---
name: wikipedia-research
description: "Research networking protocols, standards history, and technology context via Wikipedia - OSPF, BGP, MPLS, 802.1X, VXLAN, and more. Use when looking up protocol background, researching how a technology works, building reference material for the team, or understanding standards history."
license: Apache-2.0
user-invocable: true
metadata:
  { "openclaw": { "requires": { "bins": ["python3"], "env": ["WIKIPEDIA_MCP_SCRIPT"] } } }
---

# Wikipedia Research

## How to Call the Tools

The Wikipedia MCP server uses FastMCP with typed input objects. All arguments must use the `{"input": {...}}` format. Call them via mcp-call:

### Search for Wikipedia Pages

```bash
python3 $MCP_CALL "python3 -u $WIKIPEDIA_MCP_SCRIPT" search_pages '{"input": {"query": "OSPF routing protocol"}}'
```

Search Wikipedia for pages matching a keyword or phrase. Returns a list of matching page titles.

### Get a Page Summary

```bash
python3 $MCP_CALL "python3 -u $WIKIPEDIA_MCP_SCRIPT" get_summary '{"input": {"page": "Open Shortest Path First"}}'
```

Returns a concise summary of the page -- useful for quick context without reading the full article.

### Get Full Page Content

```bash
python3 $MCP_CALL "python3 -u $WIKIPEDIA_MCP_SCRIPT" get_content '{"input": {"page": "Open Shortest Path First"}}'
```

Returns the complete page content. Use this when you need detailed technical information, history, or implementation specifics.

### Get External References

```bash
python3 $MCP_CALL "python3 -u $WIKIPEDIA_MCP_SCRIPT" get_references '{"input": {"page": "Open Shortest Path First"}}'
```

Returns external links and references cited on the page. Useful for finding RFCs, vendor documentation, and academic papers.

### Get Page Categories

```bash
python3 $MCP_CALL "python3 -u $WIKIPEDIA_MCP_SCRIPT" get_categories '{"input": {"page": "Open Shortest Path First"}}'
```

Returns the Wikipedia categories the page belongs to. Helpful for discovering related topics and protocols.

### Check if a Page Exists

```bash
python3 $MCP_CALL "python3 -u $WIKIPEDIA_MCP_SCRIPT" check_page_exists '{"input": {"page": "Open Shortest Path First"}}'
```

Verify that a page exists before attempting to retrieve its content. Use this when unsure of the exact page title.

## Use Cases for Network Engineering

### 1. Protocol History and Evolution

Understand where a protocol came from and why it was designed a certain way.

```bash
python3 $MCP_CALL "python3 -u $WIKIPEDIA_MCP_SCRIPT" get_content '{"input": {"page": "Border Gateway Protocol"}}'
```

Extract the history section to learn about BGP's evolution from EGP, the introduction of CIDR support, and the progression through BGP-1 through BGP-4.

### 2. Standards Evolution and Context

Research how standards have evolved over time -- critical for understanding why certain configurations exist.

```bash
python3 $MCP_CALL "python3 -u $WIKIPEDIA_MCP_SCRIPT" get_content '{"input": {"page": "IEEE 802.1X"}}'
```

Learn about the 802.1X standard's development, its role in network access control, and its relationship to RADIUS and EAP.

### 3. Technology Context for Team Education

Build reference material for team training and knowledge sharing.

```bash
python3 $MCP_CALL "python3 -u $WIKIPEDIA_MCP_SCRIPT" get_summary '{"input": {"page": "Multiprotocol Label Switching"}}'
```

Get a concise MPLS overview suitable for a team briefing or documentation preamble.

### 4. Vendor-Neutral Protocol Understanding

Wikipedia provides vendor-neutral explanations that complement vendor-specific documentation.

```bash
python3 $MCP_CALL "python3 -u $WIKIPEDIA_MCP_SCRIPT" get_content '{"input": {"page": "Virtual Extensible LAN"}}'
```

Understand VXLAN fundamentals before diving into vendor-specific implementations (Cisco ACI, Arista CVX, etc.).

### 5. Security Protocol Research

Research security mechanisms and their theoretical foundations.

```bash
python3 $MCP_CALL "python3 -u $WIKIPEDIA_MCP_SCRIPT" search_pages '{"input": {"query": "MACsec IEEE 802.1AE encryption"}}'
```

Find pages related to MACsec for understanding Layer 2 encryption before implementing it.

## Common Networking Topics

### Routing Protocols

```bash
# OSPF
python3 $MCP_CALL "python3 -u $WIKIPEDIA_MCP_SCRIPT" get_summary '{"input": {"page": "Open Shortest Path First"}}'

# BGP
python3 $MCP_CALL "python3 -u $WIKIPEDIA_MCP_SCRIPT" get_summary '{"input": {"page": "Border Gateway Protocol"}}'

# IS-IS
python3 $MCP_CALL "python3 -u $WIKIPEDIA_MCP_SCRIPT" get_summary '{"input": {"page": "IS-IS"}}'

# EIGRP
python3 $MCP_CALL "python3 -u $WIKIPEDIA_MCP_SCRIPT" get_summary '{"input": {"page": "Enhanced Interior Gateway Routing Protocol"}}'
```

