilities significantly.

Completeness2/5

The tool set is severely incomplete for logs management, missing core CRUD operations and lifecycle coverage. Agents can only search and visualize, with no ability to modify or manage log data, leading to dead ends in workflows.

Maintenance

ActivityInactive
ResponsivenessUnresponsive

Resources

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