Import & Export

Commands for migrating server configurations.

import

Import servers from a file or existing client.

mcpsm import <source> [options]

Import from File

mcpsm import ./backup.json

Import from Client

mcpsm import --from <client>

Supported clients: claude, cursor, windsurf, kiro, zed, antigravity

Conflict Handling

If incoming servers conflict with existing ones, you can:

• Provide a global strategy flag: --overwrite, --skip, or --merge
• Or choose per-server interactively (default). You will be prompted to [s] skip, [o] overwrite, or [m] merge each conflict.

Examples:

# Interactive per-conflict prompts
mcpsm import servers.json

# Overwrite all conflicts automatically
mcpsm import servers.json --overwrite

# Merge incoming fields with existing
mcpsm import servers.json --merge

Examples

# Import from Claude Desktop
mcpsm import --from claude

# Import from Cursor
mcpsm import --from cursor

# Import from Kiro
mcpsm import --from kiro

# Import from Zed
mcpsm import --from zed

# Import from Google Antigravity
mcpsm import --from antigravity

# Import from JSON file
mcpsm import ./my-servers.json

Import Behavior

• When no strategy is provided, you are prompted per conflict
• Server IDs are regenerated on import
• Tool filters are reset (run mcpsm test to re-discover tools)

---

export

Export servers to stdout or file.

mcpsm export [options]

Options

Option	Description
-o, --output <file>	Write to file instead of stdout
--format <format>	Export format: mcpsm or json

Formats

Format	Description
mcpsm	Native format, includes tool filters and metadata
json	MCP standard JSON (servers + remoteServers arrays)

Examples

# Export to stdout (MCPSM format)
mcpsm export

# Export to file
mcpsm export -o backup.json

# Pipe to clipboard (macOS)
mcpsm export | pbcopy

MCPSM Format

{
  "version": "2.2.2",
  "exported": "2024-01-15T10:30:00Z",
  "servers": [
    {
      "name": "filesystem",
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": "-y @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem /home/user"
    }
  ],
  "remoteServers": [
    {
      "name": "my-api",
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://api.example.com/mcp"
    }
  ]
}

Backup & Restore

Create Backup

mcpsm export -o ~/mcp-backup-$(date +%Y%m%d).json

Restore from Backup

mcpsm import ~/mcp-backup-20240115.json

Migrate Between Machines

1. On the source machine:

   mcpsm export -o servers.json

2. Transfer servers.json to the new machine

3. On the target machine:

   mcpsm import servers.json
   mcpsm test
   mcpsm clients sync