OpenStack MCP Server

The OpenStack MCP Server is a lightweight, asynchronous HTTP service that exposes the full breadth of an OpenStack cloud to large language models via the Model Context Protocol (MCP). By translating standard OpenStack SDK calls into MCP-compliant tools, it allows AI assistants to query compute instances, block storage volumes, networking topologies, and image repositories with the same natural‑language interface they use for other data sources. This eliminates the need for custom integrations or manual API calls, enabling developers to ask questions like “Show me all web‑server VMs in the production project” and receive structured, real‑time responses.

At its core, the server provides a set of resource query tools that mirror OpenStack’s REST endpoints. Each tool accepts simple JSON arguments—such as a filter string, pagination limit, and detail level—and returns the requested data in a consistent format. The service supports three verbosity tiers—basic, detailed, and full—allowing clients to balance bandwidth with the richness of information. For scenarios where latency is critical, the server streams results via Server‑Sent Events (SSE), delivering data as soon as it becomes available rather than waiting for a full payload.

Developers benefit from the server’s seamless MCP integration. Because it implements the standard protocol, any LLM that understands MCP can invoke OpenStack queries without additional wrappers. The service also provides a clean, documented interface that can be introspected by tools like the Model Context Protocol inspector, making it straightforward to discover available commands and their parameters. This lowers the learning curve for teams that already use MCP for other services, enabling a unified workflow across cloud infrastructure, databases, and custom APIs.

Typical use cases include automated infrastructure monitoring, where an AI assistant can continuously report on VM health or storage usage; dynamic scaling decisions, where the model suggests launching new instances based on current load metrics; and compliance auditing, where detailed resource lists are generated for policy checks. By embedding OpenStack queries directly into conversational agents, operations teams can reduce manual effort and accelerate incident response.

The server’s unique advantages stem from its asynchronous, high‑performance design and the flexibility of its filtering logic. Built on Starlette and Uvicorn, it can handle dozens of concurrent requests with low overhead, while the OpenStack SDK integration ensures accurate, authenticated communication with the cloud. The optional JSON response mode offers a lightweight alternative for environments that cannot handle SSE streams, and the detailed documentation of filter semantics empowers developers to craft precise queries. In sum, the OpenStack MCP Server turns a complex cloud platform into an accessible, AI‑ready data source, streamlining DevOps workflows and empowering smarter automation.