Client configuration examples

Use the same MCP server definition everywhere; only the client wrapper changes.

Quick recommendation

Client	Best transport	Why
Claude Code	stdio	It can launch the server locally for you
Claude CLI	stdio	Simple local process integration
VS Code Copilot	HTTP	Easy to connect to a running server
Copilot CLI	stdio	Works well with a launched process
Codex	HTTP or stdio	Choose whichever matches your workflow
Codex CLI	stdio	Best fit for local process launch

Shared server definitions

HTTP transport

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "rancher-mcp": {
      "url": "http://127.0.0.1:3000/mcp"
    }
  }
}

stdio transport

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "rancher-mcp": {
      "command": "npm",
      "args": ["run", "dev"],
      "env": {
        "RANCHER_MCP_TRANSPORT": "stdio",
        "RANCHER_URL": "https://rancher.example.com",
        "RANCHER_TOKEN": "replace-me"
      }
    }
  }
}

Claude Code

Claude Code is usually easiest to configure with the stdio form so it launches the local server itself.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "rancher-mcp": {
      "command": "npm",
      "args": ["run", "dev"],
      "env": {
        "RANCHER_MCP_TRANSPORT": "stdio",
        "RANCHER_URL": "https://rancher.example.com"
      }
    }
  }
}

Claude CLI

Use the same stdio form in the Claude CLI MCP configuration.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "rancher-mcp": {
      "command": "npm",
      "args": ["run", "dev"],
      "env": {
        "RANCHER_MCP_TRANSPORT": "stdio",
        "RANCHER_URL": "https://rancher.example.com"
      }
    }
  }
}

VS Code Copilot

VS Code Copilot is a good fit for the HTTP form because the editor can connect directly to the running server.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "rancher-mcp": {
      "url": "http://127.0.0.1:3000/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Copilot CLI

Use the stdio form in the Copilot CLI MCP configuration.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "rancher-mcp": {
      "command": "npm",
      "args": ["run", "dev"],
      "env": {
        "RANCHER_MCP_TRANSPORT": "stdio",
        "RANCHER_URL": "https://rancher.example.com"
      }
    }
  }
}

Codex

Codex can use the HTTP form when the server is already running, or the stdio form when you want Codex to launch it locally.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "rancher-mcp": {
      "url": "http://127.0.0.1:3000/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Codex CLI

Use the stdio form in the Codex CLI MCP configuration.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "rancher-mcp": {
      "command": "npm",
      "args": ["run", "dev"],
      "env": {
        "RANCHER_MCP_TRANSPORT": "stdio",
        "RANCHER_URL": "https://rancher.example.com"
      }
    }
  }
}