Manage remote Docker environments directly from Docker Desktop
Overview
🚀 Remote Docker is a powerful Docker Desktop extension that revolutionizes how you manage remote Docker environments. Connect securely to any Docker host through SSH tunnels and enjoy the familiar Docker Desktop experience, whether your containers are running locally or on remote servers across the globe.
# Clone the repository
git clone [***]
cd remote-docker
# Build and install locally
make build
docker extension install telkombe/remote-docker:latest
Quick Start
Install the extension from Docker Hub
Open the extension in Docker Desktop
Add a remote environment:
Click "Add Environment"
Enter a name for your environment
Provide the SSH connection details:
Hostname: Your remote Docker host (e.g., 192.168.1.25)
Username: SSH username (e.g., ubuntu)
Port: SSH port (default: 22)
Connect to start managing your remote Docker environment
Requirements
Local Machine
Docker Desktop 4.8.0 or later
SSH key pair for authentication
Remote Host
Docker Engine installed and running
SSH server with key-based authentication enabled
User with Docker permissions (typically in the docker group)
SSH Key Setup
The extension uses SSH key authentication for secure connections. Your SSH keys are automatically mounted from your local .ssh directory.
Windows
powershell
# Keys are read from
C:\Users\<username>\.ssh\id_rsa
C:\Users\<username>\.ssh\id_rsa.pub
macOS/Linux
bash
# Keys are read from
~/.ssh/id_rsa
~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub
Setting up SSH Keys
Generate SSH keys (if you don't have them):
bash
ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096
Copy your public key to the remote host:
bash
ssh-copy-id username@remote-host
Test the connection:
bash
ssh username@remote-host docker version
Features in Detail
Dashboard
System information and Docker version
Resource utilization (CPU, Memory, Disk)
Container statistics and distribution
Recent Docker events
Real-time metrics with auto-refresh
Container Management
View all containers with status
Start/stop containers
View container logs with syntax highlighting
Port mapping information
Docker Compose project grouping
Image Management
List all images with size information
Remove unused images
View image details and layers
Network Management
List Docker networks
View network configuration
Delete unused networks
Volume Management
List Docker volumes
View volume details
Remove unused volumes
MCP Toolkit Integration
The extension now supports running MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers on remote Docker hosts, enabling AI assistants to interact with remote systems securely.
🆕 MCP Catalog Browser (v1.0.15+)
Browse Available Servers: Explore the MCP catalog with 8+ server types
Search & Filter: Find servers by name, description, or category
One-Click Install: Install any MCP server with a single click
Auto-Configuration: Smart configuration based on server type
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