Connect a GitLab project

Connect each GitLab project to RealHW with one project runner. After the runner is connected, jobs choose hardware with tags in .gitlab-ci.yml.

Prerequisites

• A GitLab project where you can manage project runners
• A RealHW account with available units or an assigned billing group
• A GitLab personal access token if you want RealHW to create the runner for you

Managed setup

Use managed setup when your GitLab policy allows RealHW to create the runner.

1. Open the RealHW dashboard.
2. Select Create project runner.
3. Enter the GitLab instance URL, usually https://gitlab.com.
4. Enter the GitLab project ID or project path.
5. Choose the initial runner tags for this project.
6. Provide a GitLab personal access token with runner creation permissions.
7. Save the runner.

RealHW stores the GitLab runner token server-side. You should not need to copy glrt-* runner tokens in the normal path.

Manual import

Use manual import when your organization does not allow third-party runner creation with a personal access token.

1. Create a project runner in GitLab.
2. Copy the runner authentication token.
3. Open the RealHW dashboard.
4. Select Import runner.
5. Paste the token and choose the tags RealHW should expose.

Manual import can be more limited. RealHW may not be able to update GitLab-side tags, pause the runner, delete the runner, or rotate the runner token.

Verify

In GitLab, confirm the project has an active runner with the tags you selected. In RealHW, confirm the runner status is active.

Next, run your first job.