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uml-diagram

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UML and diagram generation via Kroki — class, sequence, activity, state, component, deployment, network, ER, C4, Mermaid, D2, Graphviz, BPMN, 27+ types. Use when generating a network diagram, creating a sequence diagram, drawing a rack layout, visualizing a protocol state machine, or producing architecture documentation.

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UML & Diagram Generation via Kroki

MCP Server

PropertyValue
Sourceantoinebou12/uml-mcp
Transportstdio (default) or HTTP
Tools2 (generate_uml, generate_diagram_url)
Resources8 (diagram types, templates, examples, formats, server info)
Prompts11 (class, sequence, activity, usecase, Mermaid, BPMN, etc.)
RenderingKroki (primary) with PlantUML and Mermaid.ink fallback

Tools

generate_uml

Generate a diagram and optionally save to disk.

ParameterTypeDefaultDescription
diagram_typestringrequiredDiagram type (class, sequence, mermaid, d2, graphviz, etc.)
codestringrequiredDiagram source code
output_dirstringnullDirectory to save file (null = no file write)
output_formatstring"svg"Output format: svg, png, pdf, jpeg, txt, base64
themestringnullPlantUML theme directive
scalefloat1.0SVG scaling factor (min 0.1)

Returns: { code, url, playground, local_path, content_base64, error }

generate_diagram_url

Get the Kroki rendering URL and optional base64 content without saving to disk.

ParameterTypeDefaultDescription
diagram_typestringrequiredDiagram type
codestringrequiredDiagram source code
output_formatstring"svg"Output format
themestringnullPlantUML theme
scalefloat1.0SVG scaling factor

Returns: { code, url, playground, content_base64, error }


Supported Diagram Types (27+)

PlantUML-based

TypeDescriptionUse Case
classClass diagramsObject relationships, inheritance, interfaces
sequenceSequence diagramsMessage flows between components
activityActivity diagramsWorkflow and process flows
usecaseUse case diagramsActor-system interactions
stateState machine diagramsFSM, protocol states
componentComponent diagramsSystem architecture
deploymentDeployment diagramsInfrastructure layout
objectObject diagramsInstance-level relationships
c4plantumlC4 architectureSystem context, container, component views
plantumlGeneric PlantUMLAny PlantUML syntax

Network & Infrastructure

TypeDescriptionUse Case
nwdiagNetwork diagramsNetwork topology, IP addressing, VLANs
rackdiagRack diagramsData center rack layouts
packetdiagPacket diagramsProtocol header formats (Ethernet, IP, TCP)
blockdiagBlock diagramsSystem block diagrams
actdiagActivity diagramsActivity flow (blockdiag family)
seqdiagSequence diagramsSequence flow (blockdiag family)

Other Backends

TypeDescriptionUse Case
mermaidMermaid diagramsFlowcharts, Gantt, sequence, pie, journey
d2D2 declarativeModern declarative diagrams
graphvizGraphviz DOTGraph layouts, dependency trees
erdEntity-RelationshipDatabase schema diagrams
dbmlDatabase MarkupDatabase schema (DBML syntax)
bpmnBPMN 2.0Business process modeling
structurizrStructurizr DSLC4 model architecture
ditaaASCII art to diagramConvert ASCII art to polished diagrams
wavedromDigital timingProtocol timing diagrams, signal waveforms
wirevizWire/cable harnessCable and connector documentation
bytefieldByte fieldBinary format documentation

Network Engineering Examples

Network Topology (nwdiag)

generate_uml(
  diagram_type="nwdiag",
  code="""
nwdiag {
  network dmz {
    address = "210.x.x.x/24"
    web01 [address = "210.x.x.1"];
    web02 [address = "210.x.x.2"];
  }
  network internal {
    address = "172.x.x.x/24"
    web01 [address = "172.x.x.1"];
    web02 [address = "172.x.x.2"];
    db01;
  }
}
""",
  output_format="svg"
)

