Podman MCP Server - install, status & alternatives [2026]

01 · Install Podman MCP Server

Claude Code

claude mcp add manusa-podman-mcp-server -- npx -y podman-mcp-server

Claude Desktop / Cursor / VS Code - add to config

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

Same JSON for Cursor. For VS Code, rename the top-level key from `mcpServers` to `servers`.

Using another client? Same JSON, different key

Claude Desktop · mcpServers

Cursor · mcpServers

VS Code · servers

Windsurf · mcpServers

Zed · context_servers

Cline · mcpServers

Roo Code · mcpServers

Continue · mcpServers

LibreChat · mcpServers

Gemini CLI · mcpServers

Codex CLI · mcp_servers

Full setup guides: every client.

02 · Evidence

Security posture

What to check before giving this server access to your agent - from the registry, GitHub, and our own probes. We don't score safety; we show what's verifiable.

runs as local process (stdio) - runs on your machine with your user's permissions

license Apache-2.0 - declared in the repository

npm package podman-mcp-server - unscoped; check the name against the project README before installing

registry namespace io.github.manusa is GitHub-verified and matches the repo owner

03 · What Podman MCP Server can do

Prose above is summarized from the project's README and registry record - no invented capabilities.

What you can build

With this server connected, an agent can remove a Docker or Podman container with the specified container ID or name (rm), run a Docker or Podman container with the specified image name, stop a Docker or Podman running container with the specified container ID or name, and list the Docker or Podman images on the local machine.

Capability map

Tools grouped from the project's README - what Podman MCP Server lets an agent do.

Container

6 tools - e.g. Displays the low-level information and configuration of a Docker or Podman container with the specified container ID or name; Prints out information about the running Docker or Podman containers; Displays…

container_inspect · container_list · container_logs · container_remove · container_run · container_stop

Image

5 tools - e.g. Build a Docker or Podman image from a Dockerfile, Podmanfile, or Containerfile; List the Docker or Podman images on the local machine; Copies (pulls) a Docker or Podman container image from a registry…

image_build · image_list · image_pull · image_push · image_remove

Network

1 tool - e.g. List all the available Docker or Podman networks

network_list

Volume

1 tool - e.g. List all the available Docker or Podman volumes

volume_list

Latest releases

v0.0.15 · 2026-02-27

bump github.com/modelcontextprotocol/go-sdk from 1.2.0 to 1.3.0 · add test infrastructure for multi-implementation testing · add implementation registry and --podman-impl flag · add JSON format output to CLI list…

v0.0.14 · 2026-01-18

migrate to official MCP Go SDK · add MCP Registry publishing workflow and manifest · add HTTP transport mode with Streamable HTTP support · add mock Podman API server infrastructure · add container endpoint tests with…

v0.0.13 · 2026-01-15

bump github.com/mark3labs/mcp-go from 0.29.0 to 0.30.0 · bump github.com/mark3labs/mcp-go from 0.30.0 to 0.30.1 · bump github.com/mark3labs/mcp-go from 0.30.1 to 0.31.0 · bump golang.org/x/net from 0.40.0 to 0.41.0…

04 · Who maintains Podman MCP Server

podman-mcp-server is maintained by manusa. It's the only MCP server we track from this author; the repo dates to Feb 2025.

05 · Facts

repository: github.com/manusa/podman-mcp-server
category: cloud infrastructure - ranked #26 of 141 actively-maintained cloud infrastructure servers as of 2026-08-25.
registry: io.github.manusa/podman-mcp-server (active, first published 2026-01-18 · 2 versions)
packages: npm:podman-mcp-server · pypi:podman-mcp-server

06 · Podman MCP Server FAQ

Is Podman MCP Server still maintained?

Yes - as of 2026-08-25, its last commit was 2026-08-21. We re-verify nightly.

What can Podman MCP Server do?

With this server connected, an agent can remove a Docker or Podman container with the specified container ID or name (rm), run a Docker or Podman container with the specified image name, stop a Docker or Podman running container with the specified container ID or name, and list the Docker or Podman images on the local machine.

How do I install Podman MCP Server?

Run `npx -y podman-mcp-server`. You can also paste the ready-made client config above.

Does Podman MCP Server run locally?

Yes - it's a stdio server: it runs on your machine (via npx) with your user's permissions. Your data stays local unless the server itself calls external APIs.

07 · Alternatives to Podman MCP Server

Alternatives to Podman MCP Server

Maintained cloud infrastructure servers if Podman MCP Server isn't the fit.

Pairs well with

Servers that cover what Podman MCP Server doesn't - only shown when the pairing reason fits the companion.

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