# MCP Hub Lite CLI Use Guide

## Overview

MCP Hub Lite CLI provides command-line interface for managing MCP servers. This guide covers CLI-specific usage only.

## Commands

### start

Start the MCP Hub Lite server.

```bash
# Start in daemon mode (default)
mcp-hub-lite start

# Start in foreground mode
mcp-hub-lite start --foreground

# Start with custom port
mcp-hub-lite start --port 8080
```

### stop

Stop the running MCP Hub Lite server.

```bash
mcp-hub-lite stop
```

### status

Display server status and connected MCP servers.

```bash
mcp-hub-lite status
```

### ui

Open the web UI in default browser.

```bash
mcp-hub-lite ui
```

### list

List all configured MCP servers.

```bash
mcp-hub-lite list
```

### restart

Restart the MCP Hub Lite server.

```bash
mcp-hub-lite restart
```

### install

Add a new MCP server to MCP Hub Lite.

**Parametric Mode:**

```bash
# stdio server
mcp-hub-lite install github-mcp "npx github-mcp" --env API_KEY=xxx

# HTTP server
mcp-hub-lite install api-server https://api.example.com/mcp -t streamable-http -H "Authorization: Bearer xxx"
```

**JSON Mode:**

```bash
# stdio server
mcp-hub-lite install --json '{"name":"github-mcp","type":"stdio","command":"npx github-mcp","env":{"API_KEY":"xxx"}}'

# HTTP server
mcp-hub-lite install --json '{"name":"api-server","type":"streamable-http","url":"https://api.example.com/mcp","headers":{"Authorization":"Bearer xxx"}}'
```

**Options:**

| Option                     | Description                                                  |
| -------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `-t, --transport <type>`   | Transport type: stdio, sse, streamable-http (default: stdio) |
| `-e, --env <env...>`       | Environment variables (KEY=VALUE)                            |
| `-H, --header <header...>` | HTTP headers (Header-Key: Value)                             |
| `--timeout <seconds>`      | Timeout in seconds (default: 60)                             |
| `--strategy <strategy>`    | Instance selection: random, round-robin, tag-match-unique    |
| `-a, --auto-start`         | Auto-start server (default: true)                            |
| `--no-auto-start`          | Disable auto-start                                           |
| `-d, --description <desc>` | Server description                                           |

**JSON Config Fields:**

| Field                       | Required    | Description                     |
| --------------------------- | ----------- | ------------------------------- |
| `name`                      | Yes         | Server name                     |
| `type`                      | No          | Transport type (default: stdio) |
| `command`                   | Yes (stdio) | Command to execute              |
| `url`                       | Yes (HTTP)  | Server URL                      |
| `args`                      | No          | Command arguments               |
| `env`                       | No          | Environment variables object    |
| `headers`                   | No          | HTTP headers object             |
| `timeout`                   | No          | Timeout in seconds              |
| `enabled`                   | No          | Auto-start enabled              |
| `description`               | No          | Server description              |
| `instanceSelectionStrategy` | No          | Instance selection strategy     |

### tool-use

Manage MCP server tools via API.

```bash
# List all connected servers
mcp-hub-lite tool-use list-servers

# List system tools
mcp-hub-lite tool-use list-tools

# List tools from specific server
mcp-hub-lite tool-use list-tools --server baidu-search

# Get tool schema
mcp-hub-lite tool-use get-tool --tool list_tools

# Call a tool
mcp-hub-lite tool-use call-tool --tool search --server baidu-search --args '{"query":"天气"}'
```

**Options:**

| Option            | Description                                 |
| ----------------- | ------------------------------------------- |
| `--server <name>` | Server name (default: mcp-hub-lite)         |
| `--tool <name>`   | Tool name (required for get-tool/call-tool) |
| `--args <json>`   | Tool arguments JSON                         |
| `--tags <json>`   | Instance selection tags                     |

**JSON Merge Form:**

```bash
# All parameters in one JSON
mcp-hub-lite tool-use call-tool --args '{"server":"baidu-search","tool":"search","query":"天气"}'
```

---

_Last updated: 2026-04-20_