# Cilium (eBPF Networking) MCP for AI Agents MCP

> Cilium MCP provides natural language control over your Kubernetes eBPF networking stack. Connect it to your AI agent to inspect cluster nodes, monitor daemon health, and manage network endpoints without writing complex CLI commands. It’s how you get deep visibility into container connectivity and security policies through simple conversation.

## Overview
- **Category:** loved-by-devs
- **Price:** Free
- **Tags:** ebpf, kubernetes-networking, cilium, network-security, cluster-management

## Description

This MCP connects directly to your Cilium agent, letting your AI client talk to the core of your Kubernetes networking layer. Instead of running a dozen different `kubectl` commands just to audit cluster health, you ask your agent what’s wrong with things. It can pull detailed status reports on every node, check if the main daemon is healthy, and even help you manage network endpoints to secure container traffic.

When you connect this MCP via Vinkius, you get access through any compatible AI client. You'll use natural language to list nodes, inspect configurations, or create new connectivity points for services. It simplifies complex networking management into simple dialogue. This means platform engineers and security teams can validate network policies and troubleshoot connectivity issues faster than ever before.

## Tools

### create_endpoint
Creates a new, managed networking connectivity point for specific services.

### get_config
Retrieves the current detailed configuration settings for the Cilium daemon.

### get_endpoint
Looks up the status and details of a specific networking endpoint using its ID.

### get_healthz
Checks and reports the overall operational health status of the Cilium daemon.

### get_cluster_nodes
Gathers and lists information about all known cluster nodes managed by the agent.

### patch_config
Modifies existing daemon configuration settings directly through natural language input.

## Prompt Examples

**Prompt:** 
```
Can you list all nodes in the cluster and tell me their current IP ranges?
```

**Response:** 
```
**Cluster Node Report**

| Node Name | Status | Primary CIDR Range | Last Check |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| node-101 | Ready | 10.244.0.0/16 | minutes ago |
| node-102 | Degraded | 10.244.1.0/16 | hours ago (Needs Attention) |
| node-103 | Ready | 10.244.2.0/16 | minutes ago |

*Note: Node 102 shows degraded status due to potential datastore sync issues.*
```

**Prompt:** 
```
I think my frontend service connectivity broke. Can you check the endpoint details for me?
```

**Response:** 
```
**Endpoint Details Report**

🔍 **ID:** `cilium-local:99`
* **State:** ✅ Ready
* **Assigned IP:** 10.244.5.10
* **Labels Found:** app=frontend, env=prod
* **Last Seen:** seconds ago

The endpoint is active and appears correctly labeled for production traffic.
```

**Prompt:** 
```
What's the current configuration for datapath mode? I need to verify it.
```

**Response:** 
```
**Cilium Daemon Configuration**

* **Datapath Mode:** eBPF (Active)
* **Fallback Mode:** Kernel Bridge (Inactive)
* **Max Connections:** 50,000
* **Scope:** Global

Current configuration confirms that the system is running in native eBPF mode. This means all network policy enforcement happens at the kernel level.
```

## Capabilities

### Audit Cluster Node Status
Retrieves detailed information about every node currently known to the Cilium agent.

### Check Daemon Health and Connectivity
Determines the operational status of the Cilium daemon, container runtime, datastore, and Hubble connection.

### Manage Core Networking Settings
Allows inspection and modification of key daemon configuration options and datapath modes on demand.

### Inspect Network Connectivity Points
Looks up the status, assigned IP, and labels for specific networking endpoints.

### Establish New Endpoints
Creates new network connectivity endpoints to enforce container security boundaries.

## Use Cases

### Diagnosing intermittent pod connectivity issues
A user asks the agent, 'Why can't service X talk to Y?' The agent runs checks using `get_healthz` and then inspects endpoint labels with `get_endpoint`. It reports that a required label is missing on the destination node, solving the issue in minutes.

### Onboarding a new cluster segment
A platform engineer runs 'list all nodes' using `get_cluster_nodes` to confirm every machine is online. They then use `patch_config` to apply baseline networking rules before deploying services.

### Security audit of network policy enforcement
A security team member asks the agent to list all active endpoints and their assigned IP addresses using a combination of tools. This confirms that every critical service has the correct, tightly scoped connectivity boundaries enforced.

### Scaling up services requiring new routes
A developer needs a new connection point for a feature flag rollout. They simply ask the agent to establish it using `create_endpoint`, rather than manually writing and applying network manifests.

## Benefits

- Instantly audit cluster health. You can ask the agent to check the daemon's operational status using `get_healthz`—no need for a dashboard deep dive.
- Manage network endpoints conversationally. Use `create_endpoint` and `get_endpoint` to define and inspect container connectivity points, which is critical for policy enforcement.
- Simplify complex debugging. Need to know why traffic isn't flowing? Query daemon settings or run the agent using `get_config` to see exactly what rules are in place.
- Streamline node visibility. Instead of running multiple commands, use `get_cluster_nodes` to get a comprehensive list and status report for every machine in your cluster.
- Fine-tune network policy on the fly. If you need to change a setting, simply request it via `patch_config`, making configuration management much less error-prone.

## How It Works

The bottom line is that you talk to your AI agent like you’re talking to an ops team member, and it runs the necessary commands behind the scenes.

1. Subscribe to this MCP and provide your Cilium API URL credentials.
2. Select your preferred AI client (Claude, Cursor, etc.) within the Vinkius Marketplace.
3. Ask your agent a question—like 'What is the health of the networking daemon?' or 'List all nodes'—and it executes the required checks.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**How does the Cilium (eBPF Networking) MCP help me troubleshoot my Kubernetes networking?**
It turns complex, multi-step CLI commands into simple conversations. You ask your agent about a connectivity issue—for example, 'Why is service X unreachable?'—and it runs multiple underlying checks to give you a clear diagnosis of the network policy failure or node status.

**Do I need to be an expert in eBPF networking to use this MCP?**
No. This MCP lets you interact with complex concepts using plain English. You tell your agent what you want to check—like 'the node status' or 'daemon health'—and it handles the technical execution for you.

**Can I use the Cilium (eBPF Networking) MCP to scale new services?**
Yes. If your service needs a dedicated network connection point, you can ask the agent to create one using `create_endpoint`. This ensures the new service gets proper security policy enforcement immediately.

**What if I need to change a setting on my cluster? Can this MCP do it?**
You can. Instead of manually editing configuration files, you describe the desired change (e.g., 'Increase max connections') and the agent uses tools like `patch_config` to apply the modification safely.

**Is this MCP better than just using standard kubectl commands?**
It's better for speed and scope. Standard commands are single-purpose; this MCP aggregates data from multiple sources—node status, daemon health, endpoints, and config—into one chat response, saving massive amounts of time.