Configuring Build Agents in Jenkins

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Configuring Build Agents in Jenkins

In this hands-on lab, we will create build agent accounts on our remote agents that will then be used to connect those to the Jenkins server to allow us to build remote jobs in a more secure way. We will use specific accounts for the build agents that are not used by normal users and are accessed by the Jenkins server via SSH keys. This can be done as part of a more secure strategy for deploying build agents, and it also allows for better Audit Trail management.

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Lab Info

Level

Beginner

Last updated

Sep 24, 2025

Duration

45m

Challenge

Log In to the Jenkins Master, and Set Up Keys for the `cloud_user` on the Agent Server
1. Log in to the Jenkins server via SSH using the cloud_user credentials provided.
2. From the Jenkins server, access the agent as the jagent user via SSH.
3. Ensure jagent's home directory is in /var/lib, and then exit the agent machine.
4. On the Jenkins server as cloud_user, generate SSH keys using all defaults (no passphrase).
5. Copy the keys from cloud_user on the Jenkins server to jagent on the agent server.
6. Verify you are able to log in to the agent server as jagent without a password.
Challenge

Copy the `.ssh` Information from `cloud_user` to the `jenkins` User
1. Log in to the Jenkins server via SSH using the cloud_user credentials provided.
2. Verify there is not an .ssh directory in the jenkins user's home directory.
3. Using sudo, copy the contents of the .ssh directory from /home/cloud_user/.ssh to /var/lib/jenkins/.ssh.
4. Verify the necessary items are located in the /var/lib.jenkins/.ssh directory and the permissions are correct.
5. Correct the permissions on the /var/lib/jenkins/.ssh directory so jenkins is the owner.
Challenge

Configure the Agent in the Jenkins GUI
1. Copy the contents of /var/lib/jenkins/.ssh/id_rsa.
2. Log in to the Jenkins GUI using the credentials provided on the lab page.
3. Navigate to Manage Jenkins > Manage Nodes and Clouds > New Node.
4. The agent should be named Ubuntu_Agent, and select Permanent Agent.
5. Configure the agent with four executors, and set the IP address as the hostname.
6. Add the credentials as SSH with private key.
7. Complete the configuration using the parameters provided.
8. Verify the agent comes online.

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