MCP Server Gateway

What is MCP Server Gateway?

MCP Server Gateway is a service that bridges the stdio-based Model Context Protocol (MCP) used by Claude Desktop with HTTP/SSE-based MCP servers. It solves the protocol compatibility gap for Claude Desktop users who want to connect to remote MCP servers.

How to use MCP Server Gateway?

Install it globally with npm install -g @mcphub/gateway. After installation, locate the gateway path via npm root -g and add it as an MCP server in Claude Desktop’s config.json. Optionally set the MCP_SERVER_URL environment variable to point to a custom HTTP/SSE MCP server.

Key features of MCP Server Gateway

• Acts as a protocol translator (stdio ↔ HTTP/SSE)
• Accepts stdio input from Claude Desktop
• Converts and forwards requests to HTTP/SSE MCP servers
• Converts SSE responses back to stdio format
• Default connection to the MCP Hub server
• Configurable via MCP_SERVER_URL environment variable

Use cases of MCP Server Gateway

• Use Claude Desktop to access remote MCP servers that only support HTTP/SSE
• Connect Claude Desktop to the MCP Hub server for pre-configured services
• Bridge any HTTP/SSE MCP server to Claude Desktop’s stdio‑based environment

FAQ from MCP Server Gateway

What does MCP Server Gateway do?

It translates between the stdio protocol used by Claude Desktop and the HTTP/SSE protocol used by many MCP servers, allowing Claude to communicate with them.

How do I install MCP Server Gateway?

Install it globally with npm install -g @mcphub/gateway. Node.js and npm are required.

How do I configure MCP Server Gateway for Claude Desktop?

Find the gateway path using npm root -g, then add it as an MCP server in Claude Desktop’s config.json (mcpServers section). Optionally set the MCP_SERVER_URL environment variable.

What is the default MCP server the gateway connects to?

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

What are the runtime requirements?

Node.js and npm must be installed. The gateway is a global npm package and does not require additional system dependencies beyond those.