# list_ec2_instances

A read tool on the Ncp MCP server.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `list_ec2_instances`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/list-ec2-instances

## Facts

- Tool: `list_ec2_instances`
- Server: Ncp (`@portel/ncp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp.md
- Install: `npx -y @portel/ncp`
- Homepage: https://github.com/portel-dev/ncp
- Risk category: Read (Low risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 0
- Recommended policy verdict: Allowed

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "list_ec2_instances",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why list_ec2_instances is rated Low

This tool performs a read-only operation—it retrieves and displays EC2 instance data from AWS without side effects. It does not create, modify, delete, or execute any operations. The blast radius of misuse is minimal: an attacker could enumerate EC2 instances to discover infrastructure topology, but no data is altered or operations triggered.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool name 'list_ec2_instances' and description 'List EC2 instances' indicate a query operation that retrieves information about EC2 instances without modifying, deleting, or executing anything."

## Use case

AI agents call list_ec2_instances to retrieve information from Ncp without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Allowed**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches Ncp:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "list_ec2_instances": {}
  }
}
```

## Other tools on Ncp (274)

- `backup` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/backup.md
- `bulk_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/bulk-delete.md
- `delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/delete.md
- `delete_event` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/delete-event.md
- `delete_key` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/delete-key.md
- `delete_memory` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/delete-memory.md
- `purge_cache` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/purge-cache.md
- `remove` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/remove.md
- `remove_container` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/remove-container.md
- `write_query` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/write-query.md
- `apply` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/apply.md
- `apply_manifest` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/apply-manifest.md
- `build_image` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/build-image.md
- `build_job` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/build-job.md
- `bulk_operations` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/bulk-operations.md
- `click_element` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/click-element.md
- `clone` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/clone.md
- `connect` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/connect.md
- `consume` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/consume.md
- `create_completion` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/create-completion.md
- `create_context` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/create-context.md
- `create_image` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/create-image.md
- `create_prediction` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/create-prediction.md
- `create_video` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/create-video.md
- `deploy` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/deploy.md
- `deploy_project` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/deploy-project.md
- `deploy_server` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/deploy-server.md
- `deploy_site` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/deploy-site.md
- `exec` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/exec.md
- `exec_async` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/exec-async.md
- …and 244 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

---

Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=io-github-portel-dev-ncp · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/io-github-portel-dev-ncp