Dear people, I want to utilize Docker Desktop as a host/broker for MQTT with the goal that I can monitor Thingsboard telemetry on my notebook’s browser. The data will arrive by a microcontroller connected to the notebook via Ethernet cable. How can I set the IP address in Docker Desktop for this c…

When you publish a port of a Docker container, it will usually just listen on the host IP, so you can use that as target IP.

I tried it…but my microcontroller says it is cannot open the connection with the broker. Are we sure I can just plug an Ethernet cable to a MacBookPro and the DockerDesktop will recognize this?

Since Docker Desktop runs a virtual machine and runs Docker in it, we are sure an ethernet cable plugged into the host machine would not affect the virtual machine. I think @bluepuma77 meant that if you need an IP that you can send requests to, you can use your host machines IP address and forward p…

Thank you @rimelek (and @bluepuma77 ) , I understand now, that just plugging a cable doesn’t solve it so easy. Apparently I cannot attach an image showing visually the concept of what I try to achieve, to this forum thread… I will try to be back as soon as possible.

Hi again, attached is the said image: dummytest/Thingsboard_prototyping-For Docker forum.jpg at main · LysandrosAn/dummytest · GitHub I created this dummy repository for sharing the concept sketch. Many thanks

What’s the black box in the 3. image?

It is a docking station of type Dell UD22. The notebook connects to it via an USB-C / Thunderbolt cable. And the Microcontroller should connect there via RJ45-LAN port.

It works with a USB-LAN-adapter but not with a USB-LAN-docking-station? How are the network settings different for each LAN interface?

Exactly, it works when my notebook is connected with the μCU’s RJ45 port via the USB-LAN adapter. In this case I see in my Mac’s network settings a green dot and “Lenovo USB-C to LAN 2: IPv4 Configured: manually IP address: 10.4.16.120 Subnet mask: 255.255.0.0 However if I connect the both the no…

Continuing the discussion from Set IP in Docker Desktop for Thingsboard MQTT Broker : It worked :grinning_face: many thanks. I am still a bit confused whether the notebook itself and the docking station have the same IP address. Will do some more research on my end

Set IP in Docker Desktop for Thingsboard MQTT Broker

Docker Desktop

bluepuma77 (Bluepuma77) September 9, 2025, 1:03pm 11

So you manually configured the USB-C Adapter with an IP. But the Docking Station is not configured, it’s waiting for an IP via DHCP. But I assume it doesn’t have a second LAN interface and is not connected to a router/server. So you need to set an IP manually, as you have done for the other adapter.

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Set IP in Docker Desktop for Thingsboard MQTT Broker

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