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IDE Deployment

The NodeZero MCP Server allows you to connect your IDE or AI assistant to Horizon3.ai APIs using your own infrastructure and LLM. Use this guide to quickly deploy a locally hosted MCP Server and start using NodeZero with your own tools.

Current Limitations

  • Stdio mode is the Recommended deployment path.
  • All MCP server modes (stdio, SSE, HTTP) are local and single-user
  • The server runs only on the system where you launch the Docker container.
  • Multi-user mode is not supported.
  • VS Code / GitHub Copilot must use “Agent” mode for MCP servers.
  • Do not use “Ask” or “Edit” modes — they will not leverage MCP tools.

Possible Security Risks

Using SSE/Streamable HTTP mode with this locally deployed MCP may present a security risk as this mode does not support runtime isolation and your JWT token will not be isolated to a session ID.

1. Create an API key for the MCP Server

The NodeZero Runner uses the h3-cli to communicate with the Horizon3.ai API, requiring an API key with specific permissions.

  • Navigate to API key settings:
    • In the Portal, click the Profile Menu (upper right corner), then click Settings
    • Click My Settings to display the API Keys section.

My Settings Page

Figure 1 - My Settings page with the API Keys section visible.

  • Generate a key:
    • Create a new API key and set its permission level to User.
    • Save the API key securely. You will need it in a following step.

2. Install Docker

Tip

If using an already configured NodeZero Host or OVA docker should already be installed

Follow these steps to install and configure Docker to enable NodeZero functionality on your host. Check out the Docker Documentation for troubleshooting.

Begin by updating your system and installing Docker, run the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y docker.io

2.1 Start and enable Docker

Ensure Docker starts automatically, run the following commands:

sudo systemctl start docker
sudo systemctl enable docker

2.2 Confirm that Docker was successfully installed

Check the Docker version by running:

docker --version

Run a test container to verify functionality by running:

sudo docker run hello-world

3. Download the NodeZero MCP server container

Download the container from either Docker Hub or the AWS Public Registry.

docker pull horizon3ai/h3-mcp-server:latest

docker pull public.ecr.aws/horizon3ai/h3-mcp-server

4. Setting up NodeZero MCP Server with VS Code and Copilot in Agent Mode

Prior to starting ensure VS Code is configured for supporting stdio MCP servers - VS Code MCP Server with Copilot setup

Compatible IDEs

Other MCP enabled IDEs or MCP clients should be compatible. Please reference official documentation from your preferred method.

Instructions for VS Code:

  1. Open VS Code with GitHub Copilot enabled.
  2. Open a Copilot chat and switch to Agent mode.
  3. Click Configure Tools → Add MCP Server > Command (stdio).
  4. When prompted for Enter Command, type docker and press Enter.
  5. Provide a name for the server (e.g., NodeZeroMCP) and press Enter. Use this name in the JSON input below replacing <your-mcp-server-name>
  6. VS Code will open a mcp.json or settings.json tab. If not, press Cmd+Shift+P (Mac) / Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux), type Open Settings JSON, and select Preferences: Open User Settings (JSON).
  7. Update your configuration as follows. Use the inputs feature to securely prompt for the API key (generated from step 1) at runtime, keeping it out of the file and reducing risk of accidental exposure.
{
  "servers":{
    "<your-mcp-server-name>": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "docker",
      "args": [
        "run",
        "--pull", "always",
        "-i",
        "--rm",
        "-e", "H3_API_KEY",
        "horizon3ai/h3-mcp-server:latest"
      ],
      "env": {
        "H3_API_KEY": "${input:h3_api_key}"
      },
      "inputs": [
        {
          "type": "promptString",
          "id": "h3_api_key",
          "description": "H3 API Key",
          "password": true
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

{
  "servers":{
    "<your-mcp-server-name>": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "docker",
      "args": [
        "run",
        "--pull", "always",
        "-i",
        "--rm",
        "-e", "H3_API_KEY",
        "-e", "H3_GQL_URL=https://api.horizon3ai.eu/v1/graphql",
        "-e", "H3_AUTH_URL=https://api.horizon3ai.eu/v1/auth",
        "horizon3ai/h3-mcp-server:latest"
      ],
      "env": {
        "H3_API_KEY": "${input:h3_api_key}"
      },
      "inputs": [
        {
          "type": "promptString",
          "id": "h3_api_key",
          "description": "H3 API Key",
          "password": true
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

{
  "servers": {
    "filesystem": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem", "/path/to/allowed/files"]
    }, // (1)!
    "NodeZeroMCP": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "docker",
      "args": [
        "run",
        "--pull", "always",
        "-i",
        "--rm",
        "-e", "H3_API_KEY",
        "horizon3ai/h3-mcp-server:latest"                // (2)!
      ],
      "env": {
        "H3_API_KEY": "${input:h3_api_key}"
      },
      "inputs": [
        {
          "type": "promptString",
          "id": "h3_api_key",
          "description": "H3 API Key",
          "password": true
        }
      ]
    } // (3)!
  }
}

  1. Add a comma here - When you have an existing MCP server, you must add a comma after its closing brace to separate it from the next server entry.

  2. NodeZero server configuration - This is where you paste the complete NodeZero MCP server configuration. Make sure it's properly indented and nested within the "servers" object.

  3. No comma needed - The last server entry in the object doesn't need a trailing comma.

JSON Syntax Rules

When adding the NodeZero MCP server to an existing configuration:

  • Ensure each server object is separated by commas
  • The server name (e.g., <your-mcp-server-name>) must be unique
  • All opening braces { must have corresponding closing braces }
  • Use a JSON validator if you're unsure about syntax

After configuring VS Code with NodeZero MCP server it will:

  • Securely prompt for your API key
  • Pull the latest container
  • Connect to NodeZero MCP server via stdio in Agent Mode.