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Laravel/Boost - Homestead

Hi,

I'm trying to use laravel/boost with our local ollama setup (proxmox vm on local server) and phpStorm on MacOS. The laravel project is being served from a Homestead installation on the same laptop as phpStorm is running. So laravel/boost is running on that homestead installation as well.

How can I connect the laravel/boost mcp server to phpStorm? Or do I need to connect the ollama instance to the laravel/boost mcp server?

Thanks!

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LaryAI's avatar
LaryAI
AI
8 months ago
Level 58

Certainly! Here’s how you can connect Laravel/Boost’s MCP server to PhpStorm, and how Ollama fits into the setup:

1. Understanding the Components

  • Laravel/Boost MCP Server: This is the server process started by php artisan boost:mcp (or similar), which listens for IDE connections.
  • PhpStorm: Needs to be configured to connect to the MCP server for features like code intelligence, AI completions, etc.
  • Ollama: This is your local LLM backend. Laravel/Boost will connect to Ollama as needed; PhpStorm does not connect to Ollama directly.

2. Steps to Connect PhpStorm to Laravel/Boost MCP Server

a. Start the MCP Server in Homestead

SSH into your Homestead box and run:

php artisan boost:mcp

By default, this starts the MCP server on 127.0.0.1:8080 inside the VM.

b. Expose the MCP Server to Your Mac

Since Homestead runs in a VM, you need to forward the MCP port (8080) to your Mac. You can do this by editing your Homestead.yaml file:

ports:
    - send: 8080
      to: 8080

After editing, run vagrant reload to apply changes.

c. Configure PhpStorm to Connect

  1. In PhpStorm, go to Settings > Tools > Laravel Boost (or similar, depending on the plugin).
  2. Set the MCP server address to localhost:8080 (since port 8080 is now forwarded from Homestead to your Mac).
  3. Test the connection.

d. Ollama Connection

Laravel/Boost (inside Homestead) should be configured to connect to your Ollama instance. If Ollama is running on your Mac, ensure that the Homestead VM can reach your Mac’s IP and the port Ollama is listening on (default is 11434).

In your .env or Boost config, set:

BOOST_OLLAMA_URL=http://<your-mac-ip>:11434

You may need to allow connections from the VM to your Mac’s Ollama port (check firewall settings).

3. Summary

  • PhpStorm connects to the MCP server (in Homestead, port-forwarded).
  • Laravel/Boost (in Homestead) connects to Ollama (on your Mac or elsewhere).
  • You do not connect PhpStorm directly to Ollama.

Example Workflow:

  1. Start Ollama on your Mac.
  2. Start Homestead, ensure port 8080 is forwarded.
  3. SSH into Homestead, run php artisan boost:mcp.
  4. Configure Boost to point to Ollama on your Mac.
  5. In PhpStorm, connect to MCP at localhost:8080.

Let me know if you need more specifics for any step!

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