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Free Scanner Setup Guide

Get started with the QualiBooth Free URL Scanner HTTP MCP server in minutes.

Overview

The QualiBooth Free URL Scanner is an HTTP-based MCP server that allows you to scan any website for accessibility issues without requiring an account or API key.

Quick Start

1. Configure Your MCP Client

Add the HTTP MCP server to your client configuration:

Claude Desktop

Edit ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (macOS) or the equivalent location:

json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "qualibooth-free-scanner": {
      "transport": "http",
      "url": "https://mcp.qualibooth.com/mcp/free"
    }
  }
}

Cursor

Add to your MCP settings:

json
{
  "servers": {
    "qualibooth-free-scanner": {
      "transport": "http",
      "endpoint": "https://mcp.qualibooth.com/mcp/free"
    }
  }
}

Other HTTP MCP Clients

javascript
const mcpClient = new MCPClient({
  transport: 'http',
  endpoint: 'https://mcp.qualibooth.com/mcp/free'
});

2. Restart Your AI Client

Restart your AI assistant to load the new server configuration.

3. Start Scanning

You can now use the free_scan_url tool:

Please scan https://www.qualibooth.com for accessibility issues

Configuration Details

Transport Configuration

The server uses HTTP transport with these settings:

  • Protocol: HTTPS
  • Endpoint: https://mcp.qualibooth.com/mcp/free
  • Authentication: None required
  • Content-Type: application/json

Client-Specific Setup

Claude Desktop (Windows)

Configuration file location:

%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

Claude Desktop (Linux)

Configuration file location:

~/.config/claude/claude_desktop_config.json

VS Code with MCP Extension

Add to settings.json:

json
{
  "mcp.servers": {
    "qualibooth-free-scanner": {
      "transport": "http",
      "url": "https://mcp.qualibooth.com/mcp/free"
    }
  }
}

First Scan

Test the Setup

Try scanning a well-known website:

Scan https://qualibooth.com for accessibility issues

Expected Response

The AI assistant should:

  1. Call the free_scan_url tool
  2. Receive formatted results
  3. Display score badge, top fixes, and impact summary

Example Interaction

User: Check https://stripe.com for accessibility

Assistant Response:

🟢 Score: 89/100 — Low lawsuit risk
_Scanned: https://stripe.com_

## Top Fixes

1. 🟡 **focus-order-semantics** — Focus order doesn't follow semantic order (4 elements) — [Learn more](https://dequeuniversity.com/rules/axe/4.8/focus-order-semantics)
2. 🟢 **label-title-only** — Form elements use title attribute for labeling (2 elements) — [Learn more](https://dequeuniversity.com/rules/axe/4.8/label-title-only)
3. 🟢 **bypass** — Multiple ways to navigate to main content missing (1 element) — [Learn more](https://dequeuniversity.com/rules/axe/4.8/bypass)

**Impact Summary:** 🔴 Critical: 0 · 🟠 High: 0 · 🟡 Medium: 4 · 🟢 Low: 3

📸 [View page screenshot](https://screenshots.qualibooth.com/stripe.png)

> _Want more scans, scheduled monitoring, and full dashboards? [Subscribe to QualiBooth](https://qualibooth.com)_

Troubleshooting Setup

Common Issues

Server Not Found

Symptoms: "Unable to connect to MCP server" errors

Solutions:

  1. Verify the URL: https://mcp.qualibooth.com/mcp/free
  2. Check internet connectivity
  3. Ensure HTTPS is accessible (no firewall blocking)

Configuration Errors

Symptoms: Server appears but tools not available

Solutions:

  1. Validate JSON syntax in configuration
  2. Ensure transport: "http" is specified
  3. Restart the AI client completely

Permission Errors

Symptoms: Can't edit configuration files

Solutions:

  1. Run editor with appropriate permissions
  2. Check file ownership and permissions
  3. Use administrator access if required

Testing Connection

You can test the MCP server endpoint directly:

bash
curl -X POST https://mcp.qualibooth.com/mcp/free \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"method":"tools/list"}'

