Connect a client¶

mcp-dnstwist speaks MCP over stdio. It needs Node.js 20.3 or newer, plus one way to run dnstwist:

Runner	Needs	Notes
Local	`dnstwist` on your `PATH` (`pipx install "dnstwist[full]"`)	Fastest, no Docker. Used automatically when found.
Docker	Docker running	Uses the `elceef/dnstwist` image (pulled on first start). The image is amd64-only, so it runs under emulation on Apple Silicon.

DNSTWIST_RUNNER picks one explicitly (local, docker, or the default auto). No API key is needed.

Claude Code¶

claude mcp add --transport stdio dnstwist -- npx -y @burtthecoder/mcp-dnstwist
claude mcp get dnstwist      # should show: Connected

Codex CLI¶

codex mcp add dnstwist -- npx -y @burtthecoder/mcp-dnstwist

Gemini CLI¶

gemini mcp add dnstwist npx -y @burtthecoder/mcp-dnstwist

Claude Desktop¶

Edit the config file, then restart the app.

OS	Path
macOS	`~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`
Windows	`%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json`

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "dnstwist": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@burtthecoder/mcp-dnstwist"]
    }
  }
}

Desktop apps may not see your shell's PATH, so they might not find docker or dnstwist. If the server reports that neither is available, add an env block with your PATH, or set DNSTWIST_RUNNER and use absolute paths.

VS Code (GitHub Copilot)¶

Create .vscode/mcp.json in your workspace, or add the server with MCP: Add Server, then reload VS Code.

{
  "servers": {
    "dnstwist": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@burtthecoder/mcp-dnstwist"]
    }
  }
}

Docker (no Node or dnstwist on the host)¶

The mcp-dnstwist image bundles Node and dnstwist, so it doesn't need access to your Docker daemon.

docker build -t mcp-dnstwist https://github.com/w0h1v/mcp-dnstwist.git

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "dnstwist": {
      "command": "docker",
      "args": ["run", "-i", "--rm", "mcp-dnstwist"]
    }
  }
}

Smithery¶

npx -y @smithery/cli install @burtthecoder/mcp-dnstwist --client claude

From source¶

git clone https://github.com/w0h1v/mcp-dnstwist && cd mcp-dnstwist
npm ci && npm run build

Use the command node with the argument /absolute/path/to/mcp-dnstwist/build/index.js.

Settings¶

Variable	Default	Description
`DNSTWIST_RUNNER`	`auto`	`local`, `docker`, or `auto` (local if `dnstwist` is on `PATH`, otherwise Docker)
`DNSTWIST_TIMEOUT_SECONDS`	`600`	Longest a scan may run before it's stopped and cleaned up

Set them in the client's env block, for example "env": { "DNSTWIST_RUNNER": "docker" }.