What is the key difference between OPNSenseMCP and Shellward?

OPNSenseMCP belongs to the Security category with local stdio execution, while Shellward belongs to the Security category with local stdio execution.

How do I install OPNSenseMCP or Shellward in Claude Desktop or Cursor?

Copy the mcpServers JSON configuration snippet provided on this page into your claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json file and restart your AI client.

Are OPNSenseMCP and Shellward free or paid?

OPNSenseMCP operates under a Free / Open Source model (API Key required). Shellward operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required).

Which MCP server has more tools and community activity?

OPNSenseMCP lists 18 tools with 4 views and 83 GitHub stars. Shellward lists 6 tools with 3 views and 136 GitHub stars.

Can I use both OPNSenseMCP and Shellward together in the same MCP host?

Yes! MCP hosts like Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, and VS Code support configuring multiple servers under the mcpServers object simultaneously.

Side-by-Side Model Context Protocol Comparison

OPNSenseMCP vs Shellward

In-depth architectural comparison of the OPNSenseMCP and Shellward MCP servers. Compare execution transports, security boundaries, tool capabilities, quality scores, and ready-to-paste client installation snippets for Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, and VS Code.

At a Glance & Executive Verdict

OPNSenseMCP

Security · Local stdio

Quality: 61/100 (Good) | Auth: API Key required

Shellward

Security · Local stdio

Quality: 56/100 (Good) | Auth: No auth required

Verdict Summary: Choose OPNSenseMCP if you need specialized Security tools running via a local process. Choose Shellward if your workspace requires Security integration with local subprocess execution. Both servers can be configured concurrently in your client's mcpServers manifest.

Which MCP Server Should You Choose?

Choose OPNSenseMCP when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Security domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: API Key required (Free / Open Source).
You have access to required keys: OPNSENSE_HOST, OPNSENSE_API_KEY, OPNSENSE_API_SECRET, OPNSENSE_VERIFY_SSL.
Primary tools included: firewall_list_rules, firewall_create_rule, firewall_update_rule.

Explore OPNSenseMCP Details

Choose Shellward when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Security domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).
You have access to required keys: SHELLWARD_MODE, SHELLWARD_LOCALE, SHELLWARD_THRESHOLD, SHELLWARD_BASELINE_PATH.

Feature & Specification Comparison

Specification	OPNSenseMCP vespo92 Security	Shellward jnMetaCode Security
Summary	MCP Server for managing & interacting with Open Source NGFW OPNSense via Natural Language	AI Agent Security Middleware & MCP Server with 8-layer defense including prompt injection detection, DLP data flow tracking, command blocking, and PII detection. 7 MCP tools, zero dependencies.
Category & Scope	Security

Tools & Capabilities Breakdown

OPNSenseMCP Tools (18)

firewall_list_rules

List all firewall rules

firewall_create_rule

Create a new rule

firewall_update_rule

Update existing rule

firewall_delete_rule

Delete a rule

firewall_apply_changes

Apply pending changes

nat_list_outbound

List outbound NAT rules

nat_set_mode

Ready-to-Paste Client Configurations

Paste either (or both) of these JSON server blocks into your client config file (e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json).

OPNSenseMCP Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "vespo92-opnsensemcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "opnsense-mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "OPNSENSE_HOST": "YOUR_OPNSENSE_HOST_HERE",
        "OPNSENSE_API_KEY": "YOUR_OPNSENSE_API_KEY_HERE",
        "OPNSENSE_API_SECRET": "YOUR_OPNSENSE_API_SECRET_HERE",
        "OPNSENSE_VERIFY_SSL": "YOUR_OPNSENSE_VERIFY_SSL_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}

Shellward Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "jnmetacode-shellward": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "shellward"
      ],
      "env": {
        "SHELLWARD_MODE": "YOUR_SHELLWARD_MODE_HERE",
        "SHELLWARD_LOCALE": "YOUR_SHELLWARD_LOCALE_HERE",
        "SHELLWARD_THRESHOLD": "YOUR_SHELLWARD_THRESHOLD_HERE",
        "SHELLWARD_BASELINE_PATH": "YOUR_SHELLWARD_BASELINE_PATH_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}

Frequently Asked Questions

OPNSenseMCP is categorized under Security and uses a local stdio subprocess. In contrast, Shellward belongs to Security using local stdio subprocess. Select OPNSenseMCP when you need capabilities focused on security and Shellward when you require tools for security.

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