# rustunnel

Gives AI agents public HTTPS, TCP, and UDP addresses for localhost services. Useful when an agent needs to reach a local app.

- MCP server · `type=mcp` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf (Devin Desktop), Cline, Zed · ★ 657
- Author: joaoh82
- License: AGPL-3.0 · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/joaoh82/rustunnel
- Updated: 2026-09-03
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/rustunnel

## What it does

rustunnel connects an AI agent to a local service through a public address. It supports HTTPS, TCP, and UDP tunnels, while the server can be self-hosted or used as a managed service. HTTP, TCP, and UDP modes cover local apps, databases, and other network services.

The MCP server runs the container image `ghcr.io/joaoh82/rustunnel-mcp:0.8.5` through Docker. The Claude Code setup registers a server named `rustunnel`; Codex and Gemini CLI have their own commands, while Cursor and GitHub Copilot use JSON configuration.

A managed deployment requires an API token created in Dashboard → API Keys. Docker is required for the installation command, so the MCP server will not start without it.

## Requirements
- Needs: Docker

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

**Platform CLI**
```bash
claude mcp add rustunnel -- docker run -i --rm ghcr.io/joaoh82/rustunnel-mcp:0.8.5
```

### Codex

**Platform CLI**
```bash
codex mcp add rustunnel -- docker run -i --rm ghcr.io/joaoh82/rustunnel-mcp:0.8.5
```

### Cursor

**Config file**
File `.cursor/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "rustunnel": {
            "command": "docker",
            "args": [
                "run",
                "-i",
                "--rm",
                "ghcr.io/joaoh82/rustunnel-mcp:0.8.5"
            ]
        }
    }
}
```

### GitHub Copilot

**Config file**
File `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "servers": {
        "rustunnel": {
            "type": "stdio",
            "command": "docker",
            "args": [
                "run",
                "-i",
                "--rm",
                "ghcr.io/joaoh82/rustunnel-mcp:0.8.5"
            ]
        }
    }
}
```

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini mcp add rustunnel docker run -i --rm ghcr.io/joaoh82/rustunnel-mcp:0.8.5
```

## When to use it
- expose a local HTTP app through a public HTTPS address
- give an agent access to a localhost service
- forward a local database over TCP
- publish a UDP service through a tunnel

## Example prompts
- Expose my local service on port `3000` through a public HTTPS address.
- Give the agent access to my local database over TCP port `5432`.
- Forward the UDP service on port `27015` with rustunnel.

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---
NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md