Deploy GitLab Runner on Scaleway Kubernetes clusters using Easy Deploy

GitLab Runner is a powerful tool that executes CI/CD jobs in GitLab. When hosted on Kubernetes, it leverages the scalability and resilience of container orchestration to efficiently manage and run your pipelines. By deploying GitLab Runner on a Kubernetes cluster, you can dynamically scale the number of runners based on demand, ensure high availability, and seamlessly integrate with your existing Kubernetes infrastructure. This setup enables you to optimize resource utilization, reduce overhead, and enhance the performance of your continuous integration and deployment processes.

Before you start

To complete the actions presented below, you must have:

• A Scaleway account logged into the console
• Owner status or IAM permissions allowing you to perform actions in the intended Organization
• A valid API key
• Created a Scaleway Kubernetes Kapsule or Kosmos cluster
• A GitLab repository

Deploying the GitLab Runner application using Easy Deploy

1. In the Scaleway console, navigate to the Kubernetes section under Containers.
2. Click the name of the cluster where you wish to deploy GitLab Runner. The Cluster Information tab will display.
3. Click the Easy Deploy tab. The application dashboard displays.
4. Click Deploy Application. The application deployment wizard displays.
5. Choose Application Library to see the list of available applications.
6. Select the GitLab Runner application.
   Tip

   If you cannot find GitLab Runner on the first page, use the search bar or navigate through the library using the arrow buttons.

7. Optionally, customize the default configuration for GitLab Runner using Helm Charts. If you do not need any customized configuration you can skip this step.
8. Enter a name (e.g. gitlab-runner) and a Kubernetes namespace for your application. If no name is entered, GitLab Runner will be installed in the default namespace of the cluster.
9. Click Deploy Application to deploy GitLab Runner on your Kubernetes cluster.
10. Verify that the GitLab Runner is successfully installed and running:

    kubectl get pods -n default # replace "default" with the name of the Kubernetes namespace in which you have installed your GitLab Runner.
    

    You should see a pod with a name similar to gitlab-runner-xxxxxx-xxxxx in the Running state.

Configuring a GitLab CI/CD pipeline to use your Kubernetes Runner

Register the GitLab Runner with GitLab

Before your GitLab Runner can start executing jobs from your GitLab repository, it needs to be registered with your GitLab server, as shown below:

1. Obtain the GitLab Runner Registration Token:

   • Go to your GitLab project.
   • Navigate to Settings > CI/CD > Runners.
   • Under the Specific Runners section, you will see the registration token.

2. Register the GitLab Runner:

   • Connect to your Kubernetes cluster where the GitLab Runner is deployed.
   • Use the following command to start the registration process:

     kubectl exec -it <gitlab-runner-pod-name> -- gitlab-runner register
     

   • When prompted, enter the following details:
     • GitLab instance URL: The URL of your GitLab server (e.g., https://gitlab.com or your self-hosted GitLab URL).
     • Registration Token: The token you obtained in the previous step.
     • Description: A description for this runner (e.g., k8s-runner).
     • Tags: Tags for the runner (e.g., k8s-runner). These tags should match the tags specified in your .gitlab-ci.yml file.
     • Executor: Select kubernetes as the executor.

Verify Runner registration

After registering the runner, verify that it is correctly registered and active:

1. In your GitLab project, navigate to Settings > CI/CD > Runners.
2. You should see your newly registered runner listed under the Specific Runners section.

Configure the GitLab CI/CD pipeline

1. Create/Edit the .gitlab-ci.yml file:

   • Ensure your .gitlab-ci.yml file includes jobs with tags that match your runner’s tags. Refer to the configuration example below to picture what your file should look like:

   stages:
     - build
     - test
   build:
     stage: build
     script:
       - echo "Building the project..."
       - # Add your build steps here
     tags:
       - k8s-runner
   test:
     stage: test
     script:
       - echo "Running tests..."
       - # Add your test steps here
     tags:
       - k8s-runner
   

2. Push the configuration to GitLab:

   • Push your .gitlab-ci.yml file to your GitLab repository:

   git add .gitlab-ci.yml
   git commit -m "Add CI/CD pipeline configuration"
   git push origin main
   

Monitor the pipeline

Navigate to CI/CD > Pipelines in your GitLab project to view the status of your pipeline.

kubectl logs -n default <gitlab-runner-pod-name>

Conclusion

You have successfully set up a GitLab Runner hosted on Kubernetes and configured your GitLab CI/CD pipeline to use it. This setup allows you to leverage the scalability and flexibility of Kubernetes for your CI/CD workflows.

For more detailed information on configuring your GitLab Runner, refer to the official GitLab documentation.