Datasieve vs Homebutler

A side-by-side look at the Datasieve and Homebutler MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.

Datasieve logoDatasieveMonitoring · Local subprocess (stdio)On-chain watches, web-page monitors, dead-man switches, cron, and agent coordination, paid via x402.57GoodAuth: not declaredHomebutler logoHomebutlerMonitoring · Local subprocess (stdio)All-in-one homelab management MCP server. Monitor system resources, manage Docker containers, Wake-on-LAN, scan networks, check open ports, and run alerts — across multiple servers via SSH. Single 10MB binary, zero dependencies.71GreatAuth: no auth required

Verdict: choose Datasieve for monitoring work as a local process; choose Homebutler for monitoring as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.

Which MCP server should you choose?

Datasieve logoChoose Datasieve when

  • You need dedicated capabilities in the Monitoring domain.
  • You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
  • You want tools like create_watch, watch_status, drain_events.
Explore Datasieve

Homebutler logoChoose Homebutler when

  • You need dedicated capabilities in the Monitoring domain.
  • You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
  • Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
  • You want tools like proxmox_status, proxmox_guests, proxmox_node.
Explore Homebutler

Feature & specification comparison

Rows where the two servers differ are marked.

SpecDatasieve logoDatasieveHomebutler logoHomebutler
CategoryMonitoringMonitoring
Quality signal57/100 · Good71/100 · Great
Install commandConfirmedConfirmed
TransportLocal subprocess (stdio)Local subprocess (stdio)
AuthNot declaredNo auth required
PricingNot declaredFree
Required env varsNone listedNone listed
Verified ownerCommunity listingCommunity listing
GitHub stars0305
Directory activity 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes 5 views 0 installs 0 upvotes
Tools1940

Tools & capabilities

Datasieve tools 19

  • create_watchBuy a standing watch from DataSieve (https://api.datasieve.xyz). standard = $0.10/7d, 1 condition, 50 triggers; composite = $0.25/7d, up to 5 any-match conditions (e.g. 5 heartbeat dead-man switches), 200 triggers; standard30 = $0.35/30d and composite30 = $0.85/30d — one payment covers the month, for agents that will not be awake to renew weekly. Payment is a gasless USDC transfer signed locally. Events go to your webhookUrl (HMAC-signed) if set, and always to a server-side mailbox drained with drain_events; every event carries a signed Ed25519 observation receipt you can replay to third parties. Failed calls are never billed. The watch id + secret are remembered locally so later calls need only the id.
  • watch_statusState, heartbeat lastCheckedAt, triggersUsed/cap, expiry, delivery stats, and for dead-man switches: up/down, lastPingAt, nextDeadline, pingUrl. Secret is looked up from local state if omitted.
  • drain_eventsCollect everything the watch caught — works with zero infrastructure (the mailbox pattern). Pass `since` = last seen event id for incremental drains.
  • renew_watchExtends the watch one more period (7 days, or 30 on the *30 tiers) at its tier price and resets the trigger budget. Renewing a paused watch also reactivates it.
  • delete_watch
  • pause_watchStop a watch firing (chain, web, heartbeat, schedule) without deleting it. The expiry clock keeps running. Use before a planned agent shutdown so your dead-man switch does not cry wolf.
  • resume_watchBacklog-free resume: heartbeat deadlines restart from now and schedules jump to their next FUTURE slot — nothing that elapsed during the pause replays.
  • cron_nextNext N run times for a cron expression in any IANA timezone, plus seconds-until-next. If the goal is for something to HAPPEN at those times, create_watch with a schedule condition instead — DataSieve fires the cron as signed webhooks for the life of the watch.
  • x402_pingThe cheapest possible real x402 purchase: proves this wallet + client can pay a production seller before you point it at anything expensive. Returns payer + network; failed calls are never billed.
  • verify_receiptEvery DataSieve event carries receipt {alg, keyId, statement, sig} — an Ed25519 attestation that DataSieve observed the event. This checks it against the service key, so an agent can validate evidence handed to it by ANOTHER agent without trusting that agent.
  • ping_heartbeatKeep a dead-man switch alive. Pass the pingUrl from create_watch (or a watchId whose ping URLs are in local state). Call this at least once per intervalSeconds.
  • service_healthScanner cursor lag vs chain head — verify the watcher is alive before you buy.
  • +7 more on the listing page

Homebutler tools 40

  • proxmox_statusGet Proxmox VE version, cluster status, and resources
  • proxmox_guestsList Proxmox QEMU and LXC guests, optionally filtered by node, status, or type
  • proxmox_nodeGet detailed Proxmox node status
  • proxmox_tasksGet the 50 most recent Proxmox tasks for a node
  • system_statusGet system status including CPU, memory, disk usage, and uptime
  • proxmox_guest_startStart one explicitly targeted Proxmox guest after confirmation and return the accepted task UPID
  • proxmox_guest_rebootReboot one explicitly targeted Proxmox guest after confirmation and return the accepted task UPID
  • proxmox_guest_shutdownGracefully shut down one explicitly targeted Proxmox guest after confirmation and return the accepted task UPID
  • proxmox_task_statusInspect one asynchronous Proxmox task by node and opaque UPID
  • proxmox_script_listList the curated Proxmox VE Community Scripts catalog (community-scripts/ProxmoxVE)
  • proxmox_script_commandRender the pinned install command for one Proxmox VE Community Script. Never fetches or runs it; the caller reviews and runs it themselves on the Proxmox host
  • docker_listList Docker containers with their status, image, and ports
  • +28 more on the listing page

Ready-to-paste client configs

Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.

Datasieve

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "datasieve": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "datasieve-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Homebutler

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "higangssh-homebutler": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "homebutler@latest"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Frequently asked questions

Datasieve is categorized under Monitoring and uses a local stdio subprocess. Homebutler belongs to Monitoring and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Datasieve for monitoring work and Homebutler for monitoring.

Copy the mcpServers block from the config section on this page into your client's config (for example claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json), then fully restart the client.

Datasieve has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Homebutler is listed as free. Auth: no auth required. If a server needs environment variables such as API keys, define them under the env key in your client's MCP config.

Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add datasieve and higangssh-homebutler as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.

On AllMCPs, Datasieve has a quality signal of 57/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars. Homebutler has 71/100 (Great) with 5 views, 0 installs and 305 GitHub stars.