Onvif MCP Server

Client to ONVIF NVT devices Profile S: cameras

Local serverstdioTypeScript

What is the Onvif MCP server?

Most knowledge and memory work still happens through a UI a human drives. Onvif MCP server moves it into the conversation instead. Client to ONVIF NVT devices Profile S: cameras.

The short version

ONVIF Client protocol Profile S (Live Streaming) and Profile G (Replay) Node.js implementation.

The tools it exposes

The server publishes 2 tools. What each one is for:

  • Tests — By default the tests use a mockup server to generate ONVIF replies
  • Documentation — To build jsdoc for the library with default theme run npm run jsdoc. Otherwise use jsdoc with sources from ./lib/*.js

Getting it running

The server ships on npm as onvif, so your MCP client can launch it on demand — there is no separate build step. Add the server block to your client's configuration, restart it, and the tools register themselves.

How it compares

This sits in the knowledge and memory group, where several servers overlap in what they claim to do but differ sharply once you actually set them up. Onvif's toolset — Tests, Documentation — is a fair guide to whether it matches your workflow. It is maintained by agsh; worth a glance at recent repository activity before you build anything load-bearing on it.

We check each listing at SyncDev against the project's documentation before it goes live — if something here drifts out of date, it is a bug worth reporting.

Things to watch

  • It runs with your machine's permissions. That is convenient and also the reason to think about what you point it at before you approve a tool call.
  • Keep per-call confirmation enabled while you learn its behaviour; it is the cheapest safeguard you have.

Available tools

ToolWhat it does
TestsBy default the tests use a mockup server to generate ONVIF replies.
DocumentationTo build jsdoc for the library with default theme run npm run jsdoc. Otherwise use jsdoc with sources from ./lib/*.js

How to install the Onvif MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "onvif": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "onvif"]
    }
  }
}

Add to claude_desktop_config.json, then restart Claude Desktop.

Example prompts to try

  • Use Onvif to Tests.
  • Use Onvif to Documentation.

Frequently asked questions

It connects Onvif to MCP-compatible AI assistants such as Claude and Cursor, exposing 2 tools (Tests, Documentation) that the assistant can call on your behalf. Instead of copying data back and forth by hand, the assistant works with Onvif directly.