Kernel MCP Server - install, status & alternatives [2026]

01 · Install Kernel MCP Server

before you install - you'll need

The README does not document required environment variables for a basic install.

Claude Code

claude mcp add onkernel-kernel-mcp-server --transport http https://mcp.onkernel.com/mcp

Claude Desktop / Cursor / VS Code - add to config

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "onkernel-kernel-mcp-server": {
      "url": "https://mcp.onkernel.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Same JSON for Cursor. For VS Code, rename the top-level key from `mcpServers` to `servers`.

Using another client? Same JSON, different key

Claude Desktop · mcpServers

Cursor · mcpServers

VS Code · servers

Windsurf · mcpServers

Zed · context_servers

Cline · mcpServers

Roo Code · mcpServers

Continue · mcpServers

LibreChat · mcpServers

Gemini CLI · mcpServers

Codex CLI · mcp_servers

Full setup guides: every client.

02 · Evidence

https://mcp.onkernel.com/mcp

transport: streamable-http

endpoint alive - authentication required · probed 2026-09-17

Security posture

What to check before giving this server access to your agent - from the registry, GitHub, and our own probes. We don't score safety; we show what's verifiable.

runs as remote - your agent's requests go to mcp.onkernel.com

endpoint auth requires authentication - rejected our unauthenticated MCP initialize

license MIT - declared in the repository

registry vendor namespace com.onkernel - domain-verified with the official MCP registry

03 · What Kernel MCP Server can do

Prose above is summarized from the project's README and registry record - no invented capabilities.

What you can build

With this server connected, an agent can create, list, get, update, and delete organization projects. Inspect and update per-project resource limits, create, list, get, update, and delete org-wide or project-scoped API keys. Create returns the plaintext key once, create, list, get, delete, and flush pools of pre-warmed browsers. Acquire and release browsers from pools, and create, list, get, check, and delete proxy configurations (datacenter, ISP, residential, mobile, custom).

Capability map

Tools grouped from the project's README - what Kernel MCP Server lets an agent do.

Manage

12 tools - e.g. Setup (with guided live browser session), search/list with pagination, get, and delete browser profiles for persisting cookies and logins.; Create, list, get, update, and delete organization projects.…

manage_profiles · manage_projects · manage_api_keys · manage_browser_pools · manage_proxies · manage_replays…

auth & access

4 tools - e.g. Create, list, get, update, and delete stored credentials; fetch a current TOTP code for credentials with a configured totp_secret.; Create, list, get, update, and delete external credential providers…

manage_credentials · manage_credential_providers · manage_vault_credentials · open_auth_login

read & search

2 tools - e.g. Inspect the authenticated principal, organization, credential scope, and effective project scope.; Search Kernel platform documentation and guides.

get_connection_context · search_docs

run & execute

2 tools - e.g. Execute Playwright/TypeScript code and browser-wide WebMCP helpers against an existing browser session. Does not create or delete browsers - use manage_browsers; Run shell commands inside a browser VM.…

execute_playwright_code · exec_command

Computer

1 tool - e.g. Mouse, keyboard, clipboard, and screenshot controls for browser sessions (click, type, press_key, scroll, move, get_position, read_clipboard, write_clipboard, s

computer_action

Browser

1 tool - e.g. Send HTTP requests through an existing browser session's Chrome network stack.

browser_curl

Webmcp

1 tool - e.g. List native page tools across every tab and frame in a browser, then synchronously invoke an exact opaque tool_ref with structured input.

webmcp

04 · Who maintains Kernel MCP Server

kernel-mcp-server is maintained by onkernel. It's the only MCP server we track from this author; the repo dates to Jul 2025.

05 · Facts

repository: github.com/onkernel/kernel-mcp-server
category: browser automation - ranked #182 of 255 actively-maintained browser automation servers as of 2026-09-18.
registry: com.onkernel/kernel-mcp-server (active, first published 2025-09-09)

06 · Kernel MCP Server FAQ

Is Kernel MCP Server still maintained?

Yes - as of 2026-09-18, its last commit was 2026-09-17. We re-verify nightly.

What can Kernel MCP Server do?

With this server connected, an agent can create, list, get, update, and delete organization projects. Inspect and update per-project resource limits, create, list, get, update, and delete org-wide or project-scoped API keys. Create returns the plaintext key once, create, list, get, delete, and flush pools of pre-warmed browsers. Acquire and release browsers from pools, and create, list, get, check, and delete proxy configurations (datacenter, ISP, residential, mobile, custom).

How do I install Kernel MCP Server?

Run `claude mcp add onkernel-kernel-mcp-server --transport http https://mcp.onkernel.com/mcp`. The README does not document required environment variables for a basic install. You can also paste the ready-made client config above.

Does Kernel MCP Server require authentication?

Yes - when we probed the endpoint on 2026-09-17, it rejected an unauthenticated MCP initialize; you'll need credentials to connect.

07 · Alternatives to Kernel MCP Server

Alternatives to Kernel MCP Server

Maintained browser automation servers if Kernel MCP Server isn't the fit.

Pairs well with

Servers that cover what Kernel MCP Server doesn't - only shown when the pairing reason fits the companion.

More browser automation MCP servers · Baepsae · LinkedIn Toolkit · Cloak MCP · Oya Browser · Notebooklm MCP Secure

More TypeScript MCP servers · Docspace · Onplana · SAP MCP Server · Enquire MCP · Console Automation · see all