Kafka MCP Server

1

Add it to Claude Code

Run this in a terminal.

Run in terminal
claude mcp add -e "KAFKA_BOOTSTRAP_SERVERS=${KAFKA_BOOTSTRAP_SERVERS}" kafka-mcp -- uv run kafka-mcp
Required:KAFKA_BOOTSTRAP_SERVERS+ 1 optional
README.md

MCP server for Apache Kafka to inspect topics, groups, and manage offsets.

Kafka MCP Server


An MCP server implementation for Kafka, allowing LLMs to interact with and manage Kafka clusters.

Features

  • Cluster Management: View broker details describe_cluster, describe_brokers.
  • Topic Management: List list_topics, create create_topic, delete delete_topic, describe describe_topic, and increase partitions create_partitions.
  • Configuration Management: View describe_configs and modify alter_configs dynamic configs for topics, brokers, and groups.
  • Consumer Groups: List list_consumer_groups, describe describe_consumer_group, and securely manage offsets with reset_consumer_group_offset and rewind_consumer_group_offset_by_timestamp. Advanced tools include state validation, dry runs, and execution audit logging.
  • Messaging: Consume messages consume_messages (from beginning, latest, or specific offsets) and produce messages produce_message.

Prerequisites

  • Python 3.10+
  • uv package manager (recommended)
  • A running Kafka cluster (e.g., local Docker, Confluent Cloud, etc.)

Installation

  1. Clone the repository.
  2. Install dependencies:
    uv sync
    

Configuration

The server requires the KAFKA_BOOTSTRAP_SERVERS environment variable.

  • KAFKA_BOOTSTRAP_SERVERS: Comma-separated list of broker urls (e.g., localhost:9092).
  • KAFKA_CLIENT_ID: (Optional) Client ID for connection (default: kafka-mcp).

Usage

Running the Server

You can run the server directly using uv or python, or use Docker.

Using uv (Recommended)
export KAFKA_BOOTSTRAP_SERVERS=localhost:9092
uv run kafka-mcp
Using Docker
  1. Build the Docker image:

    docker build -t kafka-mcp .
    
  2. Run the container:

    docker run -i --rm -e KAFKA_BOOTSTRAP_SERVERS=host.docker.internal:9092 kafka-mcp
    

    (Note: Use host.docker.internal instead of localhost if your Kafka cluster is running on the host machine.)

Claude Desktop Configuration

Add the following to your Claude Desktop configuration file (claude_desktop_config.json):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "kafka": {
      "command": "<uv PATH>",
      "args": [
        "--directory",
        "<kafka-mcp PATH>",
        "run",
        "kafka-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "KAFKA_BOOTSTRAP_SERVERS": "localhost:9092"
      }
    }
  }
}

Debugging / Development

To verify that the server can start and connect to your Kafka cluster (ensure your Kafka is running first):

# Set your bootstrap server
export KAFKA_BOOTSTRAP_SERVERS=localhost:9092

# Run a quick check
uv run python -c "from src.kafka_mcp import main; print('Imports successful')"

Available Tools

Category Tool Name Description
Cluster describe_cluster Get cluster metadata (controller, brokers).
describe_brokers List all brokers.
Topics list_topics List all available topics.
describe_topic Get detailed info (partitions, replicas) for a topic.
create_topic Create a new topic with partitions/replication factor.
delete_topic Delete a topic.
create_partitions Increase partitions for a topic.
Configs describe_configs View dynamic configs for topic/broker/group.
alter_configs Update dynamic configs.
Consumers list_consumer_groups List all active consumer groups.
describe_consumer_group Get members and state of a group.
get_consumer_group_offsets Get committed offset, high/low watermarks, and calculate total lag for a topic.
reset_consumer_group_offset Safely change consumer group offsets to earliest, latest, or a specific offset.
rewind_consumer_group_offset_by_timestamp Rewind/advance consumer group offsets securely based on a timestamp.
Messages consume_messages Consume messages from a topic (supports offsets, limits).
produce_message Send a message to a topic.

Project Structure

src/kafka_mcp/
├── configs/       # Configuration handling
├── connections/   # Kafka client factories (singleton)
├── tools/         # Tool implementations
│   ├── admin.py     # Topic & Config management
│   ├── cluster.py   # Cluster metadata
│   ├── consumer.py  # Consumer group & message consumption
│   └── producer.py  # Message production
└── main.py        # Entry point & MCP tool registration

Troubleshooting

  • Connection Refused: Ensure KAFKA_BOOTSTRAP_SERVERS is correct and reachable.

TODO

  • SASL
  • JMX

Tools (16)

describe_clusterGet cluster metadata including controller and brokers.
describe_brokersList all brokers.
list_topicsList all available topics.
describe_topicGet detailed info for a topic including partitions and replicas.
create_topicCreate a new topic with partitions and replication factor.
delete_topicDelete a topic.
create_partitionsIncrease partitions for a topic.
describe_configsView dynamic configs for topic, broker, or group.
alter_configsUpdate dynamic configs.
list_consumer_groupsList all active consumer groups.
describe_consumer_groupGet members and state of a group.
get_consumer_group_offsetsGet committed offset, watermarks, and calculate total lag for a topic.
reset_consumer_group_offsetSafely change consumer group offsets to earliest, latest, or a specific offset.
rewind_consumer_group_offset_by_timestampRewind or advance consumer group offsets securely based on a timestamp.
consume_messagesConsume messages from a topic.
produce_messageSend a message to a topic.

Environment Variables

KAFKA_BOOTSTRAP_SERVERSrequiredComma-separated list of broker urls
KAFKA_CLIENT_IDClient ID for connection

Configuration

claude_desktop_config.json
{"mcpServers": {"kafka": {"command": "<uv PATH>", "args": ["--directory", "<kafka-mcp PATH>", "run", "kafka-mcp"], "env": {"KAFKA_BOOTSTRAP_SERVERS": "localhost:9092"}}}}

Try it

List all topics currently available in the Kafka cluster.
Check the consumer group lag for the 'orders' topic and identify if any groups are falling behind.
Reset the consumer group offset for 'payment-service' to the earliest position.
Produce a test message to the 'notifications' topic with the content 'Hello Kafka'.
Describe the configuration for the 'user-events' topic to check its retention settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key features of Kafka MCP?

Cluster metadata inspection and broker listing. Full topic lifecycle management including creation and deletion. Dynamic configuration modification for topics and brokers. Consumer group monitoring and offset management. Message production and consumption capabilities.

What can I use Kafka MCP for?

Debugging consumer lag issues by inspecting group offsets and watermarks. Automating topic creation and partition scaling during deployment pipelines. Quickly inspecting message content in a topic for troubleshooting. Resetting consumer offsets to re-process data after a bug fix.

How do I install Kafka MCP?

Install Kafka MCP by running: uv run kafka-mcp

What MCP clients work with Kafka MCP?

Kafka MCP works with any MCP-compatible client including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, and other editors with MCP support.

Turn this server into reusable context

Keep Kafka MCP docs, env vars, and workflow notes in Conare so your agent carries them across sessions.

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