Learn how to build and deploy MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers using Docker! This repository contains everything from the NetworkChuck Docker MCP video tutorial, including complete examples, templates, and step-by-step guides.

Watch the full video tutorial on YouTube →

Get your first MCP server running in under 5 minutes:

# 1. Install Docker Desktop (if not already installed)
# Visit: https://docs.docker.com/desktop/

# 2. Enable Docker MCP Toolkit
# Settings → Beta Features → Enable "Docker MCP Toolkit"

# 3. Clone this repository
git clone https://github.com/networkchuck/docker-mcp-tutorial.git
cd docker-mcp-tutorial

# 4. Build the dice roller example
cd examples/dice-roller
docker build -t dice-mcp-server .

# 5. Follow the Quick Start Guide
# See: quick-start/setup-guide.md

• Dice Roller - Fun D&D dice rolling MCP server with all files ready to run
• Railway Deployment - Cloud-ready version deployable to Railway with one click

Deploy your MCP servers to Railway cloud platform with auto-scaling, custom domains, and professional hosting. Includes complete template and migration guide.

NetworkChuck's custom prompt that generates complete MCP servers from simple descriptions. Just describe what you want, and it creates everything!

• Step-by-step installation guides (Mac, Windows, Linux)
• How to build custom MCP servers
• Docker MCP Gateway deep dive
• Railway cloud deployment guide
• Troubleshooting common issues

Every tool, link, and resource mentioned in the video, organized and ready to use.

docker-mcp-tutorial/
├── examples/                    # Complete working MCP servers
│   ├── dice-roller/            # Local D&D dice rolling server
│   └── dice-roller-railway/    # Cloud-ready Railway deployment
├── railway-deployment/         # Railway deployment template
├── mcp-builder-prompt/         # AI prompt to generate MCP servers
├── quick-start/               # Get running in 5 minutes
├── docs/                      # Detailed documentation
│   ├── installation.md       # Platform-specific setup
│   ├── custom-servers.md     # Build your own servers
│   ├── docker-gateway.md     # Gateway architecture
│   ├── railway-deployment.md # Cloud deployment guide
│   └── troubleshooting.md    # Common issues & fixes
└── resources/                 # Links and additional resources

1. MCP Fundamentals - Understand the Model Context Protocol
2. Docker Integration - Run MCP servers in containers
3. Build Custom Servers - Create your own AI tools
4. API Integration - Connect to external services
5. Security & Secrets - Manage API keys safely
6. Remote Access - Expose servers over network
7. Cloud Deployment - Deploy to Railway with auto-scaling
8. n8n Integration - Automation workflows with MCP

• Docker Desktop installed and running
• Claude Desktop or another MCP-compatible client
• Basic command line knowledge
• Coffee ☕ (highly recommended)

• Download Docker Desktop
• Enable MCP Toolkit in Beta Features

• Set up Claude Desktop, Cursor, or LM Studio
• Configure MCP gateway connection

• Build Docker containers for MCP servers
• Register servers in catalog
• Start using with your AI!

Detailed platform-specific instructions in docs/installation.md

1. Open the prompt template: mcp-builder-prompt/mcp-builder-prompt.md
2. Describe your desired functionality
3. Feed to Claude or your preferred AI
4. Get complete, working MCP server code!

"I want to build a weather MCP server that can:
- Get current weather for any city
- Get 5-day forecast
- Convert between Celsius and Fahrenheit
Use the OpenWeather API"

The AI will generate all files needed: Dockerfile, Python server, configuration, and installation instructions!

Perfect for D&D and tabletop gaming:

• Roll any dice notation (2d6+3, 1d20, etc.)
• D&D stat generation
• Advantage/disadvantage rolls
• Skill checks against DC

Note: The video also demonstrates building Toggl Timer and Kali Linux MCP servers. Use the MCP Builder Prompt to create these or any other server you can imagine!

The Docker MCP Gateway is the magic that makes this all work:

• Centralized Management - One connection, multiple servers
• Secret Management - Secure API key storage
• Transport Options - Local (stdio) or Network (SSE)
• Dynamic Containers - Servers run on-demand

Learn more in docs/docker-gateway.md

Deploy your MCP servers to the cloud with one click:

Features:

• Auto-scaling and custom domains
• Environment variable management
• GitHub integration for continuous deployment
• Professional hosting with 99.9% uptime

Complete guide: docs/railway-deployment.md

Run your MCP servers over the network:

# Local network (Docker Gateway)
docker mcp gateway run --transport sse
http://YOUR_IP:8811

# Cloud deployment (Railway)
https://your-server.railway.app

Perfect for automation workflows and remote AI operations!

Tools not appearing in Claude?

• Restart Claude Desktop
• Check catalog and registry files
• Verify Docker image built successfully

Authentication errors?

• Verify secrets: docker mcp secret list
• Check environment variable names

Container not running?

• Check logs: docker logs [container-name]
• Verify Dockerfile syntax

Full troubleshooting guide in docs/troubleshooting.md

• Docker Desktop
• Model Context Protocol
• Claude Desktop

• Toggl API Documentation
• Obsidian Local REST API

• n8n Automation Tutorial
• Docker Basics Series

Found a bug? Have an improvement? Contributions are welcome!

1. Fork the repository
2. Create your feature branch
3. Commit your changes
4. Push to the branch
5. Open a Pull Request

MIT License - See LICENSE file for details

• Docker for sponsoring and creating the MCP Toolkit
• Anthropic for the Model Context Protocol
• The amazing NetworkChuck community

If this helped you, consider:

• ⭐ Starring this repository
• 🔔 Subscribing to NetworkChuck on YouTube
• ☕ Buying NetworkChuck a coffee

Remember: The world of AI tools is evolving rapidly. This is your chance to be part of the revolution. Don't waste it!

"Hack YouTube ethically, of course." - NetworkChuck