---
stage: Verify
group: Runner Core
info: To determine the technical writer assigned to the Stage/Group associated with this page, see <https://handbook.gitlab.com/handbook/product/ux/technical-writing/#assignments>
description: Install GitLab Runner on FreeBSD systems.
title: Install GitLab Runner on FreeBSD
---

{{< details >}}

- Tier: Free, Premium, Ultimate
- Offering: GitLab.com, GitLab Self-Managed, GitLab Dedicated

{{< /details >}}

> [!note]
> The FreeBSD version is also available as a [bleeding edge](bleeding-edge.md)
> release. Make sure that you read the [FAQ](../faq/_index.md) section which
> describes some of the most common problems with GitLab Runner.

## Supported versions

GitLab Runner supports [Production and Legacy versions of FreeBSD](https://www.freebsd.org/releases/).
End-of-life FreeBSD versions are not supported.

## Installing GitLab Runner

Here are the steps to install and configure GitLab Runner under FreeBSD:

1. Create the `gitlab-runner` user and group:

   ```shell
   sudo pw group add -n gitlab-runner
   sudo pw user add -n gitlab-runner -g gitlab-runner -s /usr/local/bin/bash
   sudo mkdir /home/gitlab-runner
   sudo chown gitlab-runner:gitlab-runner /home/gitlab-runner
   ```

1. Download the binary for your system:

   ```shell
   # For amd64
   sudo fetch -o /usr/local/bin/gitlab-runner https://s3.dualstack.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/gitlab-runner-downloads/latest/binaries/gitlab-runner-freebsd-amd64

   # For i386
   sudo fetch -o /usr/local/bin/gitlab-runner https://s3.dualstack.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/gitlab-runner-downloads/latest/binaries/gitlab-runner-freebsd-386
   ```

   You can download a binary for every available version as described in
   [Bleeding Edge - download any other tagged release](bleeding-edge.md#download-any-other-tagged-release).

1. Give it permissions to execute:

   ```shell
   sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/gitlab-runner
   ```

1. Create an empty log file with correct permissions:

   ```shell
   sudo touch /var/log/gitlab_runner.log && sudo chown gitlab-runner:gitlab-runner /var/log/gitlab_runner.log
   ```

1. Create the `rc.d` directory in case it doesn't exist:

   ```shell
   mkdir -p /usr/local/etc/rc.d
   ```

1. Create the `gitlab_runner` script inside `rc.d`:

   Bash users can do the following:

   ```shell
   sudo bash -c 'cat > /usr/local/etc/rc.d/gitlab_runner' << "EOF"
   #!/bin/sh
   # PROVIDE: gitlab_runner
   # REQUIRE: DAEMON NETWORKING
   # BEFORE:
   # KEYWORD:

   . /etc/rc.subr

   name="gitlab_runner"
   rcvar="gitlab_runner_enable"

   user="gitlab-runner"
   user_home="/home/gitlab-runner"
   command="/usr/local/bin/gitlab-runner"
   command_args="run"
   pidfile="/var/run/${name}.pid"

   start_cmd="gitlab_runner_start"

   gitlab_runner_start()
   {
      export USER=${user}
      export HOME=${user_home}
      if checkyesno ${rcvar}; then
         cd ${user_home}
         /usr/sbin/daemon -u ${user} -p ${pidfile} ${command} ${command_args} > /var/log/gitlab_runner.log 2>&1
      fi
   }

   load_rc_config $name
   run_rc_command $1
   EOF
   ```

   If you are not using bash, create a file named `/usr/local/etc/rc.d/gitlab_runner` and include the following content:

   ```shell
   #!/bin/sh
   # PROVIDE: gitlab_runner
   # REQUIRE: DAEMON NETWORKING
   # BEFORE:
   # KEYWORD:

   . /etc/rc.subr

   name="gitlab_runner"
   rcvar="gitlab_runner_enable"

   user="gitlab-runner"
   user_home="/home/gitlab-runner"
   command="/usr/local/bin/gitlab-runner"
   command_args="run"
   pidfile="/var/run/${name}.pid"

   start_cmd="gitlab_runner_start"

   gitlab_runner_start()
   {
      export USER=${user}
      export HOME=${user_home}
      if checkyesno ${rcvar}; then
         cd ${user_home}
         /usr/sbin/daemon -u ${user} -p ${pidfile} ${command} ${command_args} > /var/log/gitlab_runner.log 2>&1
      fi
   }

   load_rc_config $name
   run_rc_command $1
   ```

1. Make the `gitlab_runner` script executable:

   ```shell
   sudo chmod +x /usr/local/etc/rc.d/gitlab_runner
   ```

1. [Register a runner](../register/_index.md)
1. Enable the `gitlab-runner` service and start it:

   ```shell
   sudo sysrc gitlab_runner_enable=YES
   sudo service gitlab_runner start
   ```

   If you don't want to enable the `gitlab-runner` service to start after a
   reboot, use:

   ```shell
   sudo service gitlab_runner onestart
   ```
