πͺ MCP IPFS Server (storacha.network) π°οΈ
LocalAbout πͺ MCP IPFS Server (storacha.network) π°οΈ
MCP IPFS Server is a Node.js MCP server that wraps the w3 command line tool (@web3-storage/w3cli) to interact with the storacha.network platform. It is intended for language models and MCP clients that manage spaces, data and delegations.
Key features
- 01Wraps the w3 CLI for storacha.network integration
- 02Space management tools for listing and switching spaces
- 03Upload, list and remove data tools
- 04Delegation, proof and key management tools
- 05Account, plan and usage report tools
Use cases
- 01Uploading and sharing files to IPFS from an MCP client
- 02Managing storacha.network spaces and delegations
MCP support
The server exposes a set of w3_ prefixed tools to MCP clients, each mapping to a w3 command. Some commands require absolute file paths, and Docker runs need the host directory mounted.
Configuration
Local server config is the same for every client. Copy it into your clientβs MCP config file.
docker run -i --rm -e W3_LOGIN_EMAIL alexbakers/mcp-ipfsW3_LOGIN_EMAILLocal servers need a runtime on your machine (e.g. Node.js 18+). Config file locations differ by client; see your clientβs docs.
Tools
Local servers expose tools only once running on your machine, and the maintainer has not provided a tool list.
Details
From the project READMEπͺ MCP IPFS Server (storacha.network) π°οΈ

A Node.js server implementing the Model Context Protocol (MCP) for interacting with the storacha.network platform via the w3 command-line interface (@web3-storage/w3cli).
This server empowers language models π€ and other MCP clients to manage storacha.network spaces, upload/download data, manage delegations, and perform various other tasks by seamlessly wrapping w3 commands.
β¨ Features
- Wraps the
w3CLI for native integration with storacha.network. - Provides MCP tools covering a wide range of
w3functionality:- π Authentication & Agent:
w3_login,w3_reset,w3_account_ls(for checking authorization) - π¦ Space Management:
w3_space_ls,w3_space_use,w3_space_info,w3_space_add,w3_space_provision(Note:w3_space_createmust be run manually due to interactive prompts) - πΎ Data Management:
w3_up,w3_ls,w3_rm - π Sharing:
w3_open(generates w3s.link URL) - π€ Delegations & Proofs:
w3_delegation_create,w3_delegation_ls,w3_delegation_revoke,w3_proof_add,w3_proof_ls - π Keys & Tokens:
w3_key_create,w3_bridge_generate_tokens - βοΈ Advanced Storage (
w3 can ...): Blob, CAR, Upload, Index, Access Claim, Filecoin Info management - π³ Account & Billing:
w3_plan_get,w3_coupon_create,w3_usage_report
- π Authentication & Agent:
π οΈ Prerequisites
- Node.js: Version 22.0.0 or higher (
node -v). w3CLI: The server executesw3commands directly. Ensure@web3-storage/w3cliis installed globally and configured:npm install -g @web3-storage/w3cli w3 login <[email protected]> # Follow email verification steps- Environment Variable: The
w3_logintool requires theW3_LOGIN_EMAILenvironment variable to be set to the same email used forw3 login.
ποΈ Project Structure
The codebase is organized as follows:
src/
βββ index.ts # Main server entry point, MCP setup, request routing
βββ schemas.ts # Zod schemas defining input arguments for each tool
βββ tool_handlers.ts # Implementation logic for each MCP tool
βββ utils.ts # Helper functions (e.g., running w3 commands, parsing JSON)
βββ utils/
βββ logger.ts # Basic logger configuration
π Usage with MCP Clients
This server can be used with any MCP-compatible client. You need to configure your client to connect to this server.
Example: NPX (Recommended for simple local use)
This assumes npm and the prerequisites are met.
{
"mcpServers": {
"ipfs": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "mcp-ipfs"],
"env": {
"W3_LOGIN_EMAIL": "[email protected]"
}
}
}
}
Example: Docker
Build the image first (see Build section) or use the pre-built image alexbakers/mcp-ipfs.
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-ipfs": {
"command": "docker",
"args": [
"run",
"-i",
"--rm",
"-v",
"/path/to/your/project:/path/to/your/project",
"-e",
"W3_LOGIN_EMAIL",
"alexbakers/mcp-ipfs"
],
"env": {
"W3_LOGIN_EMAIL": "[email protected]"
}
}
}
}
π Note on Paths:
Several w3 commands require absolute filesystem paths (e.g., w3_up, w3_delegation_create --output, w3_proof_add, w3_can_blob_add, w3_can_store_add).
- NPX: Provide absolute paths from your host machine.
- Docker: Provide absolute paths inside the container. If interacting with files from your host (e.g., uploading), you must mount the relevant host directory into the container using the
-vflag (e.g.,-v /Users/me/project:/Users/me/project) and then use the container path (e.g.,/Users/me/project/my_file.txt) in the tool arguments.
π¦ Build
Clone the repository and install dependencies:
git clone https://github.com/alexbakers/mcp-ipfs.git
cd mcp-ipfs
npm install
Build the TypeScript code:
npm run build
You can then run the server directly:
# Ensure W3_LOGIN_EMAIL is set in your environment
export W3_LOGIN_EMAIL="[email protected]"
node dist/index.js
Or publish it (if you have the rights):
npm publish
π³ Docker Build
Build the Docker image:
# Build locally (replace with your username/repo and desired tag)
docker build -t alexbakers/mcp-ipfs .
π License
This MCP server is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for details.
Comments
New to MCP?
From what the protocol is to installing your first server, these answers cover most first questions.
An open protocol that defines how AI applications connect to external tools and data in a uniform way. Clients talk to the model; MCP servers provide tools, resources and prompt templates. They exchange standard messages, so one server can be reused by many clients.