Docker MCP Toolkit

Run, manage, and invoke Docker Desktop’s MCP Toolkit using the docker mcp CLI.

Install + preflight (Docker Desktop)

1. Install/upgrade Docker Desktop (MCP Toolkit is in Docker Desktop 4.62+ per docs).

2. Enable MCP Toolkit:

• Docker Desktop → Settings → Beta features → Enable Docker MCP Toolkit → Apply.

3. Preflight:

./scripts/preflight.sh

Quick start

List enabled servers/tools:

./scripts/servers.sh
./scripts/tools.sh

Core operations

• List/enable/disable servers:

  • ./scripts/servers.sh
  • ./scripts/server-enable.sh \x3Cserver-name>
  • ./scripts/server-disable.sh \x3Cserver-name>

• List tools:

  • ./scripts/tools.sh

• Invoke a tool (via Docker’s gateway/tool runner):

./scripts/call-tool.sh --tool "mcp-find" --json '{"query":"postgres","limit":5}'

Notes:

• call-tool.sh requires jq.
• docker mcp tools call uses key=value tokens.
• Non-string values use := (example: limit:=5, activate:=true).
• This skill currently supports only primitive JSON values (string/number/bool/null). Nested objects/arrays are rejected.
• For tools requiring object arguments (e.g. mcp-config-set), call docker mcp tools inspect \x3Ctool> --format json then run docker mcp tools call ... directly until this skill adds a tested encoder.

How invocation works (important)

Docker MCP Toolkit runs an MCP Gateway and exposes tools through it. This skill intentionally uses the docker mcp tools … commands so OpenClaw can invoke tools without needing native MCP client support.

If you need a true MCP client connection (stdio/SSE), pair this skill with the mcporter skill.

Secrets and safety

• Prefer Docker Desktop’s secrets/keychain integration when possible.
• Do not expose gateway ports publicly.
• Use least-privilege credentials (separate Neon role with only required grants).

For hardening guidance, read: references/security.md.

Troubleshooting

• If commands say “Docker Desktop is not running”: start Docker Desktop.
• If MCP Toolkit isn’t visible: confirm it’s enabled in Beta features.
• If a tool call fails: run docker mcp tools --verbose inspect \x3Ctool> and check Docker Desktop MCP Toolkit UI for server configuration.