Pox MCP Server

This MCP server is licensed under the MIT License. This means you are free to use, modify, and distribute the software, subject to the terms and

Local serverstdioPython

What is the Pox MCP server?

Pox MCP server is a locally run integration for AI assistants that speak the Model Context Protocol. This MCP server is licensed under the MIT License. This means you are free to use, modify, and distribute the software, subject to the terms and conditions of the MIT License. For more details, please see the LICENSE file in the project.

What you get

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server implementation that provides network control and management capabilities through the POX SDN controller. This server enables Python-based network programming, OpenFlow device management, and automated network analysis through POX's modular architecture. Perfect for educational environments, network prototyping, and SDN research.

Setting it up

Setup follows the usual MCP pattern — install or clone the server, register it in your client's configuration file, restart the client. The configuration blocks on this page cover the common clients.

What the assistant can call

Once Pox is connected, these are the calls the assistant has available:

  • get_switches — List all connected OpenFlow datapaths
  • Returns — Array of active POX-controlled switches
  • get_switch_desc — Get detailed datapath information
  • Input — - dpid (string): Datapath identifier
  • get_flow_stats — Retrieve POX flow statistics
  • set_table — Configure POX flow tables
  • append_insight — Add network insights to POX configuration memo
  • Resources — The server exposes two dynamic resources: - pox://network-config: A comprehensive POX controller configuration memo - Tracks active POX components
  • Prompts — The server provides three specialized prompts: - pox-network-manager: Interactive prompt for POX controller management - Required argument: topic -
  • Tools — The Tools tool exposed by this server

Configuration and credentials

You will need one environment variable: POX_SERVER_URL. The server will not start without them, which is usually why the tools fail to appear on a first run. Keep credentials in your client's env block or a secrets manager rather than in a file you might commit.

Before you rely on it

  • 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.
  • With 10 tools registered it takes up a noticeable share of the context window; turn it off in projects that never touch Pox.
  • Missing credentials fail quietly in some clients — if no tools show up, check the environment block first.
  • MCP clients confirm each tool call by default. Leave that on until you have watched what the pox mcp server does with a few real requests.

Choosing this one

This sits in the developer tooling group, where several servers overlap in what they claim to do but differ sharply once you actually set them up. Pox's toolset — get_switches, Returns, get_switch_desc and 7 more — is a fair guide to whether it matches your workflow. It is maintained by davidlin2k; worth a glance at recent repository activity before you build anything load-bearing on it.

This entry was verified against Pox's own documentation before publication; SyncDev keeps the directory reviewed rather than auto-generated.

Available tools

ToolWhat it does
get_switchesList all connected OpenFlow datapaths
ReturnsArray of active POX-controlled switches
get_switch_descGet detailed datapath information
Input- dpid (string): Datapath identifier
get_flow_statsRetrieve POX flow statistics
set_tableConfigure POX flow tables
append_insightAdd network insights to POX configuration memo
ResourcesThe server exposes two dynamic resources: - pox://network-config: A comprehensive POX controller configuration memo - Tracks active POX components and their configurations - Records network topology and flow rules - Main
PromptsThe server provides three specialized prompts: - pox-network-manager: Interactive prompt for POX controller management - Required argument: topic - The network control aspect to focus on - Helps configure POX components
ToolsThe Tools tool exposed by this server.

How to install the Pox MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "pox": {
      "command": "uv",
      "args": [
        "--directory",
        "parent_of_servers_repo/servers/src/mcp_server_pox",
        "run",
        "server.py"
      ],
      "env": {
        "POX_SERVER_URL": "http://localhost:8000"
      }
    }
  }
}

Configuration as documented by the project. Restart the client after saving.

Configuration

VariableDescriptionRequired
POX_SERVER_URLEndpoint or connection string the server talks to.Yes

Example prompts to try

  • Use Pox to get switches.
  • Use Pox to Returns.
  • Use Pox to get switch desc.

Frequently asked questions

It connects Pox to MCP-compatible AI assistants such as Claude and Cursor, exposing 10 tools (get_switches, Returns, get_switch_desc, and more) that the assistant can call on your behalf. Instead of copying data back and forth by hand, the assistant works with Pox directly.