### Overlay and Fabric Technologies

```bash
# VXLAN
python3 $MCP_CALL "python3 -u $WIKIPEDIA_MCP_SCRIPT" get_summary '{"input": {"page": "Virtual Extensible LAN"}}'

# MPLS
python3 $MCP_CALL "python3 -u $WIKIPEDIA_MCP_SCRIPT" get_summary '{"input": {"page": "Multiprotocol Label Switching"}}'

# SD-WAN
python3 $MCP_CALL "python3 -u $WIKIPEDIA_MCP_SCRIPT" search_pages '{"input": {"query": "SD-WAN software defined wide area network"}}'

# EVPN
python3 $MCP_CALL "python3 -u $WIKIPEDIA_MCP_SCRIPT" search_pages '{"input": {"query": "Ethernet VPN EVPN BGP"}}'
```

### Security Technologies

```bash
# 802.1X
python3 $MCP_CALL "python3 -u $WIKIPEDIA_MCP_SCRIPT" get_summary '{"input": {"page": "IEEE 802.1X"}}'

# RADIUS
python3 $MCP_CALL "python3 -u $WIKIPEDIA_MCP_SCRIPT" get_summary '{"input": {"page": "RADIUS"}}'

# IPsec
python3 $MCP_CALL "python3 -u $WIKIPEDIA_MCP_SCRIPT" get_summary '{"input": {"page": "IPsec"}}'

# MACsec
python3 $MCP_CALL "python3 -u $WIKIPEDIA_MCP_SCRIPT" get_summary '{"input": {"page": "IEEE 802.1AE"}}'
```

### Infrastructure Protocols

```bash
# Spanning Tree Protocol
python3 $MCP_CALL "python3 -u $WIKIPEDIA_MCP_SCRIPT" get_summary '{"input": {"page": "Spanning Tree Protocol"}}'

# DHCP
python3 $MCP_CALL "python3 -u $WIKIPEDIA_MCP_SCRIPT" get_summary '{"input": {"page": "Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol"}}'

# DNS
python3 $MCP_CALL "python3 -u $WIKIPEDIA_MCP_SCRIPT" get_summary '{"input": {"page": "Domain Name System"}}'

# NTP
python3 $MCP_CALL "python3 -u $WIKIPEDIA_MCP_SCRIPT" get_summary '{"input": {"page": "Network Time Protocol"}}'
```

## Research Workflow

For thorough protocol research, follow this sequence:

### Step 1: Search and Discover

```bash
python3 $MCP_CALL "python3 -u $WIKIPEDIA_MCP_SCRIPT" search_pages '{"input": {"query": "OSPF link state routing"}}'
```

### Step 2: Verify the Page Exists

```bash
python3 $MCP_CALL "python3 -u $WIKIPEDIA_MCP_SCRIPT" check_page_exists '{"input": {"page": "Open Shortest Path First"}}'
```

### Step 3: Get a Quick Summary

```bash
python3 $MCP_CALL "python3 -u $WIKIPEDIA_MCP_SCRIPT" get_summary '{"input": {"page": "Open Shortest Path First"}}'
```

### Step 4: Dive into Full Content (if needed)

```bash
python3 $MCP_CALL "python3 -u $WIKIPEDIA_MCP_SCRIPT" get_content '{"input": {"page": "Open Shortest Path First"}}'
```

### Step 5: Gather References for Further Reading

```bash
python3 $MCP_CALL "python3 -u $WIKIPEDIA_MCP_SCRIPT" get_references '{"input": {"page": "Open Shortest Path First"}}'
```

### Step 6: Explore Related Topics via Categories

```bash
python3 $MCP_CALL "python3 -u $WIKIPEDIA_MCP_SCRIPT" get_categories '{"input": {"page": "Open Shortest Path First"}}'
```

## Integration with Other Skills

- **rfc-lookup** -- Cite Wikipedia for high-level context alongside RFCs for authoritative protocol specifications. Wikipedia explains the "what" and "why"; RFCs define the "how" precisely. Use both together for comprehensive protocol education.
- **pyats-routing** -- Research a routing protocol on Wikipedia before inspecting its live state on devices
- **pyats-security** -- Look up security standards (802.1X, MACsec, IPsec) before running security audits
- **pyats-troubleshoot** -- Understand protocol mechanics from Wikipedia to guide root cause analysis
- **gait-session-tracking** -- Record Wikipedia research findings as GAIT turns for audit trail
- **markmap-viz** -- Generate mind maps from protocol knowledge (e.g., BGP attribute hierarchy, OSPF LSA types)
- **drawio-diagram** -- Create protocol operation diagrams informed by Wikipedia research (e.g., OSPF DR election flow)

## Output

Wikipedia tools return text content -- summaries, full articles, reference lists, and category lists. Use this content to:
- Enrich reports with protocol background
- Build training documentation for network engineering teams
- Provide context in change management tickets
- Support root cause analysis with standards knowledge

## Failure Behavior

- If a tool call fails with an authentication or connection error, check that `WIKIPEDIA_MCP_SCRIPT` is set and valid before assuming a data or device problem.
- On a tool error (timeout, unreachable host, malformed response), report the failure and its error message directly to the user rather than fabricating or guessing at results.
- For a confirmed read-only call, check connectivity and retry once if appropriate. For any call that changes state or sends a message, a timeout does not prove the action failed: inspect current state or delivery status before retrying, preserve the required approval/change gates, and do not repeat an action whose outcome is unknown.