Docker Daemon not found.

[james0r]

Does the mcp require docker? It looks like it uses the docker command if I try to connect to the server

2026-01-15 10:18:59.656 [info] Connection state: Running
2026-01-15 10:18:59.784 [warning] [server stderr] docker: Cannot connect to the Docker daemon at unix:///Users/jamesauble/.docker/run/docker.sock. Is the docker daemon running?
2026-01-15 10:18:59.784 [warning] [server stderr] 
2026-01-15 10:18:59.784 [warning] [server stderr] Run 'docker run --help' for more information
2026-01-15 10:18:59.785 [info] Connection state: Error Process exited with code 125

[Abishek-Newar]

Hi @james0r ,

To answer your question: Docker is only required if you're using the Docker-based installation method for the local server.
Looking at your error, it appears your MCP host is configured to use docker run, which requires the Docker daemon to be running.
You have two options:
Option 1: Start Docker Simply start Docker Desktop (or the Docker daemon) before connecting to the MCP server.
Option 2: Build from source (no Docker required) If you prefer not to use Docker, you can build the server from source using Go and configure it like this:
{ "servers": { "github": { "command": "/path/to/github-mcp-server", "args": ["stdio"], "env": { "GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN": "<YOUR_TOKEN>" } } } }

See the Build from source section in the README for details.

Option 3: Use the Remote Server (easiest) Alternatively, you can use the Remote GitHub MCP Server which requires no local installation at all - just configure your MCP host to connect to https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/.

[james0r]

I'm surprised the docker hosted method is what the docs seem to suggest. What is the json block i should use in vscode to use the remote server?

[james0r]

Ah just like

		"github": {
			"type": "http",
			"url": "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/"
		},

[Abishek-Newar]

yes, you can do that

[Vikram5533]

=== ERROR ANALYSIS REPORT ===

Report generated by stackseek.io

QUICK SUMMARY:
You are unable to connect because the 'engine' (Docker) required to run the server is turned off. It's like trying to drive a car without starting the engine first. Once the engine is running, the connection will work.

ROOT CAUSE ANALYSIS:
The user is attempting to run the MCP server using a Docker container (likely via a client configuration that invokes 'docker run'), but the Docker daemon is not running on their machine. The error 'Cannot connect to the Docker daemon' confirms that the host system cannot communicate with the Docker engine, causing the launch command to fail with exit code 125.

ERROR LOCATION:
Dockerfile

EXECUTION PATH:
MCP Client -> System Command (docker run) -> Docker Daemon Check -> Failure

RESOLUTION STEPS:
Open the 'Docker Desktop' application on your computer.
Wait for the Docker engine to fully start (the icon usually stops animating or turns green).
Restart the application you are using to connect to the server.

REPLICATION STEPS:
Stop Docker Desktop or the Docker daemon on the host machine.
Attempt to connect to the MCP server using a client configured to use the Docker image.
Observe the 'Cannot connect to the Docker daemon' error in the logs.

SUGGESTED FIX:
Start the Docker Desktop application or the Docker daemon service. Ensure the user has permissions to access the Docker socket.

GENERATED TEST CODE (CSHARP):
using Microsoft.VisualStudio.TestTools.UnitTesting;
using System;

namespace McpServerTests
{
[TestClass]
public class DockerConnectivityTests
{
///

/// Simulates the MCP server's Docker wrapper component that attempts to launch containers.
///

public class DockerProcessRunner
{
// Simulates the state of the Docker Daemon on the host system
private readonly bool _isDockerDaemonRunning;

        public DockerProcessRunner(bool isDockerDaemonRunning)
        {
            _isDockerDaemonRunning = isDockerDaemonRunning;
        }

        /// <summary>
        /// Attempts to execute the 'docker run' command.
        /// </summary>
        public void StartServerContainer()
        {
            // Simulate the check or execution failure that occurs when the daemon is down
            if (!_isDockerDaemonRunning)
            {
                // Reproduce the exact error output and exit code from the stack trace
                string stderr = "docker: Cannot connect to the Docker daemon at unix:///Users/jamesauble/.docker/run/docker.sock. Is the docker daemon running?";
                
                // Exit code 125 is standard for Docker command execution failures
                throw new ExternalProcessException(stderr, 125);
            }
        }
    }

    /// <summary>
    /// Custom exception to simulate the process exit behavior.
    /// </summary>
    public class ExternalProcessException : Exception
    {
        public int ExitCode { get; }

        public ExternalProcessException(string message, int exitCode) : base(message)
        {
            ExitCode = exitCode;
        }
    }

    [TestMethod]
    public void TestDockerDaemonConnectionFailure()
    {
        // Arrange
        // Reproduce Root Cause: The user is attempting to run with Docker, but the daemon is not running.
        var dockerRunner = new DockerProcessRunner(isDockerDaemonRunning: false);

        // Act & Assert
        try
        {
            dockerRunner.StartServerContainer();
            Assert.Fail("Expected ExternalProcessException was not thrown.");
        }
        catch (ExternalProcessException ex)
        {
            // Assert: Verify the exit code matches the log (125)
            Assert.AreEqual(125, ex.ExitCode, "Process should exit with code 125 when Docker daemon is unreachable");

            // Assert: Verify the error message matches the stderr output in the log
            StringAssert.Contains(ex.Message, "Cannot connect to the Docker daemon", "Error message should indicate connection failure");
            StringAssert.Contains(ex.Message, "Is the docker daemon running?", "Error message should suggest checking daemon status");
        }
    }
}

}

Generated on: 18/01/2026, 15:58:23