456 lines
19 KiB
Markdown
456 lines
19 KiB
Markdown
---
|
|
stage: Verify
|
|
group: Runner
|
|
info: To determine the technical writer assigned to the Stage/Group associated with this page, see https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/engineering/ux/technical-writing/#designated-technical-writers
|
|
type: reference
|
|
---
|
|
|
|
# Configuring runners in GitLab
|
|
<!-- This topic contains several commented-out sections that were accidentally added in 13.2.-->
|
|
<!-- The commented-out sections will be added back in a future release.-->
|
|
|
|
In GitLab CI/CD, runners run the code defined in [`.gitlab-ci.yml`](../yaml/README.md).
|
|
A runner is a lightweight, highly-scalable agent that picks up a CI job through
|
|
the coordinator API of GitLab CI/CD, runs the job, and sends the result back to the GitLab instance.
|
|
|
|
Runners are created by an administrator and are visible in the GitLab UI.
|
|
Runners can be specific to certain projects or available to all projects.
|
|
|
|
## Types of runners
|
|
|
|
In the GitLab UI there are three types of runners, based on who you want to have access:
|
|
|
|
- [Shared runners](#shared-runners) are available to all groups and projects in a GitLab instance.
|
|
- [Group runners](#group-runners) are available to all projects and subgroups in a group.
|
|
- [Specific runners](#specific-runners) are associated with specific projects.
|
|
Typically, specific runners are used for one project at a time.
|
|
|
|
### Shared runners
|
|
|
|
*Shared runners* are available to every project in a GitLab instance.
|
|
|
|
Use shared runners when you have multiple jobs with similar requirements. Rather than
|
|
having multiple runners idling for many projects, you can have a few runners that handle
|
|
multiple projects.
|
|
|
|
If you are using a self-managed instance of GitLab:
|
|
|
|
- Your administrator can install and register shared runners by [following the documentation](https://docs.gitlab.com/runner/install/index.html).
|
|
<!-- going to your project's
|
|
<!-- **Settings > CI / CD**, expanding the **Runners** section, and clicking **Show runner installation instructions**.-->
|
|
<!-- These instructions are also available [in the documentation](https://docs.gitlab.com/runner/install/index.html).-->
|
|
- The administrator can also configure a maximum number of shared runner [pipeline minutes for
|
|
each group](../../user/admin_area/settings/continuous_integration.md#shared-runners-pipeline-minutes-quota).
|
|
|
|
If you are using GitLab.com:
|
|
|
|
- You can select from a list of [shared runners that GitLab maintains](../../user/gitlab_com/index.md#shared-runners).
|
|
- The shared runners consume the [pipelines minutes](../../subscriptions/gitlab_com/index.md#ci-pipeline-minutes)
|
|
included with your account.
|
|
|
|
#### How shared runners pick jobs
|
|
|
|
Shared runners process jobs by using a fair usage queue. This queue prevents
|
|
projects from creating hundreds of jobs and using all available
|
|
shared runner resources.
|
|
|
|
The fair usage queue algorithm assigns jobs based on the projects that have the
|
|
fewest number of jobs already running on shared runners.
|
|
|
|
**Example 1**
|
|
|
|
If these jobs are in the queue:
|
|
|
|
- Job 1 for Project 1
|
|
- Job 2 for Project 1
|
|
- Job 3 for Project 1
|
|
- Job 4 for Project 2
|
|
- Job 5 for Project 2
|
|
- Job 6 for Project 3
|
|
|
|
The fair usage algorithm assigns jobs in this order:
|
|
|
|
1. Job 1 is chosen first, because it has the lowest job number from projects with no running jobs (that is, all projects).
|
|
1. Job 4 is next, because 4 is now the lowest job number from projects with no running jobs (Project 1 has a job running).
|
|
1. Job 6 is next, because 6 is now the lowest job number from projects with no running jobs (Projects 1 and 2 have jobs running).
|
|
1. Job 2 is next, because, of projects with the lowest number of jobs running (each has 1), it is the lowest job number.
|
|
1. Job 5 is next, because Project 1 now has 2 jobs running and Job 5 is the lowest remaining job number between Projects 2 and 3.