Rack Diagram (rackdiag)

generate_uml(
  diagram_type="rackdiag",
  code="""
rackdiag {
  16U;
  1: UPS;
  2: UPS;
  3: Patch Panel;
  4: Catalyst 9300;
  5: Catalyst 9300;
  6: Nexus 9000;
  7: Nexus 9000;
  8: ASR 1001-X;
  9: ASR 1001-X;
  10: BIG-IP i5800;
  11: BIG-IP i5800;
  12: UCS C220;
  13: UCS C220;
  14: UCS C220;
  15: UCS C220;
  16: Cable Management;
}
""",
  output_format="png"
)

Packet Header (packetdiag)

generate_uml(
  diagram_type="packetdiag",
  code="""
packetdiag {
  colwidth = 32
  node_height = 72
  0-3: Version
  4-7: IHL
  8-15: DSCP / ECN
  16-31: Total Length
  32-47: Identification
  48-50: Flags
  51-63: Fragment Offset
  64-71: TTL
  72-79: Protocol
  80-95: Header Checksum
  96-127: Source Address
  128-159: Destination Address
}
""",
  output_format="svg"
)

BGP State Machine (state)

generate_uml(
  diagram_type="state",
  code="""
@startuml
[*] --> Idle
Idle --> Connect : Start
Connect --> OpenSent : TCP established
Connect --> Active : TCP failed
Active --> OpenSent : TCP established
Active --> Connect : ConnectRetry timer
OpenSent --> OpenConfirm : OPEN received (valid)
OpenSent --> Idle : OPEN received (error)
OpenConfirm --> Established : KEEPALIVE received
OpenConfirm --> Idle : Hold timer expired
Established --> Idle : NOTIFICATION / Hold expired
Established : Process UPDATE messages
@enduml
""",
  output_format="svg"
)

OSPF Area Design (class)

generate_uml(
  diagram_type="class",
  code="""
@startuml
package "Area 0 - Backbone" {
  class "Core-1" as C1 { router-id: 1.1.1.1 }
  class "Core-2" as C2 { router-id: 2.2.2.2 }
  C1 -- C2 : 10G P2P
}
package "Area 1 - Campus" {
  class "Dist-1" as D1 { router-id: 3.3.3.3 }
  class "Dist-2" as D2 { router-id: 4.4.4.4 }
}
package "Area 2 - DC" {
  class "Spine-1" as S1 { router-id: 5.5.5.5 }
  class "Spine-2" as S2 { router-id: 6.6.6.6 }
}
C1 -- D1 : ABR
C2 -- D2 : ABR
C1 -- S1 : ABR
C2 -- S2 : ABR
@enduml
""",
  output_format="svg"
)

Sequence: Change Request Flow

generate_uml(
  diagram_type="sequence",
  code="""
@startuml
actor Engineer
participant NetClaw
participant ServiceNow
participant Device
participant GAIT

Engineer -> NetClaw : "Add Loopback99"
NetClaw -> ServiceNow : Create Change Request
ServiceNow --> NetClaw : CR-12345 (New)
NetClaw -> ServiceNow : Wait for approval
ServiceNow --> NetClaw : CR-12345 (Implement)
NetClaw -> Device : Capture baseline
Device --> NetClaw : Running config
NetClaw -> Device : Apply config
Device --> NetClaw : Config applied
NetClaw -> Device : Verify change
Device --> NetClaw : Loopback99 up/up
NetClaw -> ServiceNow : Close CR-12345
NetClaw -> GAIT : Record full audit trail
NetClaw --> Engineer : Done. Verified.
@enduml
""",
  output_format="svg"
)

C4 Architecture (structurizr)

generate_uml(
  diagram_type="structurizr",
  code="""
workspace {
  model {
    engineer = person "Network Engineer"
    netclaw = softwareSystem "NetClaw" {
      openclaw = container "OpenClaw Agent"
      pyats = container "pyATS MCP"
      gait = container "GAIT MCP"
    }
    network = softwareSystem "Network Devices"
    servicenow = softwareSystem "ServiceNow"

    engineer -> openclaw "Chat"
    openclaw -> pyats "MCP (stdio)"
    openclaw -> gait "MCP (stdio)"
    pyats -> network "SSH/NETCONF"
    openclaw -> servicenow "REST API"
  }
  views {
    container netclaw {
      include *
      autoLayout
    }
  }
}
""",
  output_format="svg"
)

