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Shell Execution MCP Server: Secure & Scalable Shell Automation - MCP Implementation

Shell Execution MCP Server: Secure & Scalable Shell Automation

Empower Claude & MCP-compatible AIs to execute shell commands seamlessly, streamlining workflows and boosting productivity with a secure, scalable server solution.

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About Shell Execution MCP Server

What is Shell Execution MCP Server: Secure & Scalable Shell Automation?

Shell Execution MCP Server is a dedicated server designed to enable persistent, secure shell command execution for AI assistants like Claude and other MCP-compatible tools. Leveraging Node.js's node-pty package, it maintains terminal state across commands, ensuring environment variables, working directories, and background processes persist between operations. This makes it ideal for automating complex workflows requiring continuity and stability.

How to Use Shell Execution MCP Server: Secure & Scalable Shell Automation?

Installation involves cloning the GitHub repository and setting up dependencies:

git clone https://github.com/samihalawa/mcp-server-shell-exec.git
  cd mcp-server-shell-exec
  npm install
  npm run build

Configure your MCP setup with the server details, then start it via npm start. Use the execute-command tool to run commands, optionally setting background execution and timeouts. Reset the shell session with reset-shell when needed.

Shell Execution MCP Server Features

Key Features of Shell Execution MCP Server: Secure & Scalable Shell Automation?

  • Persistent Sessions: Retains terminal state across commands, preserving environments and directories.
  • Background Processes: Manage long-running tasks without blocking the main thread.
  • Timeout Controls: Prevent hangs by setting per-command execution limits.
  • Cross-Platform Support: Functions on macOS, Linux, and Windows with compatible shells.
  • Session Reset: Safely restart sessions to isolate errors or refresh environments.

Use Cases of Shell Execution MCP Server: Secure & Scalable Shell Automation?

Common scenarios include:

  • Automating deployment pipelines with persistent environment setups.
  • Running background monitoring scripts without manual intervention.
  • Testing long-running processes in development environments.
  • Integrating with AI tools to execute multi-step shell workflows securely.

Shell Execution MCP Server FAQ

FAQ from Shell Execution MCP Server: Secure & Scalable Shell Automation?

Q: What happens if a command exceeds its timeout?
A: The server terminates the process and returns an error, preventing resource leaks.

Q: Can I customize the shell path?
A: Yes, specify the shell path in environment variables during configuration.

Q: How secure is the server?
A: By default, restrict access via firewall rules and validate incoming commands to prevent injection attacks.

Content

Shell Execution MCP Server

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides persistent shell command execution capabilities for Claude and other MCP-compatible AI assistants.

Features

  • Persistent Shell Session : Maintains state between commands in the same session
  • Background Execution : Run commands in the background with proper process management
  • Cross-Platform : Works on macOS, Linux, and Windows with the appropriate shell
  • Timeout Control : Configure command execution timeouts to prevent hanging
  • Session Reset : Ability to reset the shell session if needed

Installation

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/samihalawa/mcp-server-shell-exec.git
cd mcp-server-shell-exec

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Build the server
npm run build

Usage

Starting the Server

npm start

Configuration

Add the server to your MCP configuration:

{
  "servers": {
    "shell-exec-server": {
      "command": "/path/to/node",
      "args": ["/path/to/mcp-server-shell-exec/build/index.js"],
      "enabled": true,
      "port": 3006,
      "environment": {
        "NODE_PATH": "/path/to/node_modules",
        "PATH": "/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin"
      }
    }
  }
}

Available Tools

execute-command

Execute a shell command in the persistent shell session.

Parameters:

  • command (string, required): The shell command to execute
  • runInBackground (boolean, optional): Whether to run the command in the background. Default: false
  • timeoutMs (number, optional): Timeout in milliseconds for the command. Default: 30000

Returns:

  • success (boolean): Whether the command executed successfully
  • output (string): Output from the command execution

reset-shell

Reset the shell session. This will kill the current session and start a new one.

Parameters: None

Returns:

  • success (boolean): Whether the shell was reset successfully
  • message (string): Status message

Example Usage

  1. Execute a simple command:

    execute-command(command: "ls -la")

  2. Run a long-running command in the background:

    execute-command(command: "sleep 60 && echo 'Done'", runInBackground: true)

  3. Execute a command with a custom timeout:

    execute-command(command: "find / -name '*.js'", timeoutMs: 60000)

  4. Reset the shell session:

    reset-shell()

How It Works

The server uses Node.js's node-pty package to create a pseudo-terminal that maintains state between commands. This allows for:

  • Environment variables to persist between commands
  • Working directory to remain consistent
  • Background processes to continue running
  • Interactive commands that require stdin/stdout

Requirements

  • Node.js 14+
  • node-pty package
  • Compatible with Claude Desktop, Cursor, and other MCP-compatible applications

License

MIT

Related MCP Servers & Clients

mcp-servershell-execution

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