# Docker MCP Gateway

> Run containerized MCP servers from Docker's catalog behind a single gateway that your AI clients connect to.

- Listing: https://mcp.tc/i/docker-mcp-gateway
- Connect: this is a local (stdio) server; install it on your machine (see Install). The listing link is a page, not an MCP endpoint.
- Type: local (stdio)
- Auth: no API key needed
- Category: [Cloud & DevOps](https://mcp.tc/c/cloud-devops)
- Vendor: Docker
- Verified: yes, mcp.tc checked that this is the official server (https://mcp.tc/verify). It says who runs the server, not that it is safe.
- Homepage: <https://docs.docker.com/ai/mcp-catalog-and-toolkit/>
- Repository: <https://github.com/docker/mcp-gateway>

## About

Docker MCP Gateway is the docker mcp CLI plugin behind the Docker Desktop MCP Toolkit. It runs MCP servers from the Docker MCP Catalog as isolated containers and exposes them to clients such as VS Code, Cursor and Claude Desktop through one gateway. Servers are grouped into profiles that can be connected to clients, exported and shared through OCI registries.

It runs locally with the command docker mcp gateway run. It is included in recent Docker Desktop (4.59+ with the MCP Toolkit enabled) or can be built from the repository with Go 1.24+. Secrets are handled through Docker Desktop, and OAuth flows are supported for servers that need them. The tools available depend on the servers you add.

## What it can do

- Run catalog MCP servers as isolated Docker containers
- Expose many servers to clients through a single gateway
- Group servers into profiles and connect them to clients
- Export, import and push profiles to OCI registries
- Enable or disable individual tools per server
- Manage secrets and OAuth sign-in for servers
- Create and manage custom MCP catalogs

## Example prompts

- "Create a Docker MCP profile with the GitHub server and connect it to Cursor"
- "Add the Notion server from the Docker catalog to my dev-tools profile"
- "Disable the search\_code tool for the GitHub server in my profile"
- "List the MCP servers in all my Docker profiles"

## Install

### Claude Code

1. Run this in a terminal, in your project folder:

```bash
claude mcp add --transport stdio docker-mcp-gateway -- docker mcp gateway run
```

2. Start Claude Code and type `/mcp`. **docker-mcp-gateway** should show as connected.

Add `--scope user` to make it available in every project.

### Claude Desktop

1. Open **Settings → Developer → Edit Config**. It opens `claude_desktop_config.json`. Add:

`claude_desktop_config.json`:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "docker-mcp-gateway": {
      "command": "docker",
      "args": [
        "mcp",
        "gateway",
        "run"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

2. Save the file and restart Claude Desktop.

Needs Docker on your computer. The file lives in `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/` on macOS and `%APPDATA%\Claude\` on Windows.

### Cursor

[Add to Cursor](<https://cursor.com/install-mcp?name=docker-mcp-gateway&config=eyJjb21tYW5kIjoiZG9ja2VyIiwiYXJncyI6WyJtY3AiLCJnYXRld2F5IiwicnVuIl19>) (opens Cursor)

Or add it by hand to `~/.cursor/mcp.json` (all projects) or `.cursor/mcp.json` (this project):

`mcp.json`:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "docker-mcp-gateway": {
      "command": "docker",
      "args": [
        "mcp",
        "gateway",
        "run"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

Needs Docker on your computer.

### VS Code

[Install in VS Code](<https://vscode.dev/redirect/mcp/install?name=docker-mcp-gateway&config=%7B%22type%22%3A%22stdio%22%2C%22command%22%3A%22docker%22%2C%22args%22%3A%5B%22mcp%22%2C%22gateway%22%2C%22run%22%5D%7D>) (opens VS Code)

Or from a terminal:

```bash
code --add-mcp '{"name":"docker-mcp-gateway","type":"stdio","command":"docker","args":["mcp","gateway","run"]}'
```

Or commit it to the repo in `.vscode/mcp.json`:

`.vscode/mcp.json`:

```json
{
  "servers": {
    "docker-mcp-gateway": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "docker",
      "args": [
        "mcp",
        "gateway",
        "run"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

Needs Docker on your computer.

### Devin Desktop

1. Add it to `~/.config/devin/mcp_config.json` (macOS and Linux) or `%APPDATA%\devin\mcp_config.json` (Windows):

`mcp_config.json`:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "docker-mcp-gateway": {
      "command": "docker",
      "args": [
        "mcp",
        "gateway",
        "run"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

2. Refresh the MCP server list in Cascade.

Devin Desktop is the new name for Windsurf.

### Codex

```bash
codex mcp add docker-mcp-gateway -- docker mcp gateway run
```

Or edit `~/.codex/config.toml` directly:

`config.toml`:

```toml
[mcp_servers.docker-mcp-gateway]
command = "docker"
args = ["mcp", "gateway", "run"]
```

Needs Docker on your computer.

### Gemini CLI

```bash
gemini mcp add docker-mcp-gateway docker mcp gateway run
```

This adds it to the current project. Add `-s user` to use it everywhere.

### Any client

Most clients that start local servers accept this shape:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "docker-mcp-gateway": {
      "command": "docker",
      "args": [
        "mcp",
        "gateway",
        "run"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

Zed puts servers under `context_servers` in its settings, with the same `command`, `args` and `env` fields.

Needs Docker on your computer.

## Details

- Last checked: 2026-10-03
- Listed: 2026-10-03
- Updated: 2026-10-03

---
Source: https://mcp.tc/i/docker-mcp-gateway (mcp.tc is an independent directory, not affiliated with this server's publisher). Corrections: https://mcp.tc/report