Workflows

1. Network Topology Documentation

pyats-topology → CDP/LLDP discovery data
→ generate_uml(type="nwdiag") → network topology diagram
→ msgraph-files → upload to SharePoint
→ GAIT

2. Protocol State Machine Reference

generate_uml(type="state") → BGP/OSPF/STP state machine
→ Share in Slack/Teams for team reference
→ GAIT

3. Change Request Visualization

servicenow-change-workflow → CR details
→ generate_uml(type="sequence") → change flow diagram
→ Attach to ServiceNow CR or GAIT log
→ GAIT

4. Data Center Rack Documentation

generate_uml(type="rackdiag") → rack layout
→ generate_uml(type="nwdiag") → network connections
→ Cross-reference with NetBox rack/device data
→ msgraph-files → upload to SharePoint
→ GAIT

5. Packet Format Reference

generate_uml(type="packetdiag") → protocol header diagram
→ rfc-lookup → verify against RFC
→ Share as reference material
→ GAIT

6. Architecture Documentation

generate_uml(type="structurizr" or "c4plantuml") → C4 architecture views
→ generate_uml(type="deployment") → deployment diagram
→ generate_uml(type="component") → component breakdown
→ msgraph-files → upload to SharePoint
→ GAIT

Integration with Other Skills

SkillIntegration
pyats-topologyFeed CDP/LLDP discovery data into nwdiag for topology diagrams
drawio-diagramUML MCP for standards-based UML; Draw.io for freeform network diagrams
markmap-vizMarkmap for hierarchical mind maps; UML for structured diagrams
netbox-reconcileGenerate nwdiag diagrams color-coded by reconciliation status
rfc-lookupPair packetdiag with RFC references for protocol documentation
servicenow-change-workflowSequence diagrams documenting change request flows
msgraph-filesUpload generated diagrams to SharePoint
msgraph-teamsShare diagram URLs in Teams channels
gait-session-trackingRecord all diagram generation in GAIT

Comparison: UML MCP vs Draw.io vs Markmap

FeatureUML MCPDraw.ioMarkmap
Best forStructured UML, protocol diagrams, architectureFreeform network topologyHierarchical mind maps
Diagram types27+ (class, sequence, nwdiag, rack, packet, etc.)Network topology, flowchartsMind maps from markdown
RenderingKroki (server-side)Browser or CLIBrowser
OutputSVG, PNG, PDF, JPEG.drawio, PNG, SVG, PDFHTML
Code-basedYes (PlantUML, Mermaid, D2, DOT, etc.)XML/Mermaid/CSVMarkdown
Network-specificnwdiag, rackdiag, packetdiagFull topology editorOSPF/BGP hierarchies

When to use UML MCP:

  • Protocol state machines (BGP FSM, OSPF states, STP states)
  • Network topology diagrams from code (nwdiag)
  • Rack layouts (rackdiag)
  • Packet header documentation (packetdiag)
  • Sequence diagrams (change workflows, protocol exchanges)
  • Architecture documentation (C4, component, deployment)
  • Database schema diagrams (ERD, DBML)
  • Any diagram type supported by Kroki

When to use Draw.io:

  • Interactive topology editing
  • Native .drawio files for team collaboration
  • Color-coded reconciliation status overlays

When to use Markmap:

  • Hierarchical data (OSPF areas, BGP peers, config structure)
  • Quick visual summaries from markdown

Guardrails

  • All operations are read-only — generates diagrams, never modifies network state
  • Public Kroki by default — diagram source code is sent to kroki.io for rendering; use a local Kroki instance (KROKI_SERVER) for sensitive topology data
  • No secrets in diagrams — never include IP credentials, passwords, or SNMP communities in diagram source code
  • Record in GAIT — every diagram generation must be logged