Top 10 MCP servers for DevOps and developers

The way developers and DevOps engineers interact with their tools has quickly changed since the launch of MCP (Model Context Protocol) in November 2024. MCP servers allow AI assistants to connect directly to different services, databases, and environments, enabling you to query databases, review code, manage deployments, and troubleshoot network issues without having to leave your AI assistant.

In this blog post, we'll explore 10 great MCP servers for developers and DevOps teams that can simplify daily workflows and improve productivity. Whether you're new to MCP or looking for ideas, we hope you'll discover servers that you want to give a try.

Globalping MCP Server

What is it?
The open-source Globalping MCP Server brings global network testing directly into your AI assistant. You can create network measurements using natural language instead of switching to your terminal or other tools, and receive clear, actionable results.

What can you do with it?
You can run network tests like ping, traceroute, DNS lookups, MTR, and HTTP requests from virtually anywhere in the world. For example, ask questions like "Is my website reachable from Berlin?" or "Compare the response times for my API between Europe and Asia". Your AI can check network metrics from different locations, find bottlenecks, and summarize the results to help you fix problems faster.

You can use the remote server available at https://mcp.globalping.dev/sse or set it up locally.

Docker MCP Server

What is it?
The Docker MCP Server provides smart Docker Hub integration and container management through natural language. This makes it easier to work with containers since you don't need to remember complex Docker commands.

What can you do with it?
You can manage Docker containers by chatting with your AI assistant: deploy services, check running containers, troubleshoot issues, and handle persistent volumes. For example, ask your AI to "deploy an nginx container on port 9000" or "set up a WordPress environment with a MySQL database, exposing WordPress on port 9000".

Terraform MCP Server (tfmcp)

What is it?
The Terraform MCP server simplifies infrastructure-as-code workflows by integrating Terraform management into your conversational AI. It lets you control cloud deployments using everyday language, which is especially helpful for managing multiple cloud services at once. Additionally, the server includes security features like customizable policies, audit logs, and access controls to keep infrastructure management safe.

What can you do with it?
Read, create, modify, and apply Terraform configurations through AI commands. The server can analyze Terraform plan outputs, manage state files, and automatically generate sample projects that follow best practices. For example, you can ask your AI to "Execute terraform plan and show me the changes" or "Create a new AWS EC2 configuration with security best practices".

MCP Alchemy

What is it?
MCP Alchemy provides secure access for running database queries and managing schemas in various database types. It's designed for developers who need quick database insights and DevOps engineers managing database infrastructure. The tool works with many types of databases and includes safety features to avoid harmful actions, making it suitable for development and production environments.

What can you do with it?
You can run SQL queries, examine schema structures, and perform database operations without having to switch to a dedicated SQL tool. The MCP server can handle large datasets, create reports, and help you debug queries.

Here's a screenshot showing the server's capabilities found on the server's GitHub:

Kubectl MCP Server

What is it?
The Kubectl MCP Server lets you manage Kubernetes in your MCP-enabled environment, making it easier to handle cluster operations and speeding up troubleshooting during production issues. It can also scan container security and give you insights for optimizing your cluster. This makes it a great tool for DevOps teams managing Kubernetes on a large scale.

What can you do with it?
You can manage pods, check cluster health, scale deployments, and troubleshoot issues using natural language instead of complex kubectl commands. For example, ask questions like "What deployments are running in my cluster?" or "Show me pods with high CPU usage" and get quick, formatted answers.

SSH MCP Server

What is it?
The SSH MCP Server brings secure remote system management via SSH directly into your AI workflow through natural language. This makes it easier to manage distributed infrastructure without having to switch between different terminal sessions.

What can you do with it?
You can connect securely to remote servers and run shell commands through your AI assistant. This is useful for quick tasks like restarting services, checking logs, or doing routine maintenance.

This server is available for local setup only, which keeps your SSH credentials secure within your own environment.

GitHub MCP Server

What is it?
GitHub's official MCP server connects your AI assistant directly to GitHub repositories, issues, pull requests, and workflows. As a result, you don't need to waste time by switching between your development environment and GitHub in your web browser.

What can you do with it?
Search repositories, manage issues and pull requests, monitor GitHub Actions runs, review Dependabot security alerts, and perform file operations. You can ask your AI things like, "Show me all open PRs assigned to me" or "Summarize the security vulnerabilities in my latest Dependabot alerts" right from within your IDE.

Prometheus MCP Server

What is it?
The Prometheus MCP Server brings Prometheus monitoring directly into AI workflows. It provides a simple way to query and analyze metrics without needing to switch to different dashboards. The server helps development teams quickly access observability data and respond to incidents by providing important monitoring information directly in your AI assistant.

What can you do with it?
You can run PromQL queries, explore available metrics, and get metadata using conversational commands. For example, you can ask your AI, "Show me CPU usage for all services in the last hour" or "What are the error rates for my API endpoints?" and receive clear insights.

Slack MCP Server

What is it?
The Slack MCP Server is a powerful Slack integration that works with Enterprise Slack workspaces and can run in stealth mode (without needing any permissions) or use OAuth for authentication.

What can you do with it?
You can search for messages in channels, threads, and DMs using filters for date, user, and content. You can also fetch conversation history with pagination, which allows you to go back over specific time periods. This makes it easier for DevOps teams to gather context during incidents and review past discussions about specific issues directly from within the AI assistant

MCP Filesystem Server

What is it?
The MCP Filesystem Server lets AI assistants access files in a secure and direct way. You can use it to manage files and directories without ever leaving your chat interface, which is useful for checking log files, updating settings, analyzing code, or doing bulk file tasks.

What can you do with it?
You can perform many file operations using natural language, such as reading, writing, copying, moving, and deleting files. You can also create, list, and manage directories. The server has advanced search tools, so you can find files by name or search for specific text across directory trees.

Conclusion

MCP servers can help DevOps and development teams manage their infrastructure, fix network problems, and improve teamwork. When used effectively, they can reduce the need to switch tasks and automate repetitive work, making processes faster and more efficient.

Each of the 10 MCP servers we've introduced in this blog post addresses a specific area and can fit into your current AI-powered workflow. Whether you're troubleshooting networks or managing Kubernetes clusters, there's an MCP server to help you.

Ready to dive in? We recommend you start with the servers most relevant to your daily challenges. If network testing is part of your routine, the Globalping MCP server is a great tool to get started (and it's completely free to use).