|
|
1. Finally is Job 3... because it's the only job left.
|
|
|
|
---
|
|
|
|
**Example 2**
|
|
|
|
If these jobs are in the queue:
|
|
|
|
- Job 1 for Project 1
|
|
- Job 2 for Project 1
|
|
- Job 3 for Project 1
|
|
- Job 4 for Project 2
|
|
- Job 5 for Project 2
|
|
- Job 6 for Project 3
|
|
|
|
The fair usage algorithm assigns jobs in this order:
|
|
|
|
1. Job 1 is chosen first, because it has the lowest job number from projects with no running jobs (that is, all projects).
|
|
1. We finish Job 1.
|
|
1. Job 2 is next, because, having finished Job 1, all projects have 0 jobs running again, and 2 is the lowest available job number.
|
|
1. Job 4 is next, because with Project 1 running a Job, 4 is the lowest number from projects running no jobs (Projects 2 and 3).
|
|
1. We finish Job 4.
|
|
1. Job 5 is next, because having finished Job 4, Project 2 has no jobs running again.
|
|
1. Job 6 is next, because Project 3 is the only project left with no running jobs.
|
|
1. Lastly we choose Job 3... because, again, it's the only job left.
|
|
|
|
#### Enable shared runners
|
|
|
|
On GitLab.com, [shared runners](#shared-runners) are enabled in all projects by
|
|
default.
|
|
|
|
On self-managed instances of GitLab, an administrator must [install](https://docs.gitlab.com/runner/install/index.html)
|
|
and [register](https://docs.gitlab.com/runner/register/index.html) them.
|
|
|
|
You can also enable shared runners for individual projects.
|
|
|
|
To enable shared runners:
|
|
|
|
1. Go to the project's **Settings > CI/CD** and expand the **Runners** section.
|
|
1. Click **Allow shared runners**.
|
|
|
|
#### Disable shared runners
|
|
|
|
You can disable shared runners for individual projects or for groups.
|
|
You must have Owner permissions for the project or group.
|
|
|
|
To disable shared runners for a project:
|
|
|
|
1. Go to the project's **Settings > CI/CD** and expand the **Runners** section.
|
|
1. In the **Shared runners** area, click **Disable shared runners**.
|
|
|
|
To disable shared runners for a group:
|
|
|
|
1. Go to the group's **Settings > CI/CD** and expand the **Runners** section.
|
|
1. In the **Shared runners** area, click **Enable shared runners for this group**.
|
|
1. Optionally, to allow shared runners to be enabled for individual projects or subgroups,
|
|
click **Allow projects and subgroups to override the group setting**.
|
|
|
|
### Group runners
|
|
|
|
Use *Group runners* when you want all projects in a group
|
|
to have access to a set of runners.
|
|
|
|
Group runners process jobs by using a first in, first out ([FIFO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFO_(computing_and_electronics))) queue.
|
|
|
|
#### Create a group runner
|
|
|
|
You can create a group runner for your self-managed GitLab instance or for GitLab.com.
|
|
You must have [Owner permissions](../../user/permissions.md#group-members-permissions) for the group.
|
|
|
|
To create a group runner:
|
|
|
|
1. [Install GitLab Runner](https://docs.gitlab.com/runner/install/).
|
|
1. Go to the group you want to make the runner work for.
|
|
1. Go to **Settings > CI/CD** and expand the **Runners** section.
|
|
1. Note the URL and token.
|
|
1. [Register the runner](https://docs.gitlab.com/runner/register/).
|
|
|
|
#### View and manage group runners
|
|
|
|
> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/37366/) in GitLab 13.2.
|
|
|
|
You can view and manage all runners for a group, its subgroups, and projects.
|
|
You can do this for your self-managed GitLab instance or for GitLab.com.
|
|
You must have [Owner permissions](../../user/permissions.md#group-members-permissions) for the group.
|
|
|
|
1. Go to the group where you want to view the runners.
|
|
1. Go to **Settings > CI/CD** and expand the **Runners** section.
|
|
1. The following fields are displayed.
|
|
|
|
| Attribute | Description |
|
|
| ------------ | ----------- |
|
|
| Type | One or more of the following states: shared, group, specific, locked, or paused |
|
|
| Runner token | Token used to identify the runner, and that the runner uses to communicate with the GitLab instance |
|
|
| Description | Description given to the runner when it was created |
|
|
| Version | GitLab Runner version |
|
|
| IP address | IP address of the host on which the runner is registered |
|
|
| Projects | The count of projects to which the runner is assigned |
|
|
| Jobs | Total of jobs run by the runner |
|
|
| Tags | Tags associated with the runner |
|
|
| Last contact | Timestamp indicating when the GitLab instance last contacted the runner |
|
|
|
|
From this page, you can edit, pause, and remove runners from the group, its subgroups, and projects.
|
|
|
|
#### Pause or remove a group runner
|
|
|
|
You can pause or remove a group runner for your self-managed GitLab instance or for GitLab.com.
|
|
You must have [Owner permissions](../../user/permissions.md#group-members-permissions) for the group.
|
|
|
|
1. Go to the group you want to remove or pause the runner for.
|
|
1. Go to **Settings > CI/CD** and expand the **Runners** section.
|
|
1. Click **Pause** or **Remove runner**.
|
|
- If you pause a group runner that is used by multiple projects, the runner pauses for all projects.
|
|
- From the group view, you cannot remove a runner that is assigned to more than one project.
|
|
You must remove it from each project first.
|
|
1. On the confirmation dialog, click **OK**.
|
|
|
|
### Specific runners
|
|
|
|
Use *Specific runners* when you want to use runners for specific projects. For example,
|
|
when you have:
|
|
|
|
- Jobs with specific requirements, like a deploy job that requires credentials.
|
|
- Projects with a lot of CI activity that can benefit from being separate from other runners.
|
|
|
|
You can set up a specific runner to be used by multiple projects. Specific runners
|
|
must be enabled for each project explicitly.
|
|
|
|
Specific runners process jobs by using a first in, first out ([FIFO](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFO_(computing_and_electronics))) queue.
|
|
|
|
NOTE: **Note:**
|
|
Specific runners do not get shared with forked projects automatically.
|
|
A fork *does* copy the CI / CD settings of the cloned repository.
|
|
|
|
#### Create a specific runner
|
|
|
|
You can create a specific runner for your self-managed GitLab instance or for GitLab.com.
|
|
You must have [Owner permissions](../../user/permissions.md#project-members-permissions) for the project.
|
|
|
|
To create a specific runner:
|
|
|
|
1. [Install runner](https://docs.gitlab.com/runner/install/).
|
|
1. Go to the project's **Settings > CI/CD** and expand the **Runners** section.
|
|
1. Note the URL and token.
|
|
1. [Register the runner](https://docs.gitlab.com/runner/register/).
|
|
|
|
#### Enable a specific runner for a specific project
|
|
|
|
A specific runner is available in the project it was created for. An administrator can
|
|
enable a specific runner to apply to additional projects.
|
|
|
|
- You must have Owner permissions for the project.
|
|
- The specific runner must not be [locked](#prevent-a-specific-runner-from-being-enabled-for-other-projects).
|
|
|
|
To enable or disable a specific runner for a project:
|
|
|
|
1. Go to the project's **Settings > CI/CD** and expand the **Runners** section.
|
|
1. Click **Enable for this project** or **Disable for this project**.
|
|
|
|
#### Prevent a specific runner from being enabled for other projects
|
|
|
|
You can configure a specific runner so it is "locked" and cannot be enabled for other projects.
|
|
This setting can be enabled when you first [register a runner](https://docs.gitlab.com/runner/register/),
|
|
but can also be changed later.
|
|
|
|
To lock or unlock a runner:
|
|
|
|
1. Go to the project's **Settings > CI/CD** and expand the **Runners** section.
|
|
1. Find the runner you want to lock or unlock. Make sure it's enabled.
|
|
1. Click the pencil button.
|
|
1. Check the **Lock to current projects** option.
|
|
1. Click **Save changes**.
|
|
|
|
## Manually clear the runner cache
|
|
|
|
Read [clearing the cache](../caching/index.md#clearing-the-cache).
|
|
|
|
## Set maximum job timeout for a runner
|
|
|
|
For each runner, you can specify a *maximum job timeout*. This timeout,
|
|
if smaller than the [project defined timeout](../pipelines/settings.md#timeout), takes precedence.
|
|
|
|
This feature can be used to prevent your shared runner from being overwhelmed
|
|
by a project that has jobs with a long timeout (for example, one week).
|
|
|
|
When not configured, runners do not override the project timeout.
|
|
|
|
How this feature works:
|
|
|
|
**Example 1 - Runner timeout bigger than project timeout**
|
|
|
|
1. You set the _maximum job timeout_ for a runner to 24 hours
|
|
1. You set the _CI/CD Timeout_ for a project to **2 hours**
|
|
1. You start a job
|
|
1. The job, if running longer, will be timed out after **2 hours**
|
|
|
|
**Example 2 - Runner timeout not configured**
|
|
|
|
1. You remove the _maximum job timeout_ configuration from a runner
|
|
1. You set the _CI/CD Timeout_ for a project to **2 hours**
|
|
1. You start a job
|
|
1. The job, if running longer, will be timed out after **2 hours**
|
|
|
|
**Example 3 - Runner timeout smaller than project timeout**
|
|
|
|
1. You set the _maximum job timeout_ for a runner to **30 minutes**
|
|
1. You set the _CI/CD Timeout_ for a project to 2 hours
|
|
1. You start a job
|
|
1. The job, if running longer, will be timed out after **30 minutes**
|
|
|
|
## Be careful with sensitive information
|
|
|
|
With some [runner executors](https://docs.gitlab.com/runner/executors/README.html),
|
|
if you can run a job on the runner, you can get full access to the file system,
|
|
and thus any code it runs as well as the token of the runner. With shared runners, this means that anyone
|
|
that runs jobs on the runner, can access anyone else's code that runs on the
|
|
runner.
|
|
|
|
In addition, because you can get access to the runner token, it is possible
|
|
to create a clone of a runner and submit false jobs, for example.
|
|
|
|
The above is easily avoided by restricting the usage of shared runners
|
|
on large public GitLab instances, controlling access to your GitLab instance,
|
|
and using more secure [runner executors](https://docs.gitlab.com/runner/executors/README.html).
|
|
|
|
### Prevent runners from revealing sensitive information
|
|
|
|
> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-foss/-/merge_requests/13194) in GitLab 10.0.
|
|
|
|
You can protect runners so they don't reveal sensitive information.
|
|
When a runner is protected, the runner picks jobs created on
|
|
[protected branches](../../user/project/protected_branches.md) or [protected tags](../../user/project/protected_tags.md) only,
|
|
and ignores other jobs.
|
|
|
|
To protect or unprotect a runner:
|
|
|
|
1. Go to the project's **Settings > CI/CD** and expand the **Runners** section.
|
|
1. Find the runner you want to protect or unprotect. Make sure it's enabled.
|
|
1. Click the pencil button.
|
|
1. Check the **Protected** option.
|
|
1. Click **Save changes**.
|
|
|
|
![specific runners edit icon](img/protected_runners_check_box.png)
|
|
|
|
### Forks
|
|
|
|
Whenever a project is forked, it copies the settings of the jobs that relate
|
|
to it. This means that if you have shared runners set up for a project and
|
|
someone forks that project, the shared runners serve jobs of this project.
|
|
|
|
### Attack vectors in runners
|
|
|
|
Mentioned briefly earlier, but the following things of runners can be exploited.
|
|
We're always looking for contributions that can mitigate these
|
|
[Security Considerations](https://docs.gitlab.com/runner/security/).
|
|
|
|
### Reset the runner registration token for a project
|
|
|
|
If you think that a registration token for a project was revealed, you should
|
|
reset it. A token can be used to register another runner for the project. That new runner
|
|
may then be used to obtain the values of secret variables or to clone project code.
|
|
|
|
To reset the token:
|
|
|
|
1. Go to the project's **Settings > CI/CD**.
|
|
1. Expand the **General pipelines settings** section.
|
|
1. Find the **Runner token** form field and click the **Reveal value** button.
|
|
1. Delete the value and save the form.
|
|
1. After the page is refreshed, expand the **Runners settings** section
|
|
and check the registration token - it should be changed.
|
|
|
|
From now on the old token is no longer valid and does not register
|
|
any new runners to the project. If you are using any tools to provision and
|
|
register new runners, the tokens used in those tools should be updated to reflect the
|
|
value of the new token.
|
|
|
|
## Determine the IP address of a runner
|
|
|
|
> [Introduced](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab-foss/-/merge_requests/17286) in GitLab 10.6.
