MCP Server Gateway: Bridging Claude Desktop with HTTP/SSE-Based MCP Servers

Overview: What is MCP Server Gateway?

The MCP (Model Context Protocol) Server Gateway acts as a protocol translator, allowing Claude Desktop App to communicate seamlessly with any HTTP/SSE-based MCP server that currently only supports stdio. Originally designed for Claude Desktop, this solution ensures compatibility by converting stdio input and output into protocol-compatible formats.

🔧 Core Features & MCP Capabilities

The core features of the MCP Server Gateway include:

Bidirectional Protocol Translation: Converts stdio-based commands from Claude Desktop to HTTP/SSE-based requests and vice versa.
Dynamic Configuration: Allows easy setup and configuration via environment variables, ensuring flexibility in connecting with different MCP servers.
Protocol Compatibility: Ensures seamless integration between AI applications that can only handle stdio communication and those using HTTP/SSE.

⚙️ MCP Architecture & Protocol Implementation

Protocol Flow Diagram

The protocol flow works as follows:

graph TD
    A[AI Application] -->|MCP Client| B[MCP Gateway API]
    B --> C[MCP Server]
    C --> D[Data Source/Tool]
    style A fill:#e1f5fe
    style C fill:#f3e5f5
    style D fill:#e8f5e8

HTTP/SSE Compatibility Table

MCP Client	Resources	Tools
Claude Desktop	✅	✅
Continue	✅	✅
Cursor	❌	✅

🚀 Getting Started with Installation

Step 1: Install the Gateway Globally

Install MCP Server Gateway globally using npm:

npm install -g @mcphub/gateway

Step 2: Find the Gateway Path

After installation, find where npm installed the gateway using these commands:

# This shows the root directory of global packages
npm root -g

# The gateway will be located at:
<npm_global_root>/@mcphub/gateway/dist/src/mcphub-gateway.js

Common global package locations include:

macOS (Homebrew Node): /opt/homebrew/lib/node_modules/@mcphub/gateway/dist/src/mcphub-gateway.js
macOS (default): /usr/local/lib/node_modules/@mcphub/gateway/dist/src/mcphub-gateway.js
Windows: %AppData%\npm\node_modules\@mcphub\gateway\dist\src\mcphub-gateway.js

Verify the installation:

npm list -g @mcphub/gateway

Step 3: Configure Claude Desktop

Update your Claude Desktop configuration file (~/Library/Application Support/Claude Desktop/config.json on macOS) to include this configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "server-name": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/opt/homebrew/lib/node_modules/@mcphub/gateway/dist/src/mcphub-gateway.js"]
    }
  }
}

Replace the path in args with your actual path found in step 1.

Step 4: Configure MCP Server Connection

# Set the MCP server URL (optional)
export MCP_SERVER_URL=https://your-mcp-server.com/api/mcp

By default, it connects to the MCP Hub server at https://server.mcphub.ai/api/mcp.

💡 Key Use Cases in AI Workflows

Scenario 1: Real-time Data Processing

Imagine an application using MCP Server Gateway to process real-time data streams. As new data arrives at an HTTP/SSE endpoint, it's translated into stdio commands for Claude Desktop to execute, and the results are then conveyed back through the gateway.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "data-processing-server": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/mcphub-gateway.js"],
      "env": {
        "API_KEY": "your-api-key"
      }
    }
  }
}

Scenario 2: Integrated Knowledge Bases

Another use case involves integrating a large knowledge base with Claude Desktop. By configuring the gateway to connect to an HTTP/SSE API that hosts the knowledge base, users can seamlessly query and retrieve information from Claude Desktop.

🔌 Integration with MCP Clients

Currently supported MCP clients include:

Claude Desktop: Full Support
Continue: Full Support
Cursor: Tools Only

📊 Performance & Compatibility Matrix

Client	Resources	Tools	Prompts
Claude Desktop	✅	✅	✅
Continue	✅	✅	✅
Cursor	❌	✅	❌

🛠️ Advanced Configuration & Security

Security Best Practices

Environment Variables: Use environment variables to manage sensitive information like API keys and server URLs.
Permissions: Ensure the gateway is run with appropriate permissions to avoid security risks.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Can I use this gateway with other AI applications besides Claude Desktop?
- A: Yes, while it's primarily designed for Claude Desktop, it can be modified and used with any application that requires stdio-based MCP communication.
Q: What are the known limitations of using this gateway?
- A: While the gateway addresses compatibility gaps between stdio-based applications and HTTP/SSE servers, it may not fully support all features required by certain clients.
Q: How can I troubleshoot connection issues?
- A: Check your environment variables, Node.js version, and the paths specified in your configuration file.
Q: Can I use a custom MCP server setup instead of the default one?
- A: Yes, you can set up a custom MCP server by specifying the MCP_SERVER_URL environment variable or configuring it directly in your Claude Desktop settings.
Q: Is this gateway suitable for Production environments?
- A: Yes, with proper configuration and testing, the gateway can be used in production environments for reliable communication between stdio-based clients and HTTP/SSE servers.

👨‍💻 Development & Contribution Guidelines

Contributions to improve and expand the functionality are welcome. Please follow these guidelines:

Use issue tracking for reporting bugs or requesting features.
Submit Pull Requests with detailed descriptions.

🌐 MCP Ecosystem & Resources

Explore more about the broader MCP ecosystem at MCPhub, where you'll find resources and tools to enrich your AI development journey.

This comprehensive documentation highlights the capabilities, installation process, and use cases of the MCP Server Gateway while ensuring it remains closely aligned with the provided README content.

MCP Server Gateway