mcp-gateway

Overview

MCP Gateway is a sophisticated tool multiplexer that sits between AI clients and backend servers. Instead of loading hundreds of tool definitions into every request, it provides a compact Meta-MCP surface of just 14-17 tools that discover the right backend tool on demand. This approach dramatically reduces context window overhead from ~15,000 tokens (100 tools) to ~1,600 tokens, saving ~89% of token costs and enabling unlimited tool connections without context pressure.

Try asking AI

After installing, here are 6 things you can ask your AI assistant:

• gateway_list_servers

  List all backend MCP servers connected to the gateway

  Try:Show me all the MCP servers connected to the gatewayTry:List available backend servers
• gateway_list_tools

  List all tools available across all connected backend servers

  Try:List all tools available from connected serversTry:Show me what tools I can use
• gateway_search_tools

  Search for tools across all backends by name or description

  Try:Search for tools related to file operationsTry:Find tools that can help with web searches
• gateway_invoke

  Invoke a specific tool from any connected backend server

  Try:Use the tavily search tool to find information about AITry:Invoke the GitHub issue creation tool
• gateway_stats

  Get usage statistics and performance metrics for the gateway

  Try:Show me gateway usage statisticsTry:What's the token savings from using the gateway?
• gateway_cost_report

  Generate a cost report showing token and financial savings

  Try:Generate a cost report for this gateway sessionTry:How much money have I saved using the gateway?
• gateway_playbooks

  Show available playbooks for configuring and managing the gateway

  Try:What playbooks are available for setup?Try:Show me how to configure a new backend
• gateway_profile_controls

  Access profile controls for managing tool usage and capabilities

  Try:Configure profile settings for this sessionTry:Set up usage limits for certain tools
• gateway_reload

  Reload the gateway configuration without restarting the session

  Try:Reload the gateway configurationTry:Apply changes to gateway.yaml without restarting
• gateway_webhook_status

  Check the status of configured webhook endpoints

  Try:Show webhook statusTry:Are all webhooks properly configured?
• gateway_disabled_capabilities

  List any disabled capabilities or tools

  Try:Show me what capabilities are disabledTry:Why is this tool not available?
• gateway_doctor

  Run diagnostic checks on the gateway and its backends

  Try:Check gateway healthTry:Diagnose connection issues with backends

Comparable tools

Installation

brew install MikkoParkkola/tap/mcp-gateway

cargo install mcp-gateway

# macOS Apple Silicon
curl -L https://github.com/MikkoParkkola/mcp-gateway/releases/latest/download/mcp-gateway-darwin-arm64 -o mcp-gateway && chmod +x mcp-gateway

docker run -v $(pwd)/gateway.yaml:/config.yaml ghcr.io/mikkoparkkola/mcp-gateway:latest --config /config.yaml

mcp-gateway setup wizard --configure-client
mcp-gateway serve
mcp-gateway doctor

FAQ

How does MCP Gateway save tokens?

Instead of loading every tool definition into each request, it uses a compact Meta-MCP surface of just 14-17 tools, reducing token overhead by ~89% compared to direct MCP connections.

Can I use it with existing MCP servers?

Yes, the gateway can import and route traffic to your existing MCP servers without requiring changes to them.

How does it handle security?

The gateway includes tool poisoning validators, SHA-256 capability hash-pinning, rug-pull detection, and provides a centralized audit surface for all capabilities.

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