Perplexity MCP Server

Overview

The Perplexity MCP Server is a Node.js implementation of Anthropic's Model Context Protocol (MCP) that enables Claude to interact with Perplexity's language models. This server provides a secure bridge between Claude and Perplexity AI's capabilities, allowing for enhanced AI interactions through tool use.

Available Tools

The server currently implements two main tools:

1. perplexity_chat

Advanced chat completion tool with full message history support.

{
  "name": "perplexity_chat",
  "description": "Generate a chat completion using Perplexity AI",
  "parameters": {
    "model": "string (optional) - One of: llama-3.1-sonar-small-128k-online, llama-3.1-sonar-large-128k-online, llama-3.1-sonar-huge-128k-online",
    "messages": "array of {role, content} objects - The conversation history",
    "temperature": "number (optional) - Sampling temperature between 0-2"
  }
}

2. perplexity_ask

Simplified single-query interface for quick questions.

{
  "name": "perplexity_ask",
  "description": "Send a simple query to Perplexity AI",
  "parameters": {
    "query": "string - The question or prompt to send",
    "model": "string (optional) - One of: llama-3.1-sonar-small-128k-online, llama-3.1-sonar-large-128k-online, llama-3.1-sonar-huge-128k-online"
  }
}

Development

Start the development server with automatic recompilation:

npm run dev

The server uses TypeScript and implements the MCP protocol using the @modelcontextprotocol/sdk package.

Architecture

Core Components

1. PerplexityServer Class

   • Implements MCP server protocol
   • Handles tool registration and execution
   • Manages error handling and server lifecycle

2. Tools System

   • Modular tool definitions
   • Type-safe tool handlers
   • Structured input validation

Technical Details

• Built with TypeScript for type safety
• Uses @modelcontextprotocol/sdk for MCP implementation
• Communicates via stdio transport
• Environment-based configuration

Error Handling

The server implements comprehensive error handling:

• API error reporting
• Invalid tool requests handling
• Connection error management
• Process signal handling

Dependencies

• @modelcontextprotocol/sdk: ^1.0.3
• dotenv: ^16.4.7
• isomorphic-fetch: ^3.0.0

Security

• API keys are managed through environment variables
• Input validation for all tool parameters
• Error messages are sanitized before output
• Process isolation through MCP protocol

Installation

1. Clone the repository:

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   git clone https://github.com/yourusername/perplexity-mcp-server.git
   cd perplexity-mcp-server

2. Install dependencies:

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   npm install

3. Create .env file:

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   PERPLEXITY_API_KEY=your-api-key-here

4. Build the project:

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   npm run build

Claude Desktop Configuration

To add this server to Claude Desktop, update your claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    //more servers...
    "perplexity": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["path\\to\\perplexity-mcp-server\\dist\\index.js"],
      "env": {
        "PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "YOUR_PERPLEXITY_API_KEY"
      }
    }
    //more servers...
  }
}

The configuration file is typically located at:

• Windows: %APPDATA%/Claude/config/claude_desktop_config.json
• macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/config/claude_desktop_config.json
• Linux: ~/.config/Claude/config/claude_desktop_config.json

Troubleshooting

Common issues and solutions:

1. Server Not Found

   • Verify the path in claude_desktop_config.json is correct
   • Ensure the server is built (npm run build)
   • Check if Node.js is in your PATH

2. Authentication Errors

   • Verify your Perplexity API key in .env
   • Check if the API key has the required permissions

3. Tool Execution Errors

   • Verify the tool parameters match the schema
   • Check network connectivity
   • Review server logs for detailed error messages

License

This project is licensed under the ISC License.