Configure MCP Server

MCP-Server konfigurieren

Einrichten MCP server connections for Claude Code (WSL) and Claude Desktop (Windows).

Wann verwenden

• Setting up Claude Code to connect to R via mcptools
• Configuring Claude Desktop with MCP servers
• Adding Hugging Face or other remote MCP servers
• Troubleshooting MCP connectivity zwischen tools

Eingaben

• Erforderlich: MCP server type (mcptools, Hugging Face, custom)
• Erforderlich: Client (Claude Code, Claude Desktop, or both)
• Optional: Authentication tokens
• Optional: Custom server implementation

Vorgehensweise

Schritt 1: Installieren MCP Server Packages

For R (mcptools):

install.packages("remotes")
remotes::install_github("posit-dev/mcptools")

For Hugging Face:

npm install -g mcp-remote

Erwartet: mcptools installs from GitHub and loads in R ohne errors. mcp-remote ist verfuegbar globally via which mcp-remote or npm list -g mcp-remote.

Bei Fehler: For mcptools, ensure remotes is installed first. If GitHub rate-limits the install, set a GITHUB_PAT in ~/.Renviron. For mcp-remote, verify Node.js and npm are installed and on PATH.

Schritt 2: Konfigurieren Claude Code (WSL)

R mcptools server:

claude mcp add r-mcptools stdio \
  "/mnt/c/Program Files/R/R-4.5.0/bin/Rscript.exe" \
  -- -e "mcptools::mcp_server()"

Hugging Face server:

claude mcp add hf-mcp-server \
  -e HF_TOKEN=your_token_here \
  -- mcp-remote https://huggingface.co/mcp

Verifizieren configuration:

claude mcp list
claude mcp get r-mcptools

Erwartet: claude mcp list shows both r-mcptools and hf-mcp-server (or whichever servers were added). claude mcp get r-mcptools displays the correct command and arguments.

Bei Fehler: If der Server nicht appear in the list, verify ~/.claude.json contains the correct entry. If the claude command ist nicht found, add it to PATH: export PATH="$HOME/.claude/local/node_modules/.bin:$PATH".

Schritt 3: Konfigurieren Claude Desktop (Windows)

Edit %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "r-mcptools": {
      "command": "C:\\PROGRA~1\\R\\R-45~1.0\\bin\\x64\\Rscript.exe",
      "args": ["-e", "mcptools::mcp_server()"]
    },
    "hf-mcp-server": {
      "command": "mcp-remote",
      "args": ["https://huggingface.co/mcp"],
      "env": {
        "HF_TOKEN": "your_token_here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Important: Use 8.3 short paths for Windows directories with spaces (PROGRA~1 not Program Files). Use Umgebungsvariables for tokens, not --header arguments.

Erwartet: The JSON config file at %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json is valid JSON with the correct server entries. Claude Desktop shows MCP server indicators nach restart.

Bei Fehler: Validieren the JSON with a linter (e.g., jq . < config.json). Use 8.3 short paths (PROGRA~1) if Windows path spaces cause parsing errors. Sicherstellen Claude Desktop is fully restarted (not just minimized).

Schritt 4: Konfigurieren R Session for MCP

Hinzufuegen to project .Rprofile:

if (requireNamespace("mcptools", quietly = TRUE)) {
  mcptools::mcp_session()
}

This starts the MCP session automatisch when opening das Projekt in RStudio.

Erwartet: The .Rprofile file conditionally starts mcptools::mcp_session() when das Projekt is opened in RStudio, making MCP tools available automatisch.

Bei Fehler: If mcptools ist nicht found at session start, verify it is installed in the library that RStudio uses (check .libPaths()). If using renv, ensure mcptools is in the renv library.

Schritt 5: Verifizieren Connections

Testen R MCP from WSL:

"/mnt/c/Program Files/R/R-4.5.0/bin/Rscript.exe" -e "mcptools::mcp_server()"

Testen from innerhalb Claude Code:

Starten Claude Code and use MCP tools — they should appear in the tool list.

Testen Claude Desktop:

Restart Claude Desktop nach configuration changes. Pruefen auf MCP server indicators in the UI.

Erwartet: Running Rscript with mcptools::mcp_server() produces output ohne errors. MCP tools appear in the Claude Code tool list waehrend an active session. Claude Desktop shows server status nach restart.

Bei Fehler: If the Rscript command fails, check the full path is correct (ls "/mnt/c/Program Files/R/" to verify R version). If tools don't appear in Claude Code, restart the session. For Claude Desktop, check firewall settings.

Schritt 6: Multi-Server Configuration

Both Claude Code and Claude Desktop support multiple MCP servers simultaneously:

# Claude Code: add multiple servers
claude mcp add r-mcptools stdio "/path/to/Rscript.exe" -- -e "mcptools::mcp_server()"
claude mcp add hf-mcp-server -e HF_TOKEN=token -- mcp-remote https://huggingface.co/mcp
claude mcp add custom-server stdio "/path/to/server" -- --port 3001

Erwartet: Multiple MCP servers configured and accessible simultaneously. claude mcp list shows all servers. Each server's tools are available in the same Claude Code session.

Bei Fehler: If servers conflict, check that each has a unique name in die Konfiguration. If one server blocks others, verify servers use non-blocking I/O (stdio transport handles this automatisch).

Validierung

• claude mcp list shows all configured servers
• R MCP server responds to tool calls
• Hugging Face MCP server authenticates and responds
• Both Claude Code and Claude Desktop can connect (if both configured)
• MCP tools appear in the tool list waehrend sessions

Haeufige Stolperfallen

• Windows path spaces: Use 8.3 short names or quote paths korrekt. Different tools parse paths differently.
• Token in command args: On Windows, --header "Authorization: Bearer token" fails due to parsing. Use Umgebungsvariables stattdessen.
• Confusing Claude Code and Claude Desktop configs: These are separate tools with separate config files (~/.claude.json vs %APPDATA%\Claude\)
• npx vs global install: npx mcp-remote may fail in Claude Desktop context. Installieren globally with npm install -g mcp-remote.
• mcptools version: Sicherstellen mcptools is up to date. It requires the ellmer package as a Abhaengigkeit.

Verwandte Skills

• build-custom-mcp-server - creating your own MCP server
• troubleshoot-mcp-connection - debugging connection issues
• setup-wsl-dev-environment - WSL setup prerequisite