Homebutler vs MCP Server
A side-by-side look at the Homebutler and MCP Server MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Homebutler for monitoring work as a local process; choose MCP Server for monitoring as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose 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.
Choose MCP Server when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Monitoring domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
DEVHELM_API_TOKEN. - You want tools like
list_monitors, get_monitor, create_monitor.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Monitoring | Monitoring |
| Quality signal | 71/100 · Great | 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 | DEVHELM_API_TOKEN |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 304 | 1 |
| Directory activity | 4 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 40 | 129 |
| Full listing | View Homebutler | View MCP Server |
Tools & capabilities
Homebutler tools 40
proxmox_statusGet Proxmox VE version, cluster status, and resourcesproxmox_guestsList Proxmox QEMU and LXC guests, optionally filtered by node, status, or typeproxmox_nodeGet detailed Proxmox node statusproxmox_tasksGet the 50 most recent Proxmox tasks for a nodesystem_statusGet system status including CPU, memory, disk usage, and uptimeproxmox_guest_startStart one explicitly targeted Proxmox guest after confirmation and return the accepted task UPIDproxmox_guest_rebootReboot one explicitly targeted Proxmox guest after confirmation and return the accepted task UPIDproxmox_guest_shutdownGracefully shut down one explicitly targeted Proxmox guest after confirmation and return the accepted task UPIDproxmox_task_statusInspect one asynchronous Proxmox task by node and opaque UPIDproxmox_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 hostdocker_listList Docker containers with their status, image, and ports- +28 more on the listing page
MCP Server tools 129
list_monitorsList all uptime monitors in the workspace.get_monitorGet a single monitor by ID, including its full configuration.create_monitorCreate a new uptime monitor. Required: name and type (HTTP, DNS, TCP, ICMP, HEARTBEAT, MCP_SERVER, BROWSER, MULTI_STEP_API). ``config`` is required for probe types (HTTP, DNS, TCP, ICMP, HEARTBEAT, MCP_SERVER). Browser and multi-step monitors use a type default when ``config`` is omitted. ``frequencySeconds`` is optional (10–86400). Omit it to use the plan minimum. ``managedBy`` is set automatically to ``MCP`` server-side; callers cannot override it. Use the SDK or CLI directly if you need a different attribution.update_monitorUpdate an existing monitor's configuration.delete_monitorDelete a monitor permanently.pause_monitorPause a monitor (stops checking until resumed).resume_monitorResume a paused monitor.test_monitorTrigger an ad-hoc test run for a monitor and return the result.list_monitor_resultsList recent check results for a monitor (cursor-paginated).list_monitor_versionsList version history for a monitor.list_incidentsList all incidents in the workspace.get_incidentGet a single incident by ID with full details.- +117 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.
Homebutler
{
"mcpServers": {
"higangssh-homebutler": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"homebutler@latest"
]
}
}
}
MCP Server
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-server-113": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"devhelm-mcp-server"
],
"env": {
"DEVHELM_API_TOKEN": "YOUR_DEVHELM_API_TOKEN_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Homebutler is categorized under Monitoring and uses a local stdio subprocess. MCP Server belongs to Monitoring and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Homebutler for monitoring work and MCP Server 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.
Homebutler is listed as free. Auth: no auth required. MCP Server 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 higangssh-homebutler and mcp-server-113 as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Homebutler has a quality signal of 71/100 (Great) with 4 views, 0 installs and 304 GitHub stars. MCP Server has 57/100 (Good) with 2 views, 0 installs and 1 GitHub stars.