Claude Desktop

This guide will walk you through installing Claude Desktop and configuring it to work with the WhoisXML API MCP Server. Claude Desktop is Anthropic's official desktop application that provides a powerful AI assistant with the ability to connect to local MCP servers.

System Requirements

Before installing Claude Desktop, ensure your system meets the following requirements:

• macOS: Version 11 (Big Sur) or higher
• Windows: Version 10 or higher
• Memory: Minimum 4GB RAM (8GB recommended)
• Storage: At least 2GB free disk space
• Internet: Active internet connection required

Installing Claude Desktop

Step 1: Download Claude Desktop

1. Visit the Claude Desktop download page
2. Select the appropriate version for your operating system:
   • macOS Users: Click "Download for macOS" to download the .dmg file
   • Windows Users: Click "Download for Windows" to download the .exe file

Step 2: Install the Application

macOS Installation

1. Open the downloaded .dmg file
2. Drag the Claude application into your Applications folder
3. If prompted about security, go to System Preferences > Security & Privacy and click "Open Anyway"

Windows Installation

1. Run the downloaded .exe file
2. If Windows Defender SmartScreen appears, click "More info" then "Run anyway"
3. Follow the installation wizard prompts
4. Click "Install" to complete the installation

Step 3: Launch and Sign In

1. Open Claude Desktop from:
   • macOS: Applications folder or Launchpad
   • Windows: Start menu or desktop shortcut
2. Sign in with your Anthropic account credentials
3. If you don't have an account, click "Create account" to register

Setting Up WhoisXML API MCP Server

Now that Claude Desktop is installed, let's configure it to work with the WhoisXML API MCP Server.

Prerequisites

Before setting up the MCP server, you'll need:

• A valid WhoisXMLAPI account and API token

Step 1: Configure Claude Desktop

1. Open Claude Desktop Settings:

   • macOS: Click "Claude" in the menu bar → "Settings..."
   • Windows: Click the hamburger menu → "Settings"

2. Access Developer Settings:

   • Navigate to the "Developer" tab in the left sidebar
   • Click the "Edit Config" button

3. Configure the MCP Server:

   This will open the configuration file. Replace or add the following to its contents:

   For Docker (Recommended):

   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "whoisxmlapi": {
         "command": "docker",
         "args": [
           "run", "--rm", "-i",
           "--env", "WHOISXMLAPI_TOKEN",
           "whoisxmlapidotcom/mcp-whoisxmlapi:v1"
         ],
         "env": {
           "WHOISXMLAPI_TOKEN": "your-api-token-here"
         }
       }
     }
   }
   

   For npm (Alternative):

   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "whoisxmlapi": {
         "command": "npx",
         "args": [
           "-y",
           "@whoisxmlapidotcom/mcp-whoisxmlapi"
         ],
         "env": {
           "WHOISXMLAPI_TOKEN": "your-api-token-here"
         }
       }
     }
   }
   

   For Binary:

   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "whoisxmlapi": {
         "command": "/path/to/mcp-whoisxmlapi",
         "args": [],
         "env": {
           "WHOISXMLAPI_TOKEN": "your-api-token-here"
         }
       }
     }
   }
   

4. Important: Replace "your-api-token-here" with your actual WhoisXMLAPI token and /path/to/mcp-whoisxmlapi with the actual path to your downloaded binary

5. Save and restart: Save the configuration file and completely quit and restart Claude Desktop

Step 2: Verify the Setup

1. Check for the MCP indicator: After restarting, you should be able to navigate back to the MCP settings and see the server listed.

2. Test the connection: Try asking Claude:

   Can you look up the WHOIS information for example.com?
   

Configuration File Location

The Claude Desktop configuration file is stored at:

• macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
• Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

Security Considerations

Troubleshooting

MCP Server Not Showing Up

If Claude Desktop doesn't start the MCP server:

1. Check the configuration: Ensure your JSON syntax is valid
2. Verify the Docker image or npm package is installed:
   • For Docker, run docker images on a Terminal and check for the whoisxmlapidotcom/mcp-whoisxmlapi image.
   • For npm, run npm list -g on a Terminal and check for the @whoisxmlapidotcom/mcp-whoisxmlapi package.
   • For binary, check the path specified in the configuration file.

Tool Calls Failing

If Claude can't use the tools:

1. Verify API token: Ensure your WhoisXMLAPI token is valid and has sufficient credits
2. Check network: Ensure you have internet connectivity
3. Restart Claude: Sometimes a restart resolves connection issues
4. Alternatively, increase the MCP Server Timeout, check the configuration reference for more details.

Permission Issues

If you encounter permission errors:

1. macOS: Try running with proper permissions or try running with npx or Docker
2. Windows: Run as administrator if needed

Next Steps

Now that Claude Desktop is set up with WhoisXML API MCP Server:

• Explore the available tools to understand what you can do
• Check the usage guide for example workflows
• Review troubleshooting for common issues

Getting Help

If you need assistance:

• Check our troubleshooting guide
• Visit the MCP documentation
• Contact WhoisXMLAPI support