Getting started

Follow this path from purchase to your first build

RunnerVPS provides cloud Macs running on dedicated Apple Silicon physical nodes—not virtual machines. Choose memory, storage, location, and rental term, then connect via SSH or VNC and validate the toolchain with a minimal task.

From $20.6/dayTwo M4 configurations across 5 locations; actual availability is shown in real time in the console.

BUILD HANDOFF First task delivery receipt
Preparation path
RUN-01 Task launch card
Configuration
Runner M4 · 16GB · 256GB
Location
Japan (Tokyo)
Rental term
Weekly
Execution progress 4 / 6
  1. Confirm configuration
  2. Choose location
  3. Submit order
  4. Verify fingerprint
  5. Validate toolchain
  6. Accept deliverables
OUTPUT RECEIPT Deliverables receipt card
Validation items
SSH, Xcode, repository access
Handoff items
Deliverables, keys, rental status
10 minutes before ordering

Prepare five inputs before delivery

Your account, notification email, SSH public key, target Xcode version, and rental term directly affect first access and environment setup. Put them in one internal task brief to make team handoffs clearer.

01 RunnerVPS account

Create an account with an email the team can access continuously. Existing users should confirm they can enter the console and verify the contact details shown there.

02 Notification email

Choose an address that can receive order and device notifications. Avoid using an address owned exclusively by someone who may leave the team.

03 SSH public key

Prepare the public key generated by your current workstation and record who holds the corresponding private key. Submit only the public key; never send the private key by email, ticket, or repository.

04 Xcode version

Confirm the target version from the project build settings, dependencies, and existing CI jobs. If the team maintains multiple projects, choose one as the initial validation baseline.

05 Required rental term

Choose a daily, weekly, monthly, or quarterly term based on task duration. Short compatibility checks usually fit daily or weekly terms; ongoing CI and fixed pipelines are better managed monthly or quarterly.

Keep access credentials out of the preparation checklist

Record only the owner, target version, public key, and task scope. Share passwords, private keys, signing files, and tokens through your team’s own secrets-management process.

Choose a plan

Choose between two M4 configurations by memory, SSD, and parallel workload

Start with Runner M4 for everyday development, single-project builds, and light automation. Choose Runner M4 Plus for more simultaneous tasks, larger dependency caches, or bigger working sets.

Everyday development

Runner M4

For remote Xcode development, single-project testing, signed builds, and light self-hosted runner workloads.

ChipM4
Memory16GB
SSD256GB
Daily$20.6
Weekly$55.7
Monthly$103.1
Quarterly$280.4
Runner M4 vs. Runner M4 Plus workflow comparison
Decision factor Runner M4 Runner M4 Plus
Parallel workloads Single-project builds, testing, and light automation Multiple build processes or higher concurrency
Dependencies and cache Regular cleanup of dependencies, simulators, and archives Larger dependency cache and working set required
Graphical interface Remote Xcode, debugging, and standard previews Remote development alongside more background tasks
When to upgrade Keep using it when memory pressure is stable and disk space is sufficient Prefer it when frequent swapping or cache cleanup affects tasks
Choose a location

Choose a delivery location from 5 options

Prioritize a location near your main operators, code repository, and artifact destination. Both plans cover Singapore, Japan (Tokyo), South Korea (Seoul), Hong Kong, and the US East Coast.

SG

Singapore

Best for workflows with core collaborators in Southeast Asia or frequent artifact transfers within the region.

Available plansRunner M4 / M4 Plus
JP

Japan (Tokyo)

Best for teams in Japan and nearby regions that need reliable SSH and graphical access.

Available plansRunner M4 / M4 Plus
KR

South Korea (Seoul)

Best for development, testing, and build tasks in South Korea and nearby regions, with convenient local device access.

Available plansRunner M4 / M4 Plus
HK

Hong Kong

Best for projects collaborating across Asia; use your team’s network paths to assess SSH and file-transfer performance.

Available plansRunner M4 / M4 Plus
US-E

US East Coast

Best for projects and pipelines whose collaborators, code services, or artifact workflows are based on the US East Coast.

Available plansRunner M4 / M4 Plus
How to choose a location

First test the path from your main operator’s network to the target region, then consider repository pulls and artifact uploads. Do not judge by geography alone or treat a single network fluctuation as a long-term result.

Troubleshoot connections
Complete your order

Review configuration, location, term, and add-ons

Before confirming, recheck the model, delivery location, start date, rental term, and storage needs. All prices are settled in USD; available payment methods and gateways are shown in the console.

