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Nexar MCP Server

Provides a Nexar/Octopart component search, pricing, stock, and datasheet lookups via MCP tools.

Installation

Add the following to your MCP client configuration file.

Configuration

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "farad-labs-nexar-mcp": {
      "command": "docker",
      "args": [
        "run",
        "-i",
        "--rm",
        "-v",
        "/var/run/docker.sock:/var/run/docker.sock",
        "-v",
        "/Users/YOUR_USERNAME/.docker/mcp:/mcp",
        "docker/mcp-gateway",
        "--catalog=/mcp/catalogs/docker-mcp.yaml",
        "--catalog=/mcp/catalogs/custom.yaml",
        "--config=/mcp/config.yaml",
        "--registry=/mcp/registry.yaml",
        "--tools-config=/mcp/tools.yaml",
        "--transport=stdio"
      ],
      "env": {
        "NEXAR_CLIENT_ID": "YOUR_CLIENT_ID",
        "NEXAR_CLIENT_SECRET": "YOUR_CLIENT_SECRET"
      }
    }
  }
}

You can search electronic components, compare pricing, check stock, and retrieve datasheets by querying a Nexar MCP Server through an MCP client. This server securely connects to Nexar’s component database and exposes specialized tools so your AI assistant can find resistors, capacitors, transistors, crystals, connectors, and more, or perform bulk and part-detail lookups.

How to use

Use your MCP client to call any of the exposed tools. You can search for specific parts, filter by distributor or stock status, and constrain results by price or quantity. The server is designed to return concise results that help you pick parts quickly for design reviews, BOM creation, or datasheet retrieval. When you need full part details or the datasheet URL, you can request those specific endpoints to obtain complete specs and official datasheet links.

How to install

Prerequisites: you need Docker Desktop with MCP Toolkit enabled and the MCP CLI plugin available on your system. You must also have Nexar API credentials (Client ID and Client Secret) to access the Nexar/Nexar-Octopart data.

Step-by-step commands to set up and run the Nexar MCP Gateway locally:

docker build -t nexar-mcp-server .
docker mcp secret set NEXAR_CLIENT_ID="your-client-id"
docker mcp secret set NEXAR_CLIENT_SECRET="your-client-secret"
docker mcp secret ls
```

To run the MCP gateway that connects your Claude Desktop or other MCP clients to the Nexar server, use the gateway command shown in the configuration details. This runs the gateway in a way that your MCP client can reach the Nexar MCP server through the standard MCP transport.

Additional content

Configuration of the server is handled through environment variables and catalog files. You can set default filters, such as a specific distributor, whether results should be in stock only, and the quantity break used for price sorting. These settings influence how results are returned by default, but you can override them per query with explicit parameters.

Troubleshooting tips cover common issues like tools not appearing, authentication errors, and 0 results. Ensure the Docker image is built correctly, verify catalog and registry files, restart your MCP client setup, and confirm that Nexar API credentials have the required access scopes.

Security and maintenance notes

All credentials and secrets are stored in Docker Desktop secrets. Do not hardcode credentials in any files. Run services with appropriate non-root permissions and avoid logging sensitive data.

Notes on rate limits

The Nexar API usage is subject to plan-based limits. Each search query counts toward your monthly quota based on the number of matched parts returned.

Available tools

find_resistors

Search resistors by resistance, tolerance, power rating, and mounting (SMD/through-hole) with optional distributor and stock filters.

find_capacitors

Search capacitors by capacitance, voltage, dielectric, mounting (SMD/through-hole) with optional distributor and stock filters.

find_inductors

Search inductors by inductance, current rating, DCR, mounting, and shielded option with optional distributor and stock filters.

find_semiconductors

Search MCUs, transistors, ICs, diodes by part number, mounting, and related specs.

find_crystals

Search crystals/oscillators by frequency, tolerance, mounting, and related specs.

find_connectors

Search connectors by type, pin count, pitch, and mounting.

search_components

Generic lookup for part numbers or unknown component types.

search_bom

Bulk search multiple components in one call for BOMs, with per-component limits.

get_part_details

Get full specs, pricing, and availability for a specific MPN.

get_datasheet

Get a datasheet URL for a specific MPN.