Hi folks The GitLab runner the Cloud team uses on casulana.d.o is currently using parts that worked three years ago, using docker-machine and a hacked qemu driver for it. While it works quite well, it got some problems with it.
docker-machine is a product by Docker upstream, but is not longer developed, without any replacement. Currently GitLab upstream makes heavy use of it, so I have no idea what they are going to do about it. But we don't need to depend on it. The qemu driver for docker-machine I enhanced is also not maintained. Also it right now only supports using "ignition" for VM bootstrap, so it requires coreos and decendents, but not Debian. And once in a while it is unable to stop VM. So, out with the old, in with the new. Introducing an all new lightweight driver for GitLab runner, using Podman, qemu, cloud-init and systemd user services writen in our "favorite" language shell. It uses Podman, the prefered solution everywhere Docker fell into disgrace. It uses cloud-init to setup everything inside the VM, so it can run with plain Debian images (Bullseye and Sid for the included Podman). And it uses systemd to handle all the lifetime stuff, so all lost VM will be forcefully removed after a preset timespan. Code and some documentation can be found here: https://salsa.debian.org/cloud-admin-team/debian-cloud-gitlab-runner-driver I intend to do that change in the next days. Let's hope it is as stable as required. Regards, Bastian -- Immortality consists largely of boredom. -- Zefrem Cochrane, "Metamorphosis", stardate 3219.8
