Reuse Github Actions self hosted runner on multiple repositories

Question

I have a Self-Hosted Github Actions runner running on my server for 1 of my repositories. But now I want to use that same runner for an other repo.

Is there a way that I can reuse that same Github Actions runner for an other repo without the need of creating a new runner?

Steven · Accepted Answer · 2020-04-28T07:58:22.420

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Update:

This is possible as of 22nd of April 2020. You can now share runners across an organization. This allows for repositories within your organization to use those runners.

https://github.blog/2020-04-22-github-actions-community-momentum-enterprise-capabilities-and-developer-improvements/#share-self-hosted-runners-across-an-organization

Old Answer:

This is not possible as of yet, according to a Github Partner:

Currently, we have no methods to use the self-hosted runners across repositories, and also have no options to added self-hosted runners on Organization level.

Source: https://github.community/t5/GitHub-Actions/Can-one-Github-Actions-self-hosted-runner-work-for-multiple/td-p/41465

edited Apr 28 '20 at 07:58

answered Dec 27 '19 at 14:51

Steven

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Is there any update? are we now able to add multiple repo to config of action runner? – Sameer Reza Khan Jan 22 '20 at 05:53
As of March 15th 2020, still no such option exists. – Steven Mar 15 '20 at 17:18
is there any workaround? using github hook or something? – Sameer Reza Khan Mar 16 '20 at 06:26
@SameerRezaKhan there is a workaround. https://github.community/t5/GitHub-Actions/Self-hosted-runners-specific-to-repository/m-p/48482/highlight/true#M7182. It's not great though. – rick Apr 01 '20 at 15:18
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@SameerRezaKhan This is officially suported now. Updated my answer. – Steven Apr 28 '20 at 07:59
Thank you very much. @steven – Sameer Reza Khan Apr 29 '20 at 18:36
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Anyone know of any good articles/blogs about how to do this with the new ability to share self-hosted runners? Saw the article, but I'm still not sure how to go about this – BJ McDuck May 15 '20 at 21:18
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@BrandonMcKay You simply create/use your organization (it's free) and add self-hosted runners to it (via the organization settings). – Steven May 18 '20 at 19:16
Any way to do the same for personal repos not belonging to any organization? – floatingpurr Mar 12 '21 at 15:16

score 7 · Answer 2 · answered Apr 07 '20 at 09:52

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For those that want to know what I did to fix this problem. I installed multiple GitHub runners on my server with different names. Not the best solution, but the only thing thats possible now without a dirty workaround...

answered Apr 07 '20 at 09:52

Mike Brouwer

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Honestly, not a terrible way to do it. If your repositories are exclusive, in that you can have multiple runners running concurrently and not have any conflicts (e.g. node, yarn, bundler, etc.) then I *think* this is the only way to do it. If you want/need the runner to only run job at a time (for either repository) then the best way would be to set it up as an Organization Runner and have it server multiple repositories. Please correct me if I'm wrong! :) – Joshua Pinter Nov 12 '21 at 00:12

score 5 · Answer 3 · answered May 27 '20 at 14:46

We're using auto-scaled self-hosted github action runners on AWS spot instances.

We've open-sourced it: https://github.com/philips-labs/terraform-aws-github-runner

One of its creators make a blog post about it with some information about the workings: https://040code.github.io/2020/05/25/scaling-selfhosted-action-runners

Once a runner is active it can pick up multiple builds from various repositories. After a while, the idle runners are terminated. When a new workflow is triggered, a github app will create a new runner and that runner will pick up the work.

score 3 · Answer 4 · answered Aug 22 '21 at 11:35

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Now the organization account can create a github runner and use it in all repositories.

answered Aug 22 '21 at 11:35

Jhonny Ramirez Zeballos

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is there any way for someone to do this with a personal account? I am a one man army and I have my own self-hosted runners! – Luke Pighetti May 02 '23 at 01:17
@LukePighetti if you are a one man army then the organization level action runner with Default group should serve you well. As there's no permission issue in that case. – vilicvane Jun 03 '23 at 09:36

Reuse Github Actions self hosted runner on multiple repositories

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