Skip to content
RealHW

Choose a runner

Choose RealHW capacity in three layers:

  1. Start with a GitLab-compatible SaaS tag for the generic runner shape.
  2. Add RealHW hardware markers when the job needs specialized hardware.
  3. Add HW_* variables only when the job needs an explicit reservation or placement override.

Generic job

Section titled “Generic job”
unit-tests:
  tags:
    - saas-linux-medium-amd64
  script:
    - cargo test

Hardware-specific job

Section titled “Hardware-specific job”
xdp-tests:
  tags:
    - saas-linux-large-amd64
    - nic:tier:25g
    - nic:driver:mlx5_core
  variables:
    HW_NIC_TIER: "25g"
  script:
    - ./run-xdp-tests.sh

When to use variables

Section titled “When to use variables”

Tags describe eligible runner capacity. HW_* variables describe what this job must reserve now.

Use variables for explicit CPU or memory overrides, NIC tier reservation, SR-IOV VF count, NUMA policy, hugepage size, and placement preference.