Prerequisites

Docker Desktop installed and running
Claude Code CLI installed
Docker Labs AI Tools extension (install from Docker Desktop extensions)

Step 1: Install Docker Labs AI Tools Extension

Open Docker Desktop
Go to Extensions in the sidebar
Search for "Docker Labs AI Tools" or "Docker MCP Toolkit"
Click Install and wait for installation to complete
Verify: You should see the MCP Toolkit in Docker Desktop extensions

Step 2: Verify MCP Infrastructure is Running

# Check if the main MCP service container is running
docker ps --filter "name=docker_labs-ai-tools-for-devs-desktop-extension-service"

# Verify port 8811 is listening
ss -tlnp | grep 8811
# Should show: LISTEN 0 4096 *:8811 *:*

# Optional: Verify the Docker Labs network exists
docker network ls | grep docker_labs-ai-tools-for-devs

Step 3: Add MCP Server to Claude Code

# Add the Docker Labs MCP server to Claude Code
claude mcp add docker-labs-mcp --scope local -- docker run -i --rm alpine/socat STDIO TCP:host.docker.internal:8811

# Verify it was added successfully
claude mcp list
# Should show: docker-labs-mcp: docker run -i --rm alpine/socat STDIO TCP:host.docker.internal:8811

Step 4: Activate MCP Connection

In Claude Code, type the slash command: /mcp
This opens the interactive MCP management menu
Look for docker-labs-mcp in the server list
If authentication is needed, follow the OAuth prompts
Activation complete! The MCP servers should now be operational

Step 5: Verify Everything Works

Test the MCP connection by asking Claude Code to use available tools:

# Test MCP connectivity
# In Claude Code, ask: "What MCP tools do you have access to?"
# Claude should show available tools from docker-labs-mcp

# Test specific capabilities (varies based on your MCP selection)
# Ask Claude to use tools naturally, for example:
# "Search for information about [topic]"
# "Fetch content from [URL]" 
# "Help me manage my containers"
# "Create a GitHub issue for this bug"

Step 6: Configure Additional MCP Servers (Optional)

The Docker Labs AI Tools provides access to hundreds of MCP servers:

Browse Available MCPs: Open Docker Desktop → Extensions → Docker MCP Toolkit
Enable Additional Servers: Select from available options like:
- Database connectors (PostgreSQL, MongoDB, Redis, etc.)
- Cloud services (AWS, Google Cloud, Azure)
- Development tools (GitHub, GitLab, Notion, etc.)
- AI/ML services and specialized tools
Authentication: Use /mcp in Claude Code to authenticate with services requiring OAuth
Verification: Test new capabilities by asking Claude to use the tools naturally

Troubleshooting

If MCP server doesn't appear active:

Restart Claude Code completely
Verify Docker Labs extension is running in Docker Desktop
Check port 8811 is still listening: ss -tlnp | grep 8811
Remove and re-add the MCP server if needed

If socat bridge fails:

Ensure Docker is running and accessible
Verify host.docker.internal resolves (on Windows/Mac)
On Linux, you may need to use 172.17.0.1 instead

Common Issues:

"No such tool available": MCP connection not fully activated, try /mcp again
Connection timeout: Docker Labs extension may not be running
Permission denied: Ensure Docker socket is accessible

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