ioBroker.mcp
MCP server for ioBroker
Description
This adapter exposes ioBroker as an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server, so MCP-capable clients (e.g. Claude Desktop) can read and control your installation through a well-defined set of tools.
Features
- MCP server over the Streamable HTTP transport (
/mcpendpoint) - Configurable HTTP/HTTPS web server
- Configurable port and bind address
- Optional authentication
- Optional SSL/TLS support
- Network diagnostics (ICMP ping / TCP probe) to troubleshoot adapter connections
- Adapter repository search to recommend installable adapters
Operating modes
The adapter can run in two ways:
-
Standalone (default) – it starts its own web server on the configured port. The MCP endpoint is
http(s)://<host>:<port>/mcp. -
Web extension – it runs inside an existing
webadapter instance and shares its web server (port, authentication, SSL). Select the target web instance in the admin configuration ("Extend WEB adapter"). The MCP endpoint is then served under the web adapter, e.g.http(s)://<host>:8082/mcp/.When a web instance is selected, the standalone server settings (port, bind address, authentication, SSL) are hidden because they are inherited from the chosen
webinstance.
Configuration
The adapter can be configured through the ioBroker admin interface using JSONConfig:
Server Configuration
- Extend WEB adapter: Select a
webinstance to run as its extension. Leave empty to run standalone. - Port: The port on which the web server will listen (default: 8093) – standalone only
- Bind Address: IP address to bind the server to (0.0.0.0 for all interfaces) – standalone only
Authentication
- Enable Authentication: Enable ioBroker user authentication for the web server
- Default User: The ioBroker user whose permissions every MCP request runs with (default:
admin). All object/state reads and writes performed by the tools are executed in the name of this user, so the user's ACLs are enforced. A plain name likeoperatoris automatically expanded tosystem.user.operator. When running as a web extension and no user is set here, the hostwebinstance's default user is used.
OAuth
MCP clients such as Claude Desktop connect through a browser login instead of a token you create by hand. The client discovers the server on its own, the user logs in and confirms, and the client never sees the ioBroker password.
- Enable OAuth (browser login): In standalone mode this requires Enable Authentication. As a web
extension the selected
webinstance provides the login, so OAuth has to be enabled there as well ("Allow third-party clients") — otherwise MCP clients only receive a redirect to the login page, which they cannot use. - Public URL: The externally reachable address of this server, without a path, e.g.
https://iobroker.example.com. Required behind a reverse proxy: the URLs published for OAuth discovery must be the ones the client can actually reach. As a web extension it must match the public URL configured in thewebinstance. - Allow client self-registration: Let MCP clients register themselves (default: on). With this off,
every client has to be registered by hand first. In web-extension mode this is the
webinstance's setting, so the option is hidden here.
HTTPS is required for anything but localhost — the flow runs through the user's browser, and MCP
clients refuse plain http:// for remote hosts.
Access tokens are bound to this endpoint, so a token issued for another service on the same server is
rejected. Clients can drop their tokens again via POST /oauth/revoke.
Permissions
- Allow setting states: Allow MCP clients to write state values (the
set_stateandset_statestools). Default: on. - Mark setting states as destructive: Declare
set_stateandset_stateswithdestructiveHint: true, so MCP clients can warn before a state is written. Default: on. When off, both tools are declared as non-destructive writes (readOnlyHintstaysfalse); whether a client still asks for confirmation then depends on the client. - Allow object/file changes: Allow MCP clients to create/modify/delete objects and files (the
set_object,delete_object,create_state,create_scene,write_file,delete_file,rename_fileandmkdirtools). Default: off. When off, these tools are not exposed at all.
SSL/TLS Configuration
- Enable HTTPS: Enable HTTPS/SSL for secure connections
- Public Certificate: Path to the public certificate file
- Private Key: Path to the private key file
- Chained Certificate: Path to the chained certificate file (optional)
Connecting ChatGPT and Claude
There is no official ioBroker app in the connector directories of Claude and ChatGPT yet. Until then, add ioBroker as a custom connector. There are two ways to reach your installation:
| A: via ioBroker Remote (recommended) | B: directly to your server | |
|---|---|---|
| Server URL | https://mcp.iobroker.in/mcp | https://<your public address>/mcp |
| Login | e-mail and password of your ioBroker.pro account | ioBroker user of your installation |
| Requirements | ioBroker.pro account and assistance or remote active subscription | public HTTPS address (port forwarding or reverse proxy) |
| Open ports | none | your MCP or web port must be reachable from the internet |
A: via ioBroker Remote
- Configure this adapter (standalone or as web extension). Leave Enable Authentication and Enable OAuth
off: the login happens on iobroker.pro, and ioBroker.iot connects to this instance locally without
credentials. As a web extension, the selected
webinstance must not use authentication either. The port does not have to be reachable from the internet. - In the settings of ioBroker.iot (logged in with your ioBroker.pro account) enable Allow remote access and select this instance as MCP instance. Save.
