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.
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
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:
- Open VS Code with GitHub Copilot enabled.
- Open a Copilot chat and switch to Agent mode.
- Click Configure Tools → Add MCP Server > Command (stdio).
- When prompted for Enter Command, type
docker
and press Enter. - 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>
- VS Code will open a
mcp.json
orsettings.json
tab. If not, pressCmd+Shift+P
(Mac) /Ctrl+Shift+P
(Windows/Linux), type Open Settings JSON, and select Preferences: Open User Settings (JSON). - 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.
"<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": "${input:h3_api_key}"
},
"inputs": [
{
"type": "promptString",
"id": "h3_api_key",
"description": "H3 API Key",
"password": true
}
]
}
"<your-mcp-server-name>": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "docker",
"args": [
"run",
"--pull", "always",
"-i",
"--rm",
"-e", "H3_API_KEY",
"-e", "H3_GQL_URL=https://api.horizon3ai.eu/v1/graphql",
"-e", "H3_AUTH_URL=https://api.horizon3ai.eu/v1/auth",
"horizon3ai/h3-mcp-server:latest"
],
"env": {
"H3_API_KEY": "${input:h3_api_key}"
},
"inputs": [
{
"type": "promptString",
"id": "h3_api_key",
"description": "H3 API Key",
"password": true
}
]
}
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.