If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve stumbled upon a frustrating issue with your Kubernetes Gitlab Runner setup. You’ve specified a service account to run your Gitlab jobs, but somehow, they’re still using the System:Anonymous account. Don’t worry, you’re not alone! In this article, we’ll dive into the problem, explore the reasons behind it, and most importantly, provide you with a step-by-step guide to fix it.
The Problem: System:Anonymous account takeover
Imagine you’ve set up a Kubernetes cluster, created a service account with the necessary permissions, and configured your Gitlab Runner to use it. You expect your Gitlab jobs to run smoothly, using the specified service account to authenticate and authorize requests. But, when you check the job logs, you’re shocked to see that they’re running with the System:Anonymous account instead! This can lead to permission issues, authentication problems, and even security concerns.
Why is this happening?
There are several reasons why your Gitlab jobs might be using the System:Anonymous account instead of the specified service account. Some of the common culprits include:
-
Incorrect service account configuration
-
Misconfigured Gitlab Runner settings
-
Kubernetes RBAC issues
-
Pod execution context problems
Step-by-Step Solution
Fear not, dear reader! We’ll walk you through a comprehensive solution to resolve this issue once and for all.
Step 1: Verify Service Account Configuration
First, ensure your service account is correctly configured in Kubernetes. You can check this using the following command:
kubectl get sa -o yaml
This will display the service account configuration in YAML format. Verify that the service account exists and has the necessary permissions.
Step 2: Check Gitlab Runner Configuration
Next, inspect your Gitlab Runner configuration file (usually `config.toml`) to ensure it’s correctly referencing the service account. Look for the following lines:
[runners.kubernetes] service_account = "" namespace = ""
Make sure the service account name and namespace match the ones you created in Kubernetes.
Step 3: Update Kubernetes RBAC
Kubernetes Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) might be causing the issue. Create a ClusterRole or Role that grants the necessary permissions to the service account:
apiVersion: rbac.authorization.k8s.io/v1 kind: ClusterRole metadata: name: gitlab-runner-role rules: - apiGroups: ["*"] resources: ["*"] verbs: ["*"] --- apiVersion: rbac.authorization.k8s.io/v1 kind: ClusterRoleBinding metadata: name: gitlab-runner-rolebinding roleRef: name: gitlab-runner-role kind: ClusterRole subjects: - kind: ServiceAccount name: namespace:
Apply the configuration using `kubectl apply -f rbac.yaml`.
Step 4: Configure Pod Execution Context
The pod execution context might be overriding your service account settings. Create a `pod_annotation_config` file with the following content:
apiVersion: v1 kind: ConfigMap metadata: name: pod-annotation-config data: pod_annotations: | { "serviceAccount": "", "serviceAccountName": "" }
Apply the configuration using `kubectl apply -f pod_annotation_config.yaml`.
Step 5: Update Gitlab Runner Deployment
Update your Gitlab Runner deployment to use the new configuration:
apiVersion: apps/v1 kind: Deployment metadata: name: gitlab-runner spec: selector: matchLabels: app: gitlab-runner template: metadata: labels: app: gitlab-runner spec: containers: - name: gitlab-runner image: gitlab/gitlab-runner:latest volumeMounts: - name: config mountPath: /etc/gitlab-runner - name: pod-annotation-config mountPath: /etc/pod-annotation-config volumes: - name: config configMap: name: gitlab-runner-config - name: pod-annotation-config configMap: name: pod-annotation-config
Apply the changes using `kubectl apply -f gitlab_runner_deployment.yaml`.
Verification and Troubleshooting
After completing the above steps, verify that your Gitlab jobs are running with the specified service account:
kubectl get pods -l app=gitlab-runner -o jsonpath='{.items[0].spec.serviceAccount}'
If you still encounter issues, check the following:
Issue | Possible Cause | Solution |
---|---|---|
Job still uses System:Anonymous account | Incorrect service account configuration or permissions | Re-check service account configuration, permissions, and RBAC |
Gitlab Runner deployment fails | Incorrect deployment configuration or pod annotation config | Re-check deployment configuration, pod annotation config, and ConfigMap |
Jobs fail with authentication errors | Kubernetes RBAC or service account permissions issues | Re-check RBAC configuration, service account permissions, and role bindings |
By following these steps, you should now have your Kubernetes Gitlab Runner setup running smoothly with the specified service account. Remember to double-check each configuration file and apply the changes carefully to avoid any mistakes.
Conclusion
The System:Anonymous account takeover can be a frustrating issue, but with this comprehensive guide, you should be able to resolve it easily. Remember to stay vigilant and monitor your Gitlab jobs to ensure they’re running with the correct service account. If you encounter any further issues or have questions, feel free to ask in the comments below!
Happy DevOps-ing!
Frequently Asked Question
Ever wondered why your Gitlab Jobs are running under the System:Anonymous account instead of the specified service account when using Kubernetes Gitlab Runner? We’ve got the answers for you!
Why is my Gitlab Job running under System:Anonymous instead of the specified service account?
The most common reason is that the Kubernetes Gitlab Runner is not properly configured to use the specified service account. Make sure that the `GitLab Runner` pod is running with the correct service account, and that the `KUBECONFIG` variable is set correctly. Check your `gitlab-runner-config.toml` file and ensure that the ` Kubernetes` executor is correctly configured.
How do I check if my GitLab Runner is using the correct service account?
You can check the GitLab Runner pod logs to see which service account is being used. Run the command `kubectl logs -f gitlab-runner` and look for the line `Using service account `. If it’s not using the correct service account, you can try deleting the pod and letting it recreate with the correct configuration.
What if I’ve already checked my configuration and everything looks correct?
Sometimes, the issue might be due to a mismatch between the service account name in your `gitlab-runner-config.toml` file and the actual service account name in your Kubernetes cluster. Double-check that the service account name is correct and matches the one in your cluster. Additionally, ensure that the service account has the necessary permissions to run the job.
Can I specify a default service account for my GitLab Runner?
Yes, you can! You can specify a default service account for your GitLab Runner by setting the `run_as_user` and `run_as_group` options in your `gitlab-runner-config.toml` file. This will ensure that all jobs run under the specified service account unless explicitly specified otherwise.
What if I’m still having issues after trying all the above steps?
If you’re still having issues, try checking the GitLab Runner and Kubernetes cluster logs for any errors or warnings. You can also try enabling debug logging for the GitLab Runner to get more detailed information. If all else fails, you can try reaching out to the GitLab community or a Kubernetes expert for further assistance.