- Add the connector in Claude or ChatGPT (see below) with the URL
https://mcp.iobroker.in/mcp. - A login page "Connect to ioBroker" opens: enter the e-mail and password of your ioBroker.pro account and click Sign in and allow. Only allow the connection if you have just set it up yourself.
Access is granted with a verified e-mail address and a valid ioBroker.pro license. New accounts can use it for 7 days after the registration without a license.
Good to know:
- ioBroker.iot must be connected to the cloud, otherwise the client gets the error "ioBroker is offline".
- Live updates (subscribing to resources) are not available via Remote. All tools work.
- After a restart of the MCP instance, the client starts a new session by itself.
- Removing the connector in the client ends the access. An already issued access token stays valid for up to one hour. To stop the access immediately, clear MCP instance in ioBroker.iot.
B: directly to your server
- Enable Enable Authentication and Enable OAuth. As a web extension, enable OAuth ("Allow third-party
clients") in the
webinstance as well. - Make the server reachable via HTTPS from the internet and enter this address as Public URL.
- Use the URL
https://<your public address>/mcp(as web extensionhttps://<your public address>/mcp/) in the client and log in with an ioBroker user.
Claude (claude.ai, Claude Desktop)
Custom connectors are available on all plans, the Free plan is limited to one custom connector.
- Open Customize → Connectors, click + and select Add custom connector.
- Enter a name (e.g.
ioBroker) and the server URL. The Advanced settings (OAuth client ID and secret) stay empty, Claude registers itself. - Click Add. If the login does not start by itself, click Connect next to the connector.
- In a chat, click + (lower left) → Connectors and enable ioBroker.
Team and Enterprise: an owner first adds the connector under Organization settings → Connectors → Add → Custom → Web. Members then open Customize → Connectors and click Connect.
Claude Code:
claude mcp add --transport http iobroker https://mcp.iobroker.in/mcp
Then run /mcp in Claude Code, select iobroker and log in in the browser.
ChatGPT
Custom MCP connections need the developer mode, which is available for Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Education accounts in ChatGPT on the web. In Business and Enterprise workspaces an admin has to allow it first.
- Open Settings → Security and login and turn on Developer mode.
- Open ChatGPT Plugins and click +.
- Enter a name (e.g.
ioBroker) and a description (e.g. "Reads and controls my ioBroker smart home"). Under Connection choose Public endpoint and enter the server URL. Choose OAuth as authentication. - Create the connection and log in. ChatGPT then lists the tools of ioBroker.
- In a chat, open + → Developer mode and select ioBroker. It helps to name ioBroker explicitly in the request, e.g. "Use ioBroker to switch off the lights in the kitchen".
ChatGPT marks developer mode connections as elevated risk and asks before write actions.
The menu names are taken from the help pages of Claude and ChatGPT (September 2026) and may change.
Recommendations
- Set a Default User with only the rights the AI should have. Every tool runs with its permissions.
- Leave Allow object/file changes off unless you need it.
- Leave Mark setting states as destructive on, so the clients ask before they switch something.
