RDL MCP Server vs Kibana
A side-by-side look at the RDL MCP Server and Kibana MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose RDL MCP Server for data visualization work as a local process; choose Kibana for data visualization as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose RDL MCP Server when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Data Visualization domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
Choose Kibana when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Data Visualization domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: API key required.
- You have the keys it needs:
KIBANA_URL, KIBANA_API_KEY, KIBANA_USERNAME, KIBANA_PASSWORD, KIBANA_COOKIES. - You want tools like
get_status, execute_kb_api, search_kibana_api_paths.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Data Visualization | Data Visualization |
| Quality signal | 36/100 · Fair | 69/100 · Great |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | API key required |
| Pricing | Not declared | Free |
| Required env vars | None listed | KIBANA_URLKIBANA_API_KEYKIBANA_USERNAMEKIBANA_PASSWORDKIBANA_COOKIES |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 13 | 84 |
| Directory activity | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 4 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | Not listed | 16 |
| Full listing | View RDL MCP Server | View Kibana |
Tools & capabilities
RDL MCP Server tools
No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from the listing page.
Kibana tools 16
get_statusGet Kibana server status with multi-space supportexecute_kb_apiExecute a custom API request for Kibana with multi-space support. RETRY SAFETY: this tool can reach any write endpoint. A POST retried after a timeout or dropped response can create a duplicate — prefer a caller-chosen stable id (or the vl_* tool for that object type, which documents the safe pattern) over letting the server auto-generate one.search_kibana_api_pathsSearch Kibana API endpoints by keywordlist_all_kibana_api_pathsList all Kibana API endpoints as a resource listget_kibana_api_detailGet details for a specific Kibana API endpointget_available_spacesGet all available Kibana spaces with current contextvl_search_saved_objectsSearch for Kibana saved objects using Elasticsearch query syntax. This is a universal tool that can search across all saved object types (dashboard, visualization, index-pattern, search, config, lens, map, tag, canvas-workpad, canvas-element, etc.). IMPORTANT: You must specify the 'types' parameter - it is required by the Kibana API. PERFORMANCE TIPS: Always use 'fields' parameter to specify only needed fields (e.g., ['title', 'description']) for faster responses. Use 'perPage' 5-20 for optimal speed. PAGINATION: To get all results, make multiple requests with incrementing 'page' numbers (page=1, page=2, etc.) until you receive fewer results than 'perPage'. Don't stop at the first page - iterate through all pages for complete data. Returns formatted saved object information including type, title, description, and timestamps.vl_get_saved_objectGet a single Kibana saved object by type and ID. This is a universal tool that can retrieve any type of saved object (dashboard, visualization, index-pattern, search, config, lens, map, tag, canvas-workpad, canvas-element, etc.) by its exact type and ID. Use this when you know the specific object you want to retrieve. PERFORMANCE: This is much faster than searching when you have the exact type and ID.vl_bulk_delete_saved_objectsBulk delete multiple Kibana saved objects by type and ID. This is a destructive operation that permanently removes saved objects (dashboard, visualization, index-pattern, search, config, lens, map, tag, canvas-workpad, canvas-element, etc.). WARNING: Deleted objects cannot be recovered. Use with caution. IMPORTANT: Objects that exist in multiple namespaces require the 'force' parameter to be deleted.vl_create_saved_objectCreate a new Kibana saved object (dashboard, visualization, index-pattern, search, config, lens, map, tag, canvas-workpad, canvas-element, etc.). This is a universal tool that can create any type of saved object by specifying the type and attributes. Each object type has specific attribute requirements. IMPORTANT: The 'title' field is required for most object types. Complex fields like panelsJSON, visState should be JSON strings.vl_update_saved_objectUpdate a single Kibana saved object by type and ID. This performs a partial update - only the specified attributes will be changed, other attributes remain unchanged. Supports all saved object types (dashboard, visualization, index-pattern, search, config, lens, map, tag, canvas-workpad, canvas-element, etc.). IMPORTANT: Use version parameter for optimistic concurrency control to prevent conflicts.vl_bulk_update_saved_objectsUpdate multiple Kibana saved objects in a single operation. Each object can be of different types and will be partially updated (only specified attributes changed). Supports all saved object types (dashboard, visualization, index-pattern, search, config, lens, map, tag, canvas-workpad, canvas-element, etc.). PERFORMANCE: More efficient than multiple single updates. Each object can have individual version control.- +4 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.
RDL MCP Server
{
"mcpServers": {
"rdl-mcp-server": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"rdl-mcp"
]
}
}
}
Kibana
{
"mcpServers": {
"kibana": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@tocharianou/mcp-server-kibana"
],
"env": {
"KIBANA_URL": "YOUR_KIBANA_URL_HERE",
"KIBANA_API_KEY": "YOUR_KIBANA_API_KEY_HERE",
"KIBANA_USERNAME": "YOUR_KIBANA_USERNAME_HERE",
"KIBANA_PASSWORD": "YOUR_KIBANA_PASSWORD_HERE",
"KIBANA_COOKIES": "YOUR_KIBANA_COOKIES_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
RDL MCP Server is categorized under Data Visualization and uses a local stdio subprocess. Kibana belongs to Data Visualization and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick RDL MCP Server for data visualization work and Kibana for data visualization.
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.
RDL MCP Server has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Kibana is listed as free. Auth: api key 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 rdl-mcp-server and kibana as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, RDL MCP Server has a quality signal of 36/100 (Fair) with 1 views, 0 installs and 13 GitHub stars. Kibana has 69/100 (Great) with 4 views, 0 installs and 84 GitHub stars.