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Easy-to-setup local RAG server with minimal configuration

To add mcp-local-rag to Claude, run the install command below or copy the ready-made config for Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor and VS Code further down. Restart your client after adding it and its tools show up in your next conversation. It declares 20 environment variables, listed below.

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Install

npx -y mcp-local-rag@0.23.1

Environment variables

BASE_DIRSet in your MCP config
BASE_DIRSSet in your MCP config
IGNORE_PATHSSet in your MCP config
DB_PATHSet in your MCP config
CACHE_DIRSet in your MCP config
HF_ENDPOINTSet in your MCP config
MODEL_NAMESet in your MCP config
MAX_FILE_SIZESet in your MCP config
RAG_MAX_DISTANCESet in your MCP config
RAG_GROUPINGSet in your MCP config
RAG_MAX_FILESSet in your MCP config
CHUNK_MIN_LENGTHSet in your MCP config
STORE_IMAGESSet in your MCP config
EMBED_TITLE_PREFIXSet in your MCP config
EMBED_HEADING_PREFIXSet in your MCP config
RAG_DEVICESet in your MCP config
RAG_DTYPESet in your MCP config
RAG_HYBRID_WEIGHTSet in your MCP config
RAG_RERANK_CMDSet in your MCP config
RAG_RERANK_TIMEOUT_MSSet in your MCP config

Set only if the maker requires them; this listing does not flag any of them as required.

Install with your client

Terminal
claude mcp add mcp-local-rag --env BASE_DIR=<YOUR_BASE_DIR> --env BASE_DIRS=<YOUR_BASE_DIRS> --env IGNORE_PATHS=<YOUR_IGNORE_PATHS> --env DB_PATH=<YOUR_DB_PATH> --env CACHE_DIR=<YOUR_CACHE_DIR> --env HF_ENDPOINT=<YOUR_HF_ENDPOINT> --env MODEL_NAME=<YOUR_MODEL_NAME> --env MAX_FILE_SIZE=<YOUR_MAX_FILE_SIZE> --env RAG_MAX_DISTANCE=<YOUR_RAG_MAX_DISTANCE> --env RAG_GROUPING=<YOUR_RAG_GROUPING> --env RAG_MAX_FILES=<YOUR_RAG_MAX_FILES> --env CHUNK_MIN_LENGTH=<YOUR_CHUNK_MIN_LENGTH> --env STORE_IMAGES=<YOUR_STORE_IMAGES> --env EMBED_TITLE_PREFIX=<YOUR_EMBED_TITLE_PREFIX> --env EMBED_HEADING_PREFIX=<YOUR_EMBED_HEADING_PREFIX> --env RAG_DEVICE=<YOUR_RAG_DEVICE> --env RAG_DTYPE=<YOUR_RAG_DTYPE> --env RAG_HYBRID_WEIGHT=<YOUR_RAG_HYBRID_WEIGHT> --env RAG_RERANK_CMD=<YOUR_RAG_RERANK_CMD> --env RAG_RERANK_TIMEOUT_MS=<YOUR_RAG_RERANK_TIMEOUT_MS> -- npx -y mcp-local-rag@0.23.1

Run this in a terminal to add the server to Claude Code.

What this does

mcp-local-rag exposes a set of tools to Claude over the Model Context Protocol. After you add it to claude_desktop_config.json (snippet above) and restart Claude Desktop, those tools become callable inside any conversation.

Requirements

This server declares the following environment variables. Set only the ones the maker requires for your setup; this listing does not flag any of them as required:

BASE_DIR
BASE_DIRS
IGNORE_PATHS
DB_PATH
CACHE_DIR
HF_ENDPOINT
MODEL_NAME
MAX_FILE_SIZE
RAG_MAX_DISTANCE
RAG_GROUPING
RAG_MAX_FILES
CHUNK_MIN_LENGTH
STORE_IMAGES
EMBED_TITLE_PREFIX
EMBED_HEADING_PREFIX
RAG_DEVICE
RAG_DTYPE
RAG_HYBRID_WEIGHT
RAG_RERANK_CMD
RAG_RERANK_TIMEOUT_MS

Set these via the env object in your MCP config (see claude_desktop_config.json snippet above).

Frequently asked questions

How do I install mcp-local-rag?

Run the Claude Code command in the install section to add mcp-local-rag to Claude Code, or copy the ready-made config for your client from the install section on this page. Restart your client afterwards and the tools appear in your next conversation.

Which clients work with mcp-local-rag?

This page carries setup and config for Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor and VS Code. Any other MCP client that accepts a standard server config can connect to mcp-local-rag as well.

Does mcp-local-rag need an API key?

This listing does not flag an API key as required. The server can use these environment variables: BASE_DIR, BASE_DIRS, IGNORE_PATHS, DB_PATH, CACHE_DIR, HF_ENDPOINT, MODEL_NAME, MAX_FILE_SIZE, RAG_MAX_DISTANCE, RAG_GROUPING, RAG_MAX_FILES, CHUNK_MIN_LENGTH, STORE_IMAGES, EMBED_TITLE_PREFIX, EMBED_HEADING_PREFIX, RAG_DEVICE, RAG_DTYPE, RAG_HYBRID_WEIGHT, RAG_RERANK_CMD, RAG_RERANK_TIMEOUT_MS; the maker's docs say which of them your setup needs. They go in the env block of your MCP config.

What license is mcp-local-rag under?

mcp-local-rag is listed under the MIT license.

Imported from the Official MCP Registry. The details above come from the registry entry; the maker can claim this listing to correct them, add docs, and see its traffic.

Is this your MCP server?

Claim this listing to see its traffic, fix details yourself, and skip the review queue on future updates.

Listed on clauderules.net

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