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Interminal

Official registry AI and agents

Lightweight MCP server providing terminal access (SSH & local shells) for AI assistants.

Source code Documentation

Install

Add this to your client's MCP configuration (Claude Desktop: claude_desktop_config.json; Cursor: .cursor/mcp.json; VS Code and others use the same "mcpServers" shape).

PYPI package mcp-interminal
Claude Code 
claude mcp add interminal -- uvx mcp-interminal==1.0.4
JSON configuration (Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code) 
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "interminal": {
            "command": "uvx",
            "args": [
                "mcp-interminal==1.0.4"
            ]
        }
    }
}

Documentation

From the project's README on GitHub, refreshed weekly. Links open on GitHub.

Contents
  1. Interminal
  2. Installation
  3. MCP Client Configuration
  4. Tools
  5. Persistent State
  6. Key Behaviors
  7. Optional Dependencies

Interminal

Lightweight MCP server that gives AI assistants terminal access — SSH and local shells — with support for interactive and long-running commands.

Installation

# Run directly, no install needed (recommended)
uvx mcp-interminal

# Or install permanently
pip install mcp-interminal

Requires Python ≥ 3.11.

MCP Client Configuration

Claude Desktop (claude_desktop_config.json):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "interminal": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["mcp-interminal"]
    }
  }
}

Cursor / other clients: same command + args format above.

Tools

ToolDescription
connect_sshConnect to an SSH server; returns session_id and welcome banner
executeRun a command locally (no session needed) or over SSH; returns output or status=partial + command_id
read_outputPoll a running command for new output without sending input
respondSend text input to a command waiting at a prompt
send_controlSend control keys: ctrl+c, ctrl+z, arrow keys, F-keys, etc.
disconnectClose an SSH session and release all resources

Persistent State

Each execute call runs in an isolated channel — there is no persistent shell between calls. For simple tasks, chaining with && works.

For multi-step workflows (project development, debugging, deployment), a terminal multiplexer (like Zellij) provides persistent state that survives across calls. The AI agent can create a persistent session where cd, environment variables, virtual environments, and long-running processes carry over naturally.

Key Behaviors

  • Stateless execute — each call is an isolated channel; cd /foo does not persist. Simple tasks: chain with &&. Multi-step workflows: use a terminal multiplexer.
  • Long-running commands return status="partial" with a command_id; poll with read_output or send input with respond
  • SSH PTY is 500×200 xterm-256color so multiplexer sessions render at your actual terminal size

Optional Dependencies

pip install "mcp-interminal[pty]"       # Windows PTY support (pywinpty)
pip install "mcp-interminal[ansi]"      # ANSI escape rendering (pyte)
pip install "mcp-interminal[pty,ansi]"  # both

Frequently asked questions

What is Interminal?

Lightweight MCP server providing terminal access (SSH & local shells) for AI assistants.

How do I install Interminal?

It runs on your machine. In Claude Code: claude mcp add interminal -- uvx mcp-interminal==1.0.4. For other clients, paste the JSON configuration from this page into their MCP settings.

Does Interminal need an API key?

Its registry entry lists no required key or secret. Some features may still need an account with the service it connects to.

Is Interminal open source?

Yes. Its code is on GitHub under the MIT license.

Who maintains Interminal?

It is published by QiuwenZheng. AI.tn lists it but does not maintain or endorse it.

From the official MCP Registry. Listing is not an endorsement: review a server's code and permissions before giving it access to your data.