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AI Integration (MCP)

Built-in MCP server lets Claude Code, Cursor, and Claude Desktop access your SSH/SFTP sessions. Copy-paste config, or one-shot CLI for Claude Code.

Model Context Protocol (MCP) is the standard Anthropic introduced in late 2024 for letting AI assistants talk to local tools. SSHive ships with a built-in MCP server, meaning Claude Code, Cursor, and Claude Desktop can read your SSH session list, execute commands on connected hosts, browse SFTP, and read/write remote files. Toggle one switch in SSHive Settings → MCP: the local HTTP server starts on port 49422, a Bearer token is generated, and SSHive auto-injects an `mcpServers.sshive` entry into the config files of every detected client (`~/.claude.json`, `~/.cursor/mcp.json`, plus a copyable stdio block for Claude Desktop via `npx mcp-remote`). For other MCP-compatible clients, a Copy button gives you a JSON snippet with the real token to paste anywhere. The server exposes 7 tools: `ssh_list_sessions`, `ssh_execute`, `sftp_list`, `sftp_read_file` (1 MB max), `sftp_write_file` (in-memory), `sftp_write_file_chunk` (4 MB chunks for big files via base64 append), and `sftp_write_from_local_path` (read a local file → write to remote, zero base64 overhead). Authentication uses a UUID Bearer token persisted in `settings.json` and rotatable from the UI. The HTTP server binds to `127.0.0.1` only, it never accepts external connections, and every command passes through your existing SSH session auth, so the AI cannot do anything you can't already do. MCP is Pro-only.

Key capabilities

Built-in MCP server for AI assistant integration

Compatible with Claude Code (CLI/IDE), Cursor, and Claude Desktop

7 tools: ssh_list_sessions, ssh_execute, sftp_list, sftp_read_file, sftp_write_file, sftp_write_file_chunk, sftp_write_from_local_path

Bearer token authentication with auto-generated tokens

AI + SSH workflows

Production debugging with Claude

"Hey Claude, my prod app is slow, check disk, memory, and the last 100 lines of nginx error log." Claude calls `ssh_execute` against your prod session, returns a triage summary in seconds. You stay in your editor.

Server-side code review

Ask Cursor to read `/etc/myapp/config.yaml` on staging and compare to your local version. The MCP `sftp_read_file` tool returns the content; Cursor diffs it locally. No copy-paste, no "let me ssh in real quick".

Multi-step automation

"Roll out the new config: copy `nginx.conf` to web-1, web-2, web-3, then run `nginx -t && systemctl reload nginx` on each." Claude orchestrates via SSHive's MCP, broadcast for the reload, individual SFTP writes for the file.

MCP integration, frequently asked questions

Is the MCP server safe? Can the AI mess up my servers?+
The AI can only do what you can do via the active SSH session, it has no extra privileges. SSHive shows a notification for every tool call so you see what the AI is doing in real time. You can disable specific tools (e.g., disable `sftp_write_file` for read-only sessions) per profile.
Which AI clients are supported?+
Claude Code (CLI + IDE) and Cursor get the MCP entry written into their config files automatically when you toggle the server ON. Claude Desktop has a copy-paste block (uses `npx mcp-remote` since Desktop is stdio-only). Any other MCP-compliant client works manually, copy the JSON config (which already includes your real Bearer token) from Settings → MCP and paste it into your client.
Does the MCP server send my data to Anthropic?+
No, the MCP server runs entirely on your Mac. Whether your AI client (Claude Code, Cursor) sends data to a cloud LLM is up to that client's configuration, not SSHive. SSHive itself has zero telemetry and zero outbound calls beyond your SSH/SFTP connections.
Is MCP a Pro feature?+
Yes. MCP integration is included in the Pro upgrade ($9.99 one-time). Free tier focuses on SSH and SFTP for individual use.

Try AI Integration (MCP) Free

Built-in MCP server lets Claude Code, Cursor, and Claude Desktop access your SSH/SFTP sessions. Copy-paste config, or one-shot CLI for Claude Code.