ParallelSandbox — Claude Code MCP server: features and setup
Connect an agent to a remote Linux box to sync project files and inspect logs. Useful when you want to test a working copy without making a commit.
claude mcp add --env PARALLELSANDBOX_API_KEY=<PARALLELSANDBOX_API_KEY> --env PSBX_TOOL_TIMEOUT_SEC=<PSBX_TOOL_TIMEOUT_SEC> --transport stdio parallelsandbox -- npx -y parallelsandbox-mcpWhat ParallelSandbox does
ParallelSandbox exposes sandbox_* and logs_* tools for a remote box. sandbox_sync sends project files to /work/<dest>, while sandbox_pull writes files from the box back to your machine. These file-transfer tools need the stdio adapter; over HTTP, both return an error.
Authenticate with OAuth or set PARALLELSANDBOX_API_KEY. OAuth opens a browser during the first connection. If your MCP client does not refresh its tool list after sign-in, reconnect once. In a Git working tree, sync includes tracked files and non-ignored untracked files, but leaves out .git and node_modules. Transfers above 100 MB stop by default, so a larger project needs a higher maxMB value.
What it helps with
- send working files to a Linux box without committing
- sync project changes to
/work/<dest> - copy files from a box back to your machine
- inspect logs from a remote box
Example prompts for the agent
- Connect to ParallelSandbox and sync
/abs/path/to/repoto/work/repo. - Use
sandbox_syncto show which project files would be sent, without uploading them. - Use
sandbox_pullto copy the requested files from the box to my machine.
How to install ParallelSandbox
1Platform CLI
claude mcp add --env PARALLELSANDBOX_API_KEY=<PARALLELSANDBOX_API_KEY> --env PSBX_TOOL_TIMEOUT_SEC=<PSBX_TOOL_TIMEOUT_SEC> --transport stdio parallelsandbox -- npx -y parallelsandbox-mcpReplace <…> with your own values
2Platform CLI: remote server
claude mcp add --transport http parallelsandbox https://mcp.parallelsandbox.com/mcp1Platform CLI: remote server
codex mcp add parallelsandbox --url https://mcp.parallelsandbox.com/mcp2Platform CLI
codex mcp add parallelsandbox --env PARALLELSANDBOX_API_KEY=<PARALLELSANDBOX_API_KEY> --env PSBX_TOOL_TIMEOUT_SEC=<PSBX_TOOL_TIMEOUT_SEC> -- npx -y parallelsandbox-mcpReplace <…> with your own values
Config file
{
"mcpServers": {
"parallelsandbox": {
"url": "https://mcp.parallelsandbox.com/mcp"
}
}
}{
"mcpServers": {
"parallelsandbox": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"parallelsandbox-mcp"
],
"env": {
"PARALLELSANDBOX_API_KEY": "<PARALLELSANDBOX_API_KEY>",
"PSBX_TOOL_TIMEOUT_SEC": "<PSBX_TOOL_TIMEOUT_SEC>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values
Config file
{
"servers": {
"parallelsandbox": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://mcp.parallelsandbox.com/mcp"
}
}
}{
"servers": {
"parallelsandbox": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"parallelsandbox-mcp"
],
"env": {
"PARALLELSANDBOX_API_KEY": "<PARALLELSANDBOX_API_KEY>",
"PSBX_TOOL_TIMEOUT_SEC": "<PSBX_TOOL_TIMEOUT_SEC>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values
1Platform CLI: remote server
gemini mcp add -t http parallelsandbox https://mcp.parallelsandbox.com/mcp2Platform CLI
gemini mcp add -e PARALLELSANDBOX_API_KEY=<PARALLELSANDBOX_API_KEY> -e PSBX_TOOL_TIMEOUT_SEC=<PSBX_TOOL_TIMEOUT_SEC> parallelsandbox npx -y parallelsandbox-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 ParallelSandbox
How do I install ParallelSandbox in Claude Code?
Run claude mcp add parallelsandbox -e PARALLELSANDBOX_API_KEY=<PARALLELSANDBOX_API_KEY> -- npx -y parallelsandbox-mcp, replacing the placeholder with your API key.
What does ParallelSandbox do?
It connects Claude Code to a remote box and provides sandbox and log tools. sandbox_sync sends files to the box; sandbox_pull brings files back to your machine.
Can sandbox_sync and sandbox_pull run over HTTP?
No. They access files on your machine, so they require the stdio adapter.
