Lab: Create a Self-Hosted Runner

Introduction

In this lab, you will learn how to set up a self-hosted runner for your GitHub repository. A self-hosted runner allows you to run GitHub Actions workflows on your infrastructure, giving you more control over the execution environment.

Duration: 15-20 minutes

---

Instructions

Step 1: Navigate to the Repository’s Runner Settings

1. Go to your GitHub repository.

   

2. Click on the “Actions” tab.

   

3. Click on the “Runners” section in the left-hand navigation.

   

---

Step 2: Add a New Self-Hosted Runner

1. Under the Self-hosted runners section, click on the “Add Runner” button.

   

2. Click on the “New self-hosted runner” button.

   

---

Step 3: Select Operating System and Architecture

1. On the “Add a new self-hosted runner” page, choose the operating system and architecture that matches your machine.

2. Click on the “Download” button to download the appropriate runner package.

   

---

Step 4: Configure the Runner on Your Machine

1. Follow the displayed instructions to configure the runner. This typically involves:

   • Extracting the downloaded package.
   • Running a setup script (e.g., config.sh on Linux/MacOS or config.cmd on Windows).
   • Adding the runner token provided by GitHub to authenticate.

   

2. Once the setup script completes successfully, start the runner using the provided command (e.g., ./run.sh or run.cmd).

---

Step 5: Verify the Runner Configuration

1. Return to the “Runners” section in the repository’s Actions tab.

2. You should see your new self-hosted runner listed as Online.

   

---

Summary

In this lab, you successfully created and configured a self-hosted runner for your GitHub repository. This allows you to execute workflows using your own infrastructure. Self-hosted runners are particularly useful for tasks requiring specific hardware or software configurations.

---

Additional Resources

• About self-hosted runners
• Configuring self-hosted runners