The Linux runner enables you to run Gitpod environments directly on your own Linux machine. This gives you full control over your infrastructure while enjoying Gitpod’s collaborative features.

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Benefits of self-hosting

Self-hosting a Linux runner offers several advantages:

  • Full infrastructure control: Maintain complete control over your hardware and environment configurations
  • Fixed costs: Only pay for your own hardware with no usage-based billing
  • Network access: Direct access to your local network services and resources
  • Resource allocation: Support for up to 10 concurrent environments on a single runner
  • Security: Keep your code and development activities within your own infrastructure
  • Customization: Tailor hardware resources to your specific development needs

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Prerequisites

Before setting up a Linux runner, ensure your system meets these requirements:

  • A Linux machine with AMD64/x86_64 architecture
  • Hardware virtualization support (KVM)
  • Minimum 2GB RAM per environment you plan to run
  • Root/sudo access for initial setup
  • Admin access to your Gitpod organization

For detailed system requirements, see the requirements documentation.

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Security considerations

When self-hosting a Linux runner:

  • The runner requires root access during installation but runs with reduced privileges
  • Environments run in isolated containers but can access the host network
  • Consider network isolation if running on shared infrastructure
  • Regularly update the runner for security patches

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Limitations

  • Maximum of 10 concurrent environments per runner
  • No built-in high availability options

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Installation and setup

To set up your Linux runner:

  1. Set up your Linux runner
  2. Configure environment classes
  3. Set up repository access

For detailed information about Linux runners, including maintenance and troubleshooting, see the Linux runners documentation.

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