podman-mcp-server

Overview

The podman-mcp-server provides a Model Context Protocol interface to container runtimes, supporting both Podman and Docker. It implements multiple transport modes including STDIO (default) and HTTP with Streamable HTTP and SSE endpoints. The server supports two Podman implementation backends: direct REST API via Unix socket (preferred) and CLI wrapper (fallback), with auto-detection capability. Written in Go, it offers comprehensive container management tools including inspection, listing, logging, removal, running, and stopping operations, plus image and network management.

Try asking AI

After installing, here are 5 things you can ask your AI assistant:

• container_inspectcontainer_inspect(name)

  Displays the low-level information and configuration of a Docker or Podman container with the specified container ID or name

  Try:Inspect container nginxTry:Show configuration for container abc123
• container_list

  Prints out information about the running Docker or Podman containers

  Try:List all running containersTry:Show active containers
• container_logscontainer_logs(name)

  Displays the logs of a Docker or Podman container with the specified container ID or name

  Try:Show logs for container appTry:Get recent logs from container web
• container_removecontainer_remove(name)

  Removes a Docker or Podman container with the specified container ID or name (rm)

  Try:Remove container testTry:Delete container old-app
• container_runcontainer_run(imageName, environment?, ports?)

  Runs a Docker or Podman container with the specified image name

  Try:Run container nginx on port 8080Try:Start container my-app with env VAR=value
• container_stopcontainer_stop(name)

  Stops a Docker or Podman running container with the specified container ID or name

  Try:Stop container webTry:Halt container nginx
• image_buildimage_build(containerFile, imageName?)

  Build a Docker or Podman image from a Dockerfile, Podmanfile, or Containerfile

  Try:Build image from DockerfileTry:Create custom image from Containerfile
• image_list

  List the Docker or Podman images on the local machine

  Try:Show all local imagesTry:List available container images
• image_pullimage_pull(imageName)

  Copies (pulls) a Docker or Podman container image from a registry onto the local machine storage

  Try:Pull image ubuntu:latestTry:Download image nginx from registry
• image_pushimage_push(imageName)

  Pushes a Docker or Podman container image, manifest list or image index from local machine storage to a registry

  Try:Push my-image to registryTry:Upload image to Docker Hub
• image_removeimage_remove(imageName)

  Removes a Docker or Podman image from the local machine storage

  Try:Delete image old-appTry:Remove unused images
• network_list

  List all the available Docker or Podman networks

  Try:Show available networksTry:List container networks

Comparable tools

Installation

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "podman": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "podman-mcp-server@latest"
      ]
    }
  }
}

code --add-mcp '{"name":"podman","command":"npx","args":["-y","podman-mcp-server@latest"]}'

extensions:
  podman:
    command: npx
    args:
      - -y
      - podman-mcp-server@latest

FAQ

Which Podman implementations are supported?

The server supports two implementations: 'api' (Podman REST API via Unix socket, preferred) and 'cli' (Podman/Docker CLI wrapper, fallback). It auto-detects the best available implementation by default.

What transport modes are available?

The server supports STDIO mode (default), HTTP mode with Streamable HTTP and SSE endpoints, and legacy SSE-only mode (deprecated).

Compare podman-mcp-server with