NextTrace MCP

Use this skill when the user wants route diagnostics through NextTrace or asks how an Agent should call NextTrace.

Start MCP

NextTrace exposes MCP only as a deploy submode over HTTP. There is no stdio MCP mode.

nexttrace --deploy --mcp
nexttrace --deploy --mcp --listen 0.0.0.0:1080 --deploy-token "$TOKEN"

Endpoint:

http://127.0.0.1:1080/mcp

Auth:

• Loopback listen addresses are tokenless by default unless a token is set.
• External listen addresses require a token. If none is provided, NextTrace prints a generated token to stdout.
• MCP/API clients authenticate with Authorization: Bearer <token> or X-NextTrace-Token: <token>.
• Browser WebUI uses /auth/login and an HttpOnly cookie.
• Do not put tokens in URL query strings.

Workflow

1. Call nexttrace_capabilities first when available.
2. Pick the narrowest common tool for the job:
   • Local route: nexttrace_traceroute
   • Repeated loss/latency stats: nexttrace_mtr_report
   • Probe-level stream records: nexttrace_mtr_raw
   • Path MTU: nexttrace_mtu_trace
   • Global vantage points: nexttrace_globalping_trace
   • Other tools: nexttrace_speed_test, nexttrace_annotate_ips, nexttrace_geo_lookup, nexttrace_globalping_limits, nexttrace_globalping_get_measurement
3. Prefer structuredContent; use text content only as a fallback.
4. Preserve explicit user inputs: target, protocol, port, source_address, source_device, ASN, location, and ip_version. Do not substitute them unless the user asks for a fallback.
5. On errors or missing results, report the exact failure and suggested next step. Do not automatically switch protocol, port, location, ASN, tool, or local/Globalping mode.
6. For full tool schemas and boundaries, read references/mcp-tools.md and references/capability-matrix.md.
7. For Globalping, read references/globalping.md. For local source/device/TOS behavior, read references/platform-notes.md. Use references/cli-fallback.md only when MCP is unavailable, unsupported, or the user asks for CLI output.
8. Before writing the final answer, use references/output-templates.md for a concise Markdown shape.
9. Keep this skill and its references synced with server/mcp.go whenever MCP tools or parameters change.

References

• MCP tools: tool names, inputs, outputs, unsupported parameter families.
• Globalping: worldwide traceroute workflow and comparison guidance.
• Capability matrix: local vs Globalping vs CLI fallback.
• Output templates: bilingual Markdown report shapes for each MCP tool.
• CLI fallback: commands to use when MCP is unavailable.
• Platform notes: OS-specific source, device, TOS, raw-socket details.
• Validation: smoke checks and expected behavior.