Once we have Jenkins installed, we need to configure the machines we are going to use to launch our test suites or cases as Jenkins nodes. This is very easy to do.

Remember that you can read this previous post for a guide to install Jenkins in Ubuntu. And this little guide for configuring Jenkins.

0. Preparing Windows computer that we are going to add as a node: these are some tips to avoid future problems during tests executions.

• Disable any screensaver.
• Disable power-saving options.
• Setup a blank page as home in the browsers.
• Enable autologon.

1. Access Jenkins from the machine we want to add as a node. (By default, if you have installed Jenkins deploying it from Tomcat, go to http://ip_or_name_of_your_jenkins_server:8080/jenkins; or if you have installed it from native package in Ubuntu/Debian, go to http://ip_or_name_of_your_jenkins_server:8080)

2. Go to “Manage Jenkins” and click on “Manage nodes“:

3. Click on “New Node“, type a name, select “Dumb Slave” and “Ok“.

4. Fill in mandatory fields: # of executors: 1; Remote FS root: f.e. “c:jenkins”; and as Launch method, select “Launch slave agents via JNLP” and click on “Save“.5. Click on the name of the new created node:

6. Click on “Launch“:

7. Option A: create a batch file to launch Jenkins slave at startup (this is the option recommended if you are going to use Jenkins to launch tests with GUI software or Web applications).

• Open a text editor and create a batch file (f.e. slave_launcher.bat) with the launching commands:

cd c:jenkins

java -jar slave.jar -jnlpUrl http://ip_or_name_of_your_jenkins_server:8080/jenkins/computer/node_name/slave-agent.jnlp

• Create a shortcup in the startup menu to this batch file to get the Jenkins slave running after computer starts.

7. Option B: install slave as windows service.

After Jenkins slave client installation, in the java window, go to “File” > “Install as Window Server“.

8. Check in Jenkins that your new node is connected. (Refresh node page or from Jenkins home, go to “Build Excutor Status” and click on your new node name).

9. Restart the machine and check that your new node is connected tojenkins after rebooting.

10. DONE! Now this machine is ready to be used as a Jenkins slave to launch our test executions.