Filesystem vs N2yo
A side-by-side look at the Filesystem and N2yo MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Filesystem for file systems work as a local process; choose N2yo for aerospace & astrodynamics as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Filesystem when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the File Systems domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
- You want tools like
path, head, tail.
Choose N2yo when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Aerospace & Astrodynamics domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You want tools like
get_positions, get_visual_passes, whats_above.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | File Systems | Aerospace & Astrodynamics |
| Quality signal | 85/100 · Excellent | 57/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | No auth required | Not declared |
| Pricing | Free | Not declared |
| Required env vars | None listed | None listed |
| Verified owner | Verified | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 91,512 | 0 |
| Directory activity | 9 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 17 | 3 |
| Full listing | View Filesystem | View N2yo |
Tools & capabilities
Filesystem tools 17
pathheadtailpathscontenteditsoldTextnewTextdryRunsortBysourcedestination- +5 more on the listing page
N2yo tools 3
get_positionsTrack where a satellite is right now (or in the next few seconds): get its live latitude, longitude, altitude, and look-angles (azimuth/elevation) from an observer on Earth. Use this to answer "where is the ISS right now?" (NORAD id 25544) or to locate any satellite by NORAD id. Example: get_positions({ norad_id: 25544, lat: 40.71, lon: -74.0 }).get_visual_passesFind when a satellite will be visible to the naked eye overhead from an observer location (visual passes = bright, sunlit passes against a dark sky). Returns start/max/end times, elevation, azimuths, brightness magnitude, and duration. Use this for "when can I see the ISS pass over?" Example: get_visual_passes({ norad_id: 25544, lat: 40.71, lon: -74.0 }).whats_aboveList what satellites are currently above a location on Earth, within a given radius of the observer's zenith. Use this to answer "what satellites are overhead right now?" Optionally filter by category (e.g. 52 = Starlink, 18 = amateur radio, 1 = brightest). Example: whats_above({ lat: 40.71, lon: -74.0 }).
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.
Filesystem
{
"mcpServers": {
"filesystem": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem"
]
}
}
}
N2yo
{
"mcpServers": {
"n2yo": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@pipeworx/mcp-n2yo"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Filesystem is categorized under File Systems and uses a local stdio subprocess. N2yo belongs to Aerospace & Astrodynamics and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Filesystem for file systems work and N2yo for aerospace & astrodynamics.
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.
Filesystem is listed as free. Auth: no auth required. N2yo has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. 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 filesystem and n2yo as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Filesystem has a quality signal of 85/100 (Excellent) with 9 views, 0 installs and 91,512 GitHub stars. N2yo has 57/100 (Good) with 2 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars.