• Description:
  A self-hosted GitLab Runner allows you to execute CI/CD pipelines on your own local system or server instead of using GitLab’s shared runners. This gives more control, better speed, custom environment support (Java, Python, Docker, etc.), and avoids waiting in pipeline queues. Below are the complete steps to install, register, configure, and test your own GitLab Runner on Ubuntu.

•  Step 1 — Add the GitLab Runner Repository
   First, add GitLab’s official runner installation script:
   curl -L https://packages.gitlab.com/install/repositories/runner/gitlab-runner/script.deb.sh | sudo bash
  
   This updates your system to recognize GitLab Runner packages.
•  Step 2 — Install GitLab Runner
   Run:
   sudo apt-get install gitlab-runner
  
   Verify installation:
   gitlab-runner --version
  
   This confirms the runner is available on your system.
•  Step 3 — Get a Runner Registration Token
   Go to:
   GitLab → Your Project → Settings → CI/CD → Expand Runners → Click Create Project Runner
   Enable Run untagged jobs, then click Create.
   Copy the Registration Token.
  
   This token is required to link your machine to GitLab.
•  Step 4 — Register the GitLab Runner
   Run:
   sudo gitlab-runner register
  
   When asked:
  

  Prompt	Input
  GitLab URL	https://gitlab.com/
  Registration Token	paste the token
  Runner Description	my-local-runner
  Runner Tags	local,linux
  Executor	shell

   Selecting executor=shell means your local shell will run the pipeline commands.
  
   Check registered runners:
   sudo gitlab-runner list
•  Step 5 — Start and Enable the Runner Service
   Start service manually:
   sudo gitlab-runner start
  
   Enable auto-start on boot:
   sudo systemctl enable gitlab-runner
•  Step 6 — Modify .gitlab-ci.yml to Use Your Runner
   Add the tags from registration (local) to your jobs:
  
   stages:
    - build
    - test
  
   build-job:
    stage: build
    tags:
     - local
    script:
     - echo "Building using my custom runner"
     - echo "Build completed."
  
   test-job:
    stage: test
    tags:
     - local
    script:
     - echo "Running tests on my runner"
  
   This ensures GitLab assigns pipeline jobs to your self-hosted runner.
•  Step 7 — Push Code to Trigger Pipeline
   git add .
   git commit -m "Testing self-hosted runner"
   git push
  
   Go to:
   GitLab → CI/CD → Pipelines
   You will see pipeline jobs running with your own runner.
•  Step 8 — Verify Runner Execution Logs
   On your system:
   sudo journalctl -u gitlab-runner -f
  
   This shows all job execution logs live from your machine.
•  Result
   GitLab Runner installed
   Registered and linked to your project
   CI/CD jobs running on your machine
   Pipeline executes using your environment

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