Model Context Protocol (MCP) Server for Cisco Modeling Labs (CML)

mcp-name: io.github.xorrkaz/cml-mcp

Overview

cml-mcp brings the power of AI assistants to your network lab! This tool allows you to interact with Cisco Modeling Labs (CML) using natural language through AI applications like Claude Desktop, Claude Code, and Cursor.

Instead of clicking through menus or writing scripts, simply tell the AI what you want to do in plain English—like "Create a new lab with two routers and configure OSPF" or "Show me the running config on Router1"—and watch it happen automatically.

This is accomplished through the Model Context Protocol (MCP), a standard way for AI applications to interact with external tools and services. Think of it as giving your AI assistant a direct connection to your CML server.

Features

• Create Lab Topologies: Tools to create new labs and define network topologies from scratch or using full topology definitions.
• Query Status: Tools to retrieve detailed status information for labs, nodes, links, annotations, and the CML server itself.
• Control Labs and Nodes: Tools to start, stop, and wipe labs or individual nodes as needed.
• Manage CML Users and Groups: Tools to list, create, and delete local users and groups (requires admin privileges).
• Visual Annotations: Add visual elements (text, rectangles, ellipses, lines) to lab topologies for documentation and organization.
• Link Management: Connect nodes, configure link conditioning (bandwidth, latency, jitter, loss), and control link states.
• Packet Capture: Start, stop, and retrieve packet captures (PCAP) from network links for traffic analysis with Wireshark or other tools.
• Node Configuration: Configure node startup configurations and send CLI commands to running devices.
• Run Commands on Devices: Using PyATS, MCP clients can execute commands on virtual devices within CML labs.
• Console Log Access: Retrieve console logs from running nodes for troubleshooting and monitoring, with support for selecting specific serial console ports.
• Modular Architecture: Tools are organized into logical modules (labs, nodes, links, pcap, etc.) for maintainability and extensibility.
• Access Control Lists (HTTP Mode): When running in HTTP transport mode, you can restrict which users can access which tools using a YAML-based ACL configuration file.

Quick Start

Installation

The easiest way to get started is using uvx with Claude Desktop (or other MCP-compatible clients). The uvx tool automatically downloads and runs the server without manual installation steps.

Configuration: Find and edit your Claude Desktop configuration file (claude_desktop_config.json). Add the following:

{
    "mcpServers": {                                                               
        "Cisco Modeling Labs (MCP)": {                                                                
          "type": "stdio",                                                          
          "command": "uvx",
          "args": [                                                                 
            "cml-mcp[pyats]"                                                        
          ],                                                                        
          "env": {
            "CML_URL": "{CML_URL}",                           
            "CML_USERNAME": "{CML_USERNAME}",                                                 
            "CML_PASSWORD": "{CML_PASSWORD}!"
          }                                                                         
        }
    }
}

Important: Replace the placeholder values with your actua

... View full README on GitHub