MCP Endpoint
The MCP server is served at POST/GET/DELETE /mcp using the Streamable HTTP transport with per-session
state (tracked via the Mcp-Session-Id header). Point your MCP client at:
- standalone:
http(s)://<host>:<port>/mcp - web extension:
http(s)://<host>:<webPort>/mcp/
Available tools
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
get_states | Retrieve the current value of one or multiple states; IDs may contain wildcards (e.g. hue.0.*.brightness) |
get_object | Read a single object by its ID |
search_objects | Search objects/states by keyword (matched against ID and name); optional filters for object type, role, room and source adapter instance |
list_devices | List detected devices grouped by room (uses the ioBroker type-detector to expose functional devices with named controls); optional language and room filter |
list_instances | List adapter instances with their status |
list_adapters | List installed adapters with metadata (version, title, description, keywords) |
search_adapter_repository | Search the ioBroker adapter repository (all installable adapters, not just installed ones) by keyword; optional type category, onlyNotInstalled and language filters — use it to recommend which adapter to install for a device/service |
list_hosts | List ioBroker hosts with their status |
list_rooms | List rooms (enum.rooms.*) with localized names and member details; optional language and withIcons |
list_functions | List functions (enum.functions.*) with localized names and member details; optional language and withIcons |
history_query | Query historical values (requires a history adapter); aggregations: raw, min, max, avg, sum, count, minmax, percentile, quantile, integral |
read_file | Read a file from an adapter file storage (optional base64) |
list_files | List a directory in an adapter file storage |
file_exists | Check whether a file exists in an adapter file storage |
get_logs | Retrieve recent ioBroker log lines; optional filters by level (error/warn/info/debug), source adapter and start time (from_ts) |
write_log | Write a message to the ioBroker log |
system_info | Get system and js-controller information |
ping_host | Diagnose connectivity to a network device: ICMP ping to host plus an optional TCP connect to port — useful to investigate adapter ETIMEDOUT/connection errors |
set_state | Set the value of a state (value coerced to the state type) — requires Allow setting states |
set_states | Set multiple states in one call (for scenes/group actions like "all lights off") — requires Allow setting states |
set_object | Create/update an object (merges common/native) — requires Allow object/file changes |
delete_object | Delete an object, optionally with all children — requires Allow object/file changes |
create_state | Create a new state object with type/role/unit/min/max and optional initial value — requires Allow object/file changes |
create_scene | Create or update a scene for the ioBroker scenes adapter (state/value pairs applied together) — requires Allow object/file changes |
write_file | Write a file to an adapter file storage — requires Allow object/file changes |
delete_file | Delete a file from an adapter file storage — requires Allow object/file changes |
rename_file | Rename/move a file within the same adapter file storage — requires Allow object/file changes |
mkdir | Create a directory in an adapter file storage — requires Allow object/file changes |
All object/state access runs with the permissions of the configured Default User. The write tools are only registered when their respective permission option is enabled.
Resources & live updates (SSE)
States and objects are also exposed as MCP resources using the canonical ioBroker URI scheme, so clients
can read and subscribe to them. The server pushes changes over the Streamable HTTP SSE stream
(notifications/resources/updated).
- States:
iobstate://<id>(e.g.iobstate://javascript.0.temperature) –resources/readreturns{ id, val, ack, ts, lc, q }. - Objects:
iobobject://<id>(e.g.iobobject://system.adapter.admin.0) –resources/readreturns the object. - Logs:
ioblog://all(every source) orioblog://<source>(e.g.ioblog://admin.0) –resources/readreturns the recent log lines ({ source, logs: [{ ts, level, source, message }] }). Subscribing enables log forwarding for the adapter; each new matching line triggers anotifications/resources/updated. resources/subscribesubscribes to the underlying ioBroker state/object/log; on every change the client receives anotifications/resources/updatedfor that URI and re-reads it.resources/unsubscribestops it.
Subscriptions are tracked per session and ref-counted, so the adapter subscribes to a state/object only once regardless of how many clients/sessions watch it, and unsubscribes when the last one leaves.
(Files use iobfile://<adapter>/<path> in the same scheme; they are available via the read_file/write_file
tools rather than as subscribable resources.)
Health endpoints (non-MCP)
GET /- Basic server informationGET /status- Server status, uptime and active session countGET /api/info- Adapter information
Changelog
WORK IN PROGRESS
- (@GermanBluefox) Added instructions for connecting ChatGPT and Claude (via ioBroker Remote or directly)
1.1.6 (2026-09-15)
- (@GermanBluefox) Added IP address selector
- (@GermanBluefox) New option "Mark setting states as destructive" (default on):
set_state/set_statescan be declared as non-destructive writes
1.1.4 (2026-09-03)
- (@GermanBluefox)
read_filereads large files in chunks: new optionaloffset/lengthparameters, at most 512 KiB per call by default; the result now containssize,offset,length,truncatedandnextOffset(MCP clients reject tool results above 1 MB, ioBroker/ioBroker.mcp#63)
1.1.3 (2026-09-03)
- (ioBroker-Bot) Adapter requires admin >= 7.8.23 now.
- (@GermanBluefox) Updated packages
1.1.2 (2026-08-26)
- (@GermanBluefox) Node.js 22 is required now
- (@GermanBluefox) Corrected OAuth page
1.1.0 (2026-08-04)
- (@GermanBluefox) Added OAuth: MCP clients can now be connected through a browser login instead of a manually created token
- (@GermanBluefox) OAuth also works as a web extension, using the host
webinstance as the authorization server (requires OAuth enabled there too) - (@GermanBluefox) Updated
@iobroker/mcp-serverand@iobroker/webserver
License
MIT License
Copyright (c) 2025-2026 ioBroker
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The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all copies or substantial portions of the Software.
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