RouterMCP
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Frequently asked questions about RouterMCP CLI, Cloud, tools, and MCP integration.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about RouterMCP.

General

What is RouterMCP?

RouterMCP is an MCP gateway that aggregates multiple upstream MCP servers into a single unified interface. It's available as:

  • CLI: Self-hosted npm package (routermcp)
  • Cloud: Hosted service at routermcp.com

What is MCP?

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard for connecting AI assistants to external tools and data sources. It defines how AI clients communicate with tool servers.

Do I need both CLI and Cloud?

No. Choose based on your needs:

  • CLI: Local development, privacy-sensitive workloads, stdio servers
  • Cloud: Team collaboration, OAuth handling, remote access

CLI

How do I install the CLI?

npm install -g routermcp

Where does the config file go?

RouterMCP looks for routermcp.jsonc in the current directory. Use -c to specify a different path.

Can I use environment variables?

Yes, use ${VAR_NAME} syntax:

{
  "env": {
    "TOKEN": "${MY_TOKEN}"
  }
}

How do I expose my gateway to the internet?

Use the tunnel command:

routermcp tunnel --tunnel=cloudflare

Cloud

How do I create an account?

Sign up at routermcp.com.

How do I connect my client?

  1. Create a project
  2. Add servers
  3. Generate an API key
  4. Configure your client with the endpoint URL and key

What's the endpoint URL format?

https://gateway.routermcp.com/v1/mcp/{project-slug}/request

Tools

Why are tools namespaced?

To prevent conflicts when multiple servers have tools with the same name. For example:

  • github.create_issue
  • jira.create_issue

How do I filter tools?

Use allowedTools, denyTools, allowedToolsGlob, or denyToolsGlob in server config.

Can I disable a tool without removing it?

Yes, set enabled: false on the tool via the API or dashboard.

Security

Are my credentials secure?

  • CLI: Credentials stay on your machine
  • Cloud: Credentials are encrypted at rest, tokens are never exposed via API

Should I use API key authentication?

Yes, for any production or externally-accessible deployment.

How do I rotate API keys?

  1. Create a new key
  2. Update clients
  3. Revoke the old key

Troubleshooting

Why am I getting 404 errors?

Check that your URL includes /v1/mcp/ and ends with /request.

Why am I getting 401 errors?

  • Check your API key is correct
  • Ensure the Authorization: Bearer {key} header is included
  • Verify the project requires API key auth

Where can I get help?

Troubleshooting

Common issues and solutions for RouterMCP including connection, tools, and CLI problems.

On this page

FAQGeneralWhat is RouterMCP?What is MCP?Do I need both CLI and Cloud?CLIHow do I install the CLI?Where does the config file go?Can I use environment variables?How do I expose my gateway to the internet?CloudHow do I create an account?How do I connect my client?What's the endpoint URL format?ToolsWhy are tools namespaced?How do I filter tools?Can I disable a tool without removing it?SecurityAre my credentials secure?Should I use API key authentication?How do I rotate API keys?TroubleshootingWhy am I getting 404 errors?Why am I getting 401 errors?Where can I get help?