# Docker MCP Catalog
Docker MCP Catalog is a curated collection of [[Model Context Protocol (MCP)]] servers packaged as [[Docker]] containers and distributed through Docker Hub. It allows developers to browse, pull, and run MCP servers with a single command, removing the friction of installing runtimes, managing dependencies, and configuring MCP servers manually.
Each MCP server in the catalog is a containerized service that exposes tools to AI agents and LLM-based applications. By running them as containers, Docker provides isolation, reproducibility, and easy lifecycle management. The catalog integrates directly into [[Docker Desktop]]'s dashboard, where you can discover and launch MCP servers visually.
## How It Works
MCP servers from the catalog run as standard Docker containers. Configuration is handled through environment variables and volume mounts. [[Docker Desktop]] can automatically register running MCP servers with supported AI tools (e.g., Claude Desktop, VS Code with Copilot).
```bash
# Example: run a filesystem MCP server
docker run -d --name mcp-filesystem mcp/filesystem -v /path/to/data:/data
```
## Use Cases
- Quickly add tool capabilities (file access, database queries, API access) to AI agents
- Standardized distribution of MCP servers across teams
- Running multiple MCP servers side by side with container isolation
- Combining with [[Docker Model Runner]] for a fully local AI stack
## References
- https://hub.docker.com/u/mcp
- https://docs.docker.com/ai/mcp-catalog-and-toolkit/
## Related
- [[Docker Desktop]]
- [[Docker]]
- [[Docker Model Runner]]
- [[Docker Agent]]
- [[Model Context Protocol (MCP)]]
- [[Containerization]]