list_containers

List Docker containers with detailed information.

Server MCP Docker Server tenda-chi/mcp-docker
Category Read
Risk class Low
Parameters 00 required

What list_containers does on MCP Docker Server

AI agents call list_containers to retrieve information from MCP Docker Server without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

Why list_containers needs a policy

This tool retrieves and displays information about existing Docker containers without modifying, executing, or deleting anything. It is a passive read operation with minimal risk even if misused by an AI agent, as it only returns metadata about container state.

From the tool's definition Tool name 'list_containers' and description 'List Docker containers with detailed information' indicates a query/retrieval operation with no modification or execution capability.

Questions about list_containers

What does the list_containers tool do? +

List Docker containers with detailed information. It is categorised as a Read tool in the MCP Docker Server MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.

How do I enforce a policy on list_containers? +

Register the MCP Docker Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for list_containers: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches MCP Docker Server. Nothing to install.

What risk level is list_containers? +

list_containers is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.

Can I rate-limit list_containers? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the list_containers rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.

How do I block list_containers completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for list_containers. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.

What MCP server provides list_containers? +

list_containers is provided by the MCP Docker Server MCP server (tenda-chi/mcp-docker). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

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