EKS MCP Server Setup

This skill helps you configure the EKS MCP Server to enable live EKS cluster operations through your AI assistant.

When to Use This Skill

Don't use this skill for:

Operational cluster work (listing resources, troubleshooting pods, reading K8s state) — use the EKS MCP tools directly once configured
EKS concept questions — use the other EKS skills

Before proceeding with setup, check if EKS MCP tools are already available:

Look for MCP tools in your current environment starting with eks or mcp__eks
Try a simple command: Ask to list EKS clusters — if it works, you're already set up

If MCP tools are available and working, skip this skill and proceed with your EKS task directly.

Option	Best For	Maintenance	AWS Account Required
AWS-Hosted (Managed)	Production, teams, minimal ops	AWS manages everything	Yes
Self-Hosted (Open Source)	Air-gapped, custom auth, OIDC	You manage updates	Optional (kubeconfig mode)

Choose AWS-Hosted if: You have AWS credentials, want zero maintenance, need CloudTrail audit logging
Choose Self-Hosted if: You need OIDC/kubeconfig auth, air-gapped environment, or want to run locally without AWS IAM

Setup instructions are in separate reference files to avoid loading unnecessary content:

Read the appropriate reference file based on the user's chosen option, then guide them through configuration.

Once the MCP server is configured:

Restart your AI assistant (IDE, CLI, or extension) to load the new MCP tools
Verify connection: Ask to list EKS clusters or available MCP tools
Start using EKS tools: The MCP server provides tools for cluster management, K8s resources, troubleshooting, and observability

This skill's job is done once setup is complete. Hand off to the EKS MCP tools for actual cluster operations.