Lab: Docker MCP Gateway
Table of contents
This lab provides a comprehensive, hands-on overview of the Docker MCP Gateway, which enables you to run containerized MCP servers safely and securely. Learn how to configure, secure, and connect MCP servers to your agentic applications.
What you'll learn
- Learn about the Docker MCP Gateway and its architecture
- Run the MCP Gateway with a simple MCP server
- Inject secrets securely into MCP servers
- Filter tools to reduce noise and save tokens
- Connect the MCP Gateway to your application using popular agentic frameworks
- Configure and use custom MCP servers
Modules
| # | Module | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction | Overview of the MCP Gateway and why it matters |
| 2 | Adding a Simple MCP Server | Get started with a basic MCP server configuration |
| 3 | Adding a Complex MCP Server | Configure MCP servers with secrets and advanced options |
| 4 | Filtering Available Tools | Reduce noise and save tokens by filtering tool availability |
| 5 | Connecting MCP Gateway to Your App | Integrate the MCP Gateway with agentic frameworks |
| 6 | Using a Custom MCP Server | Build and run your own custom MCP server |
| 7 | Conclusion | Summary and next steps |
Prerequisites
- The latest version of Docker Desktop with Docker Model Runner enabled
- Basic familiarity with Docker and Docker Compose
Launch the lab
Start the labspace:
$ docker compose -f oci://dockersamples/labspace-mcp-gateway up -d
Then open your browser to http://localhost:3030.