# rpk cloud mcp stdio

> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.redpanda.com/llms.txt). Component-specific: [cloud-data-platform-full.txt](https://docs.redpanda.com/cloud-data-platform-full.txt)

---
title: rpk cloud mcp stdio
latest-operator-version: v26.1.4
latest-console-tag: v3.7.3
latest-connect-version: 4.93.0
latest-redpanda-tag: v26.1.9
docname: rpk/rpk-cloud/rpk-cloud-mcp-stdio
page-component-name: cloud-data-platform
page-version: master
page-component-version: master
page-component-title: Cloud
page-relative-src-path: rpk/rpk-cloud/rpk-cloud-mcp-stdio.adoc
page-edit-url: https://github.com/redpanda-data/cloud-docs/edit/main/modules/reference/pages/rpk/rpk-cloud/rpk-cloud-mcp-stdio.adoc
page-git-created-date: "2025-09-08"
page-git-modified-date: "2026-05-26"
---

<!-- Source: https://docs.redpanda.com/cloud-data-platform/reference/rpk/rpk-cloud/rpk-cloud-mcp-stdio.md -->

Communicate with the local MCP server for Redpanda Cloud using the stdio protocol.

This command provides a direct stdio interface for communicating with the local MCP server for Redpanda Cloud. The local MCP server runs on your machine and provides tools for managing your Redpanda Cloud account and clusters. It’s typically used as the transport mechanism when your MCP client is configured to use `rpk` as the stdio server process.

Most users should use [`rpk cloud mcp install`](https://docs.redpanda.com/cloud-data-platform/reference/rpk/rpk-cloud/rpk-cloud-mcp-install/) instead, which automatically configures your MCP client.

## [](#usage)Usage

```bash
rpk cloud mcp stdio [flags]
```

## [](#examples)Examples

Start the local MCP server for Redpanda Cloud using the stdio protocol:

```bash
rpk cloud mcp stdio
```

## [](#flags)Flags

| Value | Type | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| --allow-delete | - | Allow delete operations (RPCs). Off by default. |
| -h, --help | - | Help for stdio. |
| --config | string | Redpanda or rpk config file; default search paths are /var/lib/redpanda/.config/rpk/rpk.yaml, $PWD/redpanda.yaml, and /etc/redpanda/redpanda.yaml. |
| -X, --config-opt | stringArray | Override rpk configuration settings. See rpk -X or execute rpk -X help for inline detail or rpk -X list for terser detail. |
| --profile | string | Profile to use. See rpk profile for more details. |
| -v, --verbose | - | Enable verbose logging. |

## [](#suggested-reading)Suggested reading

-   [rpk cloud mcp install](https://docs.redpanda.com/cloud-data-platform/reference/rpk/rpk-cloud/rpk-cloud-mcp-install/)

-   [Redpanda Cloud Management MCP Server](https://docs.redpanda.com/cloud-data-platform/ai-agents/mcp/overview/)