Expected response:

json
{
  "tools": [
    {
      "name": "free_scan_url",
      "description": "Scan a website for accessibility violations..."
    }
  ]
}

Advanced Configuration

Custom Headers

Some clients allow custom headers:

json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "qualibooth-free-scanner": {
      "transport": "http",
      "url": "https://mcp.qualibooth.com/mcp/free",
      "headers": {
        "User-Agent": "My-MCP-Client/1.0"
      }
    }
  }
}

Timeout Settings

Configure request timeouts for slow connections:

json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "qualibooth-free-scanner": {
      "transport": "http",
      "url": "https://mcp.qualibooth.com/mcp/free",
      "timeout": 30000
    }
  }
}

Retry Configuration

For unreliable networks:

json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "qualibooth-free-scanner": {
      "transport": "http",
      "url": "https://mcp.qualibooth.com/mcp/free",
      "retries": 3,
      "retryDelay": 1000
    }
  }
}

Rate Limiting

Free Tier Limits

  • 5 scans per hour per IP address
  • 1 concurrent scan per IP
  • 24-hour data retention for scan results

Handling Rate Limits

When rate limited, you'll see:

Error: Free scan limit exceeded. Please try again later or upgrade to QualiBooth Pro.

Strategies:

  1. Prioritize scans - Test most important pages first
  2. Spread scans - Use across the hour, not all at once
  3. Upgrade - Consider Pro plan for unlimited scans

Best Practices

Effective Scanning

  1. Start Small - Test individual pages, not entire sites
  2. Focus Critical Paths - Checkout, login, main content pages
  3. Iterative Testing - Fix issues, then re-scan
  4. Document Results - Keep track of accessibility scores over time

URL Selection

Good candidates:

  • Landing pages
  • Checkout flows
  • User registration
  • Main navigation pages
  • Contact forms

Avoid:

  • Admin dashboards (require authentication)
  • Very large pages (timeout risk)
  • Dynamic single-page apps (may not render fully)

Integration Workflows

Development Workflow

  1. Initial Scan: Establish baseline accessibility score
  2. Fix Issues: Address high-impact violations first
  3. Re-scan: Verify improvements
  4. Monitor: Regular scans on key pages

Content Management

  1. Pre-publish: Scan new pages before going live
  2. Template Testing: Check design templates
  3. Component Testing: Verify reusable components
  4. Regression Testing: Ensure changes don't break accessibility

Next Steps

After Setup

  1. Test Key Pages: Scan your most important user journeys
  2. Establish Baselines: Document current accessibility scores
  3. Create Action Plan: Prioritize fixes based on impact
  4. Set Monitoring: Schedule regular scans for critical pages

Advanced Features

Consider upgrading for:

  • More scans - No hourly limits
  • Historical data - Track accessibility over time
  • Scheduled monitoring - Automated regular scans
  • Team collaboration - Multiple users, shared results
  • Advanced reporting - Detailed analytics and exports

Support Resources

Documentation

Getting Help

Troubleshooting Checklist

  • [ ] Configuration JSON is valid
  • [ ] HTTPS endpoint is accessible
  • [ ] AI client has been restarted
  • [ ] Rate limit not exceeded
  • [ ] URL being scanned is publicly accessible
  • [ ] No firewall blocking outbound HTTPS

Migration from Other Tools

If you're switching from other accessibility scanners:

Lighthouse Integration

The QualiBooth scanner uses axe-core, similar to Lighthouse's accessibility audit. Results should be comparable.

axe-core Direct Usage

If you currently use axe-core directly, the MCP server provides:

  • Same engine - Consistent results
  • Simplified interface - No setup required
  • Formatted output - Ready-to-display results
  • Screenshot integration - Visual context for issues

Browser Extensions

Unlike browser extensions that work on loaded pages, the MCP server:

  • Server-side rendering - More consistent results
  • No browser setup - Works from any environment
  • API integration - Can be automated and scripted
  • Historical tracking - Compare results over time