bifrost-mcp-setup · diff
git:20260724.51f2cf6 to git:20260804.b381cd3
28 added, 14 removed. Audit A to A.
---
name: bifrost-mcp-setup
- description: "Manually wire a Bifrost MCP server into Claude Code (mcp.json) or Claude Desktop (OAuth connector or local proxy) when the automated installer can't run. Triggers on 'manually add bifrost mcp', 'edit mcp.json for bifrost', 'installer failed', 'add x-bf-vk header', 'manual bifrost setup', 'mcp.json bifrost', 'bifrost in claude desktop', 'claude_desktop_config'."
+ description: "Manually wire a Bifrost MCP server into Claude Code (mcp.json) when the automated installer can't run, or add the Bifrost plugin on Claude Desktop and claude.ai through the Plugins UI. Triggers on 'manually add bifrost mcp', 'edit mcp.json for bifrost', 'installer failed', 'add x-bf-vk header', 'manual bifrost setup', 'mcp.json bifrost', 'bifrost in claude desktop', 'claude_desktop_config'."
---
# Manual Bifrost MCP Setup
Use this when the automated installer (`node bin/install.js` / `/bifrost-setup`)
can't run (no internet, policy restriction, etc.).
Note: if the plugin itself is installed and enabled, none of this is needed —
the plugin's shipped `.mcp.json` registers the `bifrost` server automatically.
This skill is for wiring the MCP server WITHOUT the plugin.
## Step 1 — Set your gateway URL and virtual key
```bash
# Add to ~/.zshrc or ~/.bashrc (replace with your real values):
export BIFROST_URL=https://<your-gateway-host>/mcp
export BIFROST_VK=vk_<your-key>
source ~/.zshrc # or ~/.bashrc
```
Never commit the VK. It belongs in your shell env only.
## Step 2 — Register the server with the Claude Code CLI
```bash
claude mcp add --scope user --transport http bifrost \
"${BIFROST_URL}" --header 'x-bf-vk: ${BIFROST_VK}'
```
The single-quoted `${BIFROST_VK}` is stored as a runtime template — Claude Code
resolves it from your shell env on every launch, so the key itself is never
written to disk. Re-running the command replaces the same entry (idempotent).
## Step 3 — Restart Claude Code
MCP registration changes take effect only after a CC restart.
## Step 4 — Verify
```bash
# Confirm the entry is present:
claude mcp get bifrost
# Confirm env vars are set:
echo "URL: ${BIFROST_URL:-NOT SET}"
echo "VK: ${BIFROST_VK:+set (${#BIFROST_VK} chars)}${BIFROST_VK:-NOT SET}"
```
If your gateway exposes a skill server, then inside Claude Code call
`mcp__bifrost__<skills-server>-skill_search` with `"test"` — if it returns
results, the gateway is live.
## Uninstall
```bash
claude mcp remove --scope user bifrost
```
## Claude Desktop
- Desktop does **not** read `~/.claude/mcp.json` and has no header field for a
- virtual key — it connects via OAuth (preferred) or a local proxy (fallback).
+ Desktop has no shell, so `${BIFROST_URL}` and `${BIFROST_VK}` never resolve
+ there, and it does not read this project's `.mcp.json`. The supported path is
+ installing the plugin itself, which prompts for the gateway URL, virtual key,
+ and OAuth client ID at install time and stores them as plugin config. The
+ bundled `.mcp.json` reads those back as `${user_config.gateway_url}` and so on.
- ### Preferred — OAuth connector
+ ### Install the plugin (preferred)
- 1. **Settings → Connectors → Add custom connector**, URL:
- `https://<stable-gateway-host>/mcp` (the stable domain — ephemeral tunnel
- URLs won't work with OAuth).
- 2. Connect → log in at the company Keycloak → consent. No key or config file needed.
- 3. If the connector cannot self-register (`mcp_registration_failed` despite a
- correct URL), enter the operator-provided client ID under
- **Advanced settings → OAuth Client ID**.
+ Desktop Code tab: `+` button next to the prompt box → Plugins → Add plugin.
- ### Fallback — local `mcp-remote` proxy
+ Desktop Chat and Cowork tabs, and claude.ai: Customize (left sidebar) →
+ Plugins → Browse plugins → Add from a repository.
- Only if the OAuth bridge is not deployed. Requires Node. Edit
+ Either path prompts for the gateway URL (keep the default unless your operator
+ gave you a different one), a virtual key (paste the `vk_...` key your operator
+ issued you), and an OAuth client ID (leave empty unless told otherwise, see
+ below). Change any of these later with `/plugin configure`.
+
+ Signing in with a company account instead of a virtual key does not fully work
+ yet. With no client ID, Claude's OAuth discovery fails outright. With an
+ operator-issued client ID it gets as far as a healthy "Needs authentication"
+ state, but completing login still needs the identity provider to allow the
+ redirect URI `http://localhost:51789/callback` for that client. Use a virtual
+ key until your gateway operator confirms OAuth is ready. See `/bifrost-debug`
+ step 9 for the exact errors and their causes.
+
+ ### Legacy fallback: local `mcp-remote` proxy
+
+ Only for plugin versions before 1.5.0, or installs that cannot use the plugin
+ at all. Requires Node. Edit
`~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json` (macOS) or
`%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json` (Windows):
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"bifrost": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"mcp-remote", "https://<stable-gateway-host>/mcp",
"--transport", "http-only",
"--header", "x-bf-vk:${BIFROST_VK}"
],
"env": { "BIFROST_VK": "vk_<your-key>" }
}
}
}
```
No spaces around `:` in the `--header` arg. This file then contains your key —
treat it as a secret (`chmod 600` on macOS/Linux) and never commit it.
Restart Claude Desktop afterwards.
## Troubleshooting
- **401 from bifrost** → `BIFROST_VK` is wrong or not exported. Re-check your shell env.
- **Tool not found after restart** → `claude mcp get bifrost` should show `"type": "http"` (not `"sse"`); re-run Step 2 if the entry is missing.
- **Gateway timeout** → gateway may be offline or `BIFROST_URL` is wrong. Contact the gateway operator.
- - **Desktop OAuth errors** (`mcp_registration_failed`, `Invalid redirect URI`, `no_virtual_key`) → run `/bifrost-debug` step 7.
+ - **Desktop OAuth errors** (`Incompatible auth server`, `Policy 'Trusted Hosts' rejected`) → run `/bifrost-debug` step 9.
For full diagnosis: `/bifrost-debug`.