Lab: Docker MCP Gateway - Docker

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:

console

$ docker compose -f oci://dockersamples/labspace-mcp-gateway up -d

Then open your browser to http://localhost:3030.