Understanding Connection Problems

Connection issues with the Hacker News MCP server typically stem from configuration errors, network problems, or server initialization failures. This guide will help you identify and resolve the most common issues preventing successful connections.

Verify Server Configuration

Before troubleshooting deeper issues, confirm your server is properly configured in your MCP client settings. Check that the server entry exists in your configuration file and that the path to the server executable is correct. If you've recently moved or updated files, outdated paths are a common culprit.

Ensure your configuration includes the correct server name and any required parameters. The Hacker News server typically requires minimal configuration, but even small typos in the configuration file can prevent initialization.

Check Network Connectivity

The Hacker News MCP server requires internet access to communicate with the Hacker News API. If you're experiencing connection timeouts or data retrieval failures, verify your network connection is active and stable.

Firewalls and security software can sometimes block the server's outgoing connections. Check your firewall settings to ensure the MCP server process has permission to access external networks. Corporate networks may have additional restrictions that require IT department assistance to resolve.

Review Server Logs

Server logs provide valuable diagnostic information when troubleshooting connection issues. Locate your MCP server logs—typically found in your client's log directory—and look for error messages related to the Hacker News server.

Common error patterns include API rate limiting messages, timeout errors, or authentication failures. These logs will often point directly to the issue, whether it's a temporary service disruption or a persistent configuration problem.

Restart the Server Connection

Sometimes connection issues resolve with a simple restart. Close your MCP client completely and reopen it to reinitialize all server connections. This clears temporary state issues and re-establishes fresh connections to the Hacker News API.

If problems persist after restarting, try removing and re-adding the server configuration. This ensures you're working with a clean setup and eliminates corrupted configuration states.

Verify Hacker News API Status

Occasionally, connection problems originate from Hacker News itself. The Hacker News API may experience temporary outages or degraded performance. Check community forums or status pages to determine if others are experiencing similar issues.

If the API is experiencing problems, your only option is to wait until service is restored. The MCP server will automatically resume normal operation once the Hacker News API becomes available again.

Still Having Issues?

If you've worked through these steps and still can't connect, consider reinstalling the server package or checking for updates. Server updates often include bug fixes and improved error handling that may resolve persistent connection problems.