|
|
|
|
It may be useful to know the IP address of a runner so you can troubleshoot
|
|
issues with that runner. GitLab stores and displays the IP address by viewing
|
|
the source of the HTTP requests it makes to GitLab when polling for jobs. The
|
|
IP address is always kept up to date so if the runner IP changes it will be
|
|
automatically updated in GitLab.
|
|
|
|
The IP address for shared runners and specific runners can be found in
|
|
different places.
|
|
|
|
### Determine the IP address of a shared runner
|
|
|
|
To view the IP address of a shared runner you must have admin access to
|
|
the GitLab instance. To determine this:
|
|
|
|
1. Visit **Admin Area > Overview > Runners**.
|
|
1. Look for the runner in the table and you should see a column for **IP Address**.
|
|
|
|
![shared runner IP address](img/shared_runner_ip_address.png)
|
|
|
|
### Determine the IP address of a specific runner
|
|
|
|
To can find the IP address of a runner for a specific project,
|
|
you must have Owner [permissions](../../user/permissions.md#project-members-permissions) for the project.
|
|
|
|
1. Go to the project's **Settings > CI/CD** and expand the **Runners** section.
|
|
1. On the details page you should see a row for **IP Address**.
|
|
|
|
![specific runner IP address](img/specific_runner_ip_address.png)
|
|
|
|
## Use tags to limit the number of jobs using the runner
|
|
|
|
You must set up a runner to be able to run all the different types of jobs
|
|
that it may encounter on the projects it's shared over. This would be
|
|
problematic for large amounts of projects, if it weren't for tags.
|
|
|
|
By tagging a runner for the types of jobs it can handle, you can make sure
|
|
shared runners will [only run the jobs they are equipped to run](../yaml/README.md#tags).
|
|
|
|
For instance, at GitLab we have runners tagged with `rails` if they contain
|
|
the appropriate dependencies to run Rails test suites.
|
|
|
|
When you [register a runner](https://docs.gitlab.com/runner/register/), its default behavior is to **only pick**
|
|
[tagged jobs](../yaml/README.md#tags).
|
|
To change this, you must have Owner [permissions](../../user/permissions.md#project-members-permissions) for the project.
|
|
|
|
To make a runner pick untagged jobs:
|
|
|
|
1. Go to the project's **Settings > CI/CD** and expand the **Runners** section.
|
|
1. Find the runner you want to pick untagged jobs and make sure it's enabled.
|
|
1. Click the pencil button.
|
|
1. Check the **Run untagged jobs** option.
|
|
1. Click the **Save changes** button for the changes to take effect.
|
|
|
|
NOTE: **Note:**
|
|
The runner tags list can not be empty when it's not allowed to pick untagged jobs.
|
|
|
|
Below are some example scenarios of different variations.
|
|
|
|
### runner runs only tagged jobs
|
|
|
|
The following examples illustrate the potential impact of the runner being set
|
|
to run only tagged jobs.
|
|
|
|
Example 1:
|
|
|
|
1. The runner is configured to run only tagged jobs and has the `docker` tag.
|
|
1. A job that has a `hello` tag is executed and stuck.
|
|
|
|
Example 2:
|
|
|
|
1. The runner is configured to run only tagged jobs and has the `docker` tag.
|
|
1. A job that has a `docker` tag is executed and run.
|
|
|
|
Example 3:
|
|
|
|
1. The runner is configured to run only tagged jobs and has the `docker` tag.
|
|
1. A job that has no tags defined is executed and stuck.
|
|
|
|
### runner is allowed to run untagged jobs
|
|
|
|
The following examples illustrate the potential impact of the runner being set
|
|
to run tagged and untagged jobs.
|
|
|
|
Example 1:
|
|
|
|
1. The runner is configured to run untagged jobs and has the `docker` tag.
|
|
1. A job that has no tags defined is executed and run.
|
|
1. A second job that has a `docker` tag defined is executed and run.
|
|
|
|
Example 2:
|
|
|
|
1. The runner is configured to run untagged jobs and has no tags defined.
|
|
1. A job that has no tags defined is executed and run.
|
|
1. A second job that has a `docker` tag defined is stuck.
|
|
|
|
## System calls not available on GitLab.com shared runners
|
|
|
|
GitLab.com shared runners run on CoreOS. This means that you cannot use some system calls, like `getlogin`, from the C standard library.
|