---
title: 'Skia Swarming Bots'
linkTitle: 'Skia Swarming Bots'
---

## Overview

Skia's Swarming bots are hosted in three places:

- Google Compute Engine. This is the preferred location for bots which don't
  need to run on physical hardware, ie. anything that doesn't require a GPU or a
  specific hardware configuration. Most of our compile bots live here, along
  with some non-GPU test bots on Linux and Windows. We get surprisingly stable
  performance numbers from GCE, despite very few guarantees about the physical
  hardware.
- Chrome Golo. This is the preferred location for bots which require specific
  hardware or OS configurations that are not supported by GCE. We have several
  Mac, Linux, and Windows bots in the Golo.
- The Skolo (local Skia lab in Chapel Hill). Anything we can't get in GCE or the
  Golo lives here. This includes a wider variety of GPUs and all Android,
  ChromeOS, iOS, and other devices.

[go/skbl](https://goto.google.com/skbl) lists all Skia Swarming bots.

<a name="connecting-to-swarming-bots"></a> Connecting to Swarming Bots

---

If you need to make changes on a bot/device, please check with the Infra
Gardener or another Infra team member. Most bots/devices can be flashed/imaged
back to a clean state, but others can not.

- Machine name like “skia-e-gce-NNN”, “skia-ct-gce-NNN”, “skia-i-gce-NNN”,
  “ct-gce-NNN”, “ct-xxx-builder-NNN” -> GCE

  - First determine the project for the bot:
    - skia-e-gce-NNN, skia-ct-gce-NNN:
      [skia-swarming-bots](https://console.cloud.google.com/compute/instances?project=skia-swarming-bots)
    - skia-i-gce-NNN:
      [google.com:skia-buildbots](https://console.cloud.google.com/compute/instances?project=google.com:skia-buildbots)
    - ct-gce-NNN, ct-xxx-builder-NNN:
      [ct-swarming-bots](https://console.cloud.google.com/compute/instances?project=ct-swarming-bots)
  - To log in to a Linux bot in GCE, use
    `gcloud compute ssh --project <project> default@<machine name>`. Choose the
    zone listed on the VM's detail page (see links above). You may also specify
    the zone using the `--zone` command-line flag.
  - To log in to a Windows bot in GCE, first go to the VM's detail page and
    click the "Set Windows password" button. (Alternatively, ask the Infra Team
    how to log in as chrome-bot.) There are two options to connect:
    - SSH: Follow the instructions for Linux using your username rather than
      `default`.
    - RDP: On the VM's detail page, click the "RDP" button. (You will be
      instructed to install the Chrome RDP Extension for GCP if it hasn't
      already been installed.)

- Machine name ends with “a9”, “m3”, "m5" -> Chrome Golo/Labs

  - To log in to Golo bots, see
    [go/chrome-infra-build-access](https://goto.google.com/chrome-infra-build-access).

- Machine name starts with “skia-e-”, “skia-i-” (other than “skia-i-gce-NNN”),
  “skia-rpi-” -> Chapel Hill lab (aka Skolo)<br/> To log in to Skolo bots, see
  the [Skolo maintenance doc][remote access] remote access section. See the
  following for OS specific instructions:<br/>
  - [Remotely debug an Android device in Skolo][remotely debug android]
  - [VNC to Skolo Windows bots][vnc to skolo windows]
  - [ChromeOS Debugging][chromeos debugging]

## Debugging

If you need to run code on a specific machine/device to debug an issue, the
simplest option is to run tryjobs (after adding debugging output to the relevant
code). In some cases you may also need to
[create or modify tryjobs](../automated_testing#adding-new-jobs).

For Googlers: If you need more control (e.g. to run GDB) and need to run
directly on a swarming bot then you can use
[leasing.skia.org](https://leasing.skia.org).<br/> If that does not work then
the [current infra gardener][current infra gardener] can help you bring the
device back to your desk and connect it to GoogleGuest Wifi or the
[Google Test Network](http://go/gtn-criteria).

If you need to make changes on a bot/device, please check with the Infra
Gardener or another Infra team member. Most bots/devices can be flashed/imaged
back to a clean state, but others can not.

If a permanent change needs to be made on the machine (such as an OS or driver
update), please [file a bug][infra bug] and assign to jcgregorio for
reassignment.

For your convenience, the machine skolo-builder is available for checking out
and compiling code within the Skolo. See more info in the [Skolo maintenance
doc][remote access] remote access section.

[current infra gardener]:
  https://rotations.corp.google.com/rotation/4617277386260480
[remote access]:
  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zTR1YtrIFBo-fRWgbUgvJNVJ-s_4_sNjTrHIoX2vulo/edit#heading=h.v77cmwbwc5la
[infra bug]:
  https://bugs.chromium.org/p/skia/issues/entry?template=Infrastructure+Bug
[remotely debug android]:
  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nxn7TobfaLNNfhSTiwstOnjV0jCxYUI1uwW0T_V7BYg/
[vnc to skolo windows]:
  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zTR1YtrIFBo-fRWgbUgvJNVJ-s_4_sNjTrHIoX2vulo/edit#heading=h.7cqd856ft0s
[chromeos debugging]:
  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yJ2LLfLzV6pXKjiameid1LHEz1mj71Ob4wySIYxlBdw/edit#heading=h.9arg79l59xrf

## Maintenance Tasks

See the [Skolo maintenance doc][skolo maintenance].

[skolo maintenance]:
  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1zTR1YtrIFBo-fRWgbUgvJNVJ-s_4_sNjTrHIoX2vulo/edit