Forward MCP

Version 2.2.0

Forward MCP is an open-source server that provides a set of tools and APIs for interacting with Forward Networks' platform. It enables automation, analysis, and integration with network data using the MCP protocol.

Features

Exposes Forward Networks tools via the MCP protocol (55+ tools)
Supports prompt workflows and contextual resources
NEW: Instance lock protection prevents multiple server instances
NEW: Additional API functions for snapshot, location, and device management
NEW: Bloomsearch integration for efficient handling of large NQE results
NEW: Automatic bloom filter generation for fast data filtering
NEW: Persistent bloom indexes for network analysis
Designed for easy integration and automation

High-Level Architecture

cmd/server/main.go: Entry point for the server. Initializes configuration, logging, and registers tools, prompts, and resources.
internal/service: Implements the core Forward MCP service logic.
internal/service/bloom_search.go: Bloomsearch integration for large result handling.
internal/config: Handles configuration loading (API URL, credentials, etc).
internal/logger: Provides logging utilities.

Prerequisites

Go 1.20 or later
Access to Forward Networks API (API URL and API Key)

Build Instructions

git clone https://github.com/forward-mcp/forward-mcp.git
cd forward-mcp
go build -o forward-mcp ./cmd/server

Run Instructions

Set the following environment variables before running:

FORWARD_API_BASE_URL – Base URL for the Forward Networks API
FORWARD_API_KEY – Your Forward Networks API key
FORWARD_API_SECRET - Your Forward Networks API Secret
FORWARD_DEFAULT_NETWORK_ID – (Optional) Default network ID
FORWARD_INSECURE_SKIP_VERIFY – (Optional, default: false) Set to true to skip TLS verification

Bloomsearch Configuration (Optional)

FORWARD_BLOOM_ENABLED – (Optional, default: true) Enable bloomsearch for large results
FORWARD_BLOOM_THRESHOLD – (Optional, default: 100) Minimum result size to trigger bloom filter creation
FORWARD_BLOOM_INDEX_PATH – (Optional, default: data/bloom_indexes) Path for bloom index storage

Instance Lock Configuration (Optional)

FORWARD_LOCK_DIR – (Optional, default: /tmp) Directory for server instance lock file

Run the server:

./forward-mcp

The server will start and listen for MCP protocol messages via stdio (compatible with Claude Desktop and other MCP clients).

New Bloomsearch Capabilities

Automatic Bloom Filter Generation

Automatically creates bloom filters for NQE results with >100 items
Enables fast prefiltering to reduce memory usage and improve search performance
Persistent storage of bloom indexes for reuse across sessions

Enhanced Search Performance

Bloom filters provide O(1) lookup time for membership queries
Reduces memory footprint by only loading relevant data blocks
Supports complex search patterns with multiple terms

Integration with Existing Systems

Works seamlessly with the semantic cache and memory system
Automatically uses bloom filters when available for search operations
Maintains backward compatibility with existing workflows

Documentation

See the docs/ folder for troubleshooting, architecture, and advanced guides.
NEW: Instance lock protection guide - docs/INSTANCE_LOCK_GUIDE.md
NEW: New API functions guide - docs/NEW_API_FUNCTIONS.md
NEW: Bloomsearch integration guide and performance optimization tips.

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please open issues or pull requests for bug fixes, features, or documentation improvements.

AI Attribution

Portions of this project were generated or assisted by AI tools, including OpenAI GPT-4, Cursor, and Claude. All AI-generated content was reviewed and, where necessary, modified by human contributors.

Forward Networks