Fess MCP Server

What is Fess MCP Server?

Fess MCP Server is a middleware server that integrates with the Fess search engine. By registering it in the settings of MCP clients such as Claude for Desktop, it enables agents to obtain information using Fess. Fess is an open-source full-text search server provided under the Apache License.

How to use Fess MCP Server?

Set the environment variable Fess_API_BASE to your Fess server URL, then start the server using Docker (docker-compose up -d) or without Docker via uv run .\fess_mcp_server.py. Configure your MCP client (e.g., Claude for Desktop) to connect to http://localhost:8000/sse using mcp-remote.

Key features of Fess MCP Server

• Integrates Fess search engine with MCP clients.
• Supports Docker and non-Docker (uv) deployment.
• Configurable Fess server URL via environment variable.
• Default SSE transport on port 8000.
• Licensed under MIT.

Use cases of Fess MCP Server

• Enable AI agents to perform full-text searches via Fess.
• Provide search capabilities to Claude for Desktop or other MCP clients.
• Integrate enterprise document search into conversational AI workflows.

FAQ from Fess MCP Server

What is Fess MCP Server and what does it do?

It is a middleware that connects MCP clients (like Claude for Desktop) to the Fess search engine, allowing agents to search and retrieve information.

What are the dependencies or runtime requirements?

You need a running Fess server and either Docker or Python with uv installed. The server runs on Python and uses the mcp-remote package for SSE transport.

How do I configure the Fess server connection?

Set the environment variable Fess_API_BASE to the URL of your Fess server before starting Fess MCP Server. If using Docker, edit docker-compose.yaml.

What transport protocol does Fess MCP Server use?

It uses SSE (Server-Sent Events) on port 8000 by default, accessed via http://localhost:8000/sse.

Is authentication supported?

The README does not mention any authentication mechanism for the MCP server or the Fess connection.