Knolo — Claude Code MCP server: what it does, how to install
A read-only retrieval MCP server for pinned Knolo V5 Knowledge Images. It allows coding agents to query pre-verified local knowledge without network access.
claude mcp add knolo -e KNOLO_MCP_CONFIG=<KNOLO_MCP_CONFIG> -- npx -y @knolo/mcpWhat Knolo does
The server functions strictly over stdio channels in read-only mode. It supplies four specific tools: knolo_search, knolo_get, knolo_verify, and knolo_status. Runtime internet access is disabled entirely. The process neither fetches remote data nor compiles assets, focusing solely on mounted knowledge archives.
Prior to launching, knowledge bundles must be mounted and pinned inside a JSON configuration. A mismatch between calculated and declared hashes for sha256, stateRoot, or policy files forces the process to exit immediately. Live reloading does not exist here. Any modification to mounts requires a full server restart.
Every search operation logs an openclaw-knolo-query-v1 receipt to disk before returning results. If the target auditDir rejects write permissions, retrieval fails with an AUDIT_UNAVAILABLE code. Running this package requires Node 20 or higher alongside @knolo/core ^6.0.0.
What it helps with
- retrieve records from cryptographically pinned Knolo V5 images
- verify the integrity and health of mounted local archives
- audit agent queries using persistent disk receipts
- enforce agent identifier policies across mounted data
Example prompts for the agent
- Search the handbook knowledge image for onboarding rules using
knolo_search - Verify the current state and health of mounted archives with
knolo_status - Fetch a specific document entry by its identifier via
knolo_get
How to install Knolo
Platform CLI
claude mcp add knolo -e KNOLO_MCP_CONFIG=<KNOLO_MCP_CONFIG> -- npx -y @knolo/mcpReplace <…> with your own values
Platform CLI
codex mcp add mcp --env KNOLO_MCP_CONFIG=<KNOLO_MCP_CONFIG> -- npx -y @knolo/mcpReplace <…> with your own values
Config file
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@knolo/mcp"
],
"env": {
"KNOLO_MCP_CONFIG": "<KNOLO_MCP_CONFIG>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values
Config file
{
"servers": {
"mcp": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@knolo/mcp"
],
"env": {
"KNOLO_MCP_CONFIG": "<KNOLO_MCP_CONFIG>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values
Platform CLI
gemini mcp add -e KNOLO_MCP_CONFIG=<KNOLO_MCP_CONFIG> mcp npx -y @knolo/mcpReplace <…> with your own values
Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to add an MCP server to Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Gemini CLI and more
Questions about Knolo
How to install Knolo in Claude Code?
Run claude mcp add knolo -e KNOLO_MCP_CONFIG=<KNOLO_MCP_CONFIG> -- npx -y @knolo/mcp in your terminal. Ensure the KNOLO_MCP_CONFIG environment variable points to your absolute JSON configuration file.
What does Knolo MCP server do?
It exposes search and verification tools over local Knolo V5 Knowledge Images. All interactions happen through stdio without runtime network calls, validating file checksums on startup.
Why does Knolo fail with an AUDIT_UNAVAILABLE error?
The server must write an audit receipt to disk prior to answering any query. When the configured auditDir is missing or unwritable, search queries halt immediately.
