A build agent is a computer that handles the tasks of running builds, at the direction of a controller. It can be a virtual machine, a Docker container, or it can run on bare metal. Within the context of a CloudBees CI cluster, a build agent can be a shared resource for client controllers. A build agent can also be dedicated to a specific controller.
What is a build agent?
Before installing a build agent, learn what a Jenkins agent is.
Set up an agent
It is best practice to build on a build agent instead of the built-in node that comes pre-configured on the controller. A build agent can take many forms - a VM, a Docker container, or a Kubernetes pod, for example.
Create an agent node
To add an external build agent to your controller:
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Go to Manage Jenkins > Manage Nodes.
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Click New node.
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Type a unique node name.
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On the Node configuration page, enter all the required values, depending on the type of build agent.
You can launch a Jenkins agent machine in many ways. Select one of the methods to launch a new node. CloudBees recommends that Windows users use JNLP and that Linux users use SSH. -
After clicking Save, Jenkins should either try to launch the agent machine, or prompt you for next steps for creating the machine.