ORDER CHECK Pre-submission review
Model

Runner M4 or Runner M4 Plus

Location

Choose one of 5 available locations

Rental term

Daily, weekly, monthly, or quarterly

Storage

Confirm the base SSD covers dependencies, caches, and artifacts

Parallel connectivity

Choose Thunderbolt 5 networking only when your workflow requires it

The actual user should confirm the configuration and location before submission. If the order is tied to a project, record its purpose in your team task system—but never record passwords, private keys, or complete payment credentials.

First connection

Verify the device fingerprint before opening an SSH or VNC session

The goal of the first connection is not to move in every project immediately. First confirm the device identity, access method, system version, and basic network path.

SSH path

Command-line connection setup

  1. Read device information

    Check the device name, location, access address, and host fingerprint in the console.

  2. Compare the fingerprint

    Before accepting the host key for the first time, compare every character with the fingerprint shown in the console. Stop and open a ticket if they differ.

  3. Sign in with a key

    Confirm local private-key permissions and use only the registered public key to establish the session.

  4. Check system information

    After signing in, verify the hostname, macOS version, disk space, and current user permissions.

VNC path

Graphical connection setup

  1. Verify the device first

    Confirm the target matches the ordered device, then prepare a controlled network or SSH tunnel.

  2. Open a graphical session

    Connect with a team-approved VNC client and adjust the resolution to suit the local display and network.

  3. Validate session behavior

    Check lock-screen, reconnection, and clipboard policies. Avoid storing long-term credentials on shared workstations.

  4. Update initial credentials

    After first validation, immediately update the initial access credentials and assign the least privileges required for each role.

DEVICE HANDOFF Device delivery fields
To verify
Device name
Value shown in console
Region
Location selected in the order
Rental term
Order start and end records
Access status
Credential retrieval and first-connection status
Host fingerprint
Confirm after character-by-character comparison
Owner
Team member responsible for the device
Configuration workflow

Run a minimal task before migrating the full pipeline

Split setup into five parts: toolchain, repository, signing materials, automation runner, and artifact delivery. Leave reviewable output after each part instead of importing every dependency at once.

01

Lock the toolchain

Confirm the macOS, Xcode, command-line tools, and project package-manager versions. Record target versions in project documentation or CI configuration so everyone uses the same baseline.

xcodebuild -version
02

Connect the code repository

Use a least-privilege deploy key or team-approved access method to clone a test repository. Verify read-only operations first, then add only the permissions required for release.

git remote -v
03

Inject signing materials

Provide certificates, signing files, and tokens through your team’s own secrets-management process. Never write sensitive materials to repositories, build logs, or ordinary contact email.

security list-keychains
04

Register the runner

When registering the physical node as a self-hosted runner, limit its project scope, use clear labels, and record which team and repository own it.

runner: macos-m4
05

Run a minimal validation

Choose a small test task that completes within minutes to verify dependency resolution, compilation, testing, signing, and the artifact directory. Do not use a full release task as your first attempt.

xcodebuild -showBuildSettings
06

Deliver build artifacts

Define the archive directory, file naming, verification method, and destination. Confirm artifacts can leave the device before expanding the workload or enabling more projects.

shasum -a 256 artifact.zip
Minimal task acceptance criteria
  • Toolchain versions match project requirements
  • Repository access follows least privilege
  • Test and signing output is traceable in logs
  • Artifacts are delivered and verified successfully
Terminology guide

Eight concepts you will encounter throughout setup

These terms describe device boundaries, access methods, and build workflows. Using the same terminology in task briefs and handoff documents prevents confusion between devices, instances, and runners.

Physical node
The actual Mac mini Apple Silicon device delivered for the order. Compute, local storage, and the system environment run on real hardware.
Dedicated
The physical machine assigned to the order does not share compute resources or local storage with other tenants. Your team remains responsible for member permissions and project isolation.
Cloud Mac
A Mac accessed remotely over the network and used for a rental term, suitable for development, builds, testing, and experimental workflows.
Not a virtual machine
The delivered device is not a virtual instance carved from a shared host; it is an independent Apple Silicon physical device.
VNC
A protocol for viewing and operating the macOS graphical interface remotely. Use it through a controlled network or SSH tunnel, and avoid sharing long-term credentials.
SSH
A protocol for secure command-line access, tunneling, and file transfer. Verify the host fingerprint before first connection and prefer key-based authentication.
self-hosted runner
A runner managed by your team and connected to an automation platform. Once registered, it can run build, test, and artifact-processing tasks within specified projects.
Build artifacts
Files generated by compilation, testing, or export workflows, such as archives, installers, symbol files, test reports, and verification records.
Handoff and end of term

Close out artifacts, access, and data before leaving the device

Ending a rental term is more than closing the last terminal window. Recover artifacts first, remove accounts, keys, and project data, then verify the rental status and device association in the console.

A · RECOVER

Back up artifacts to keep

  • Download archives, installers, test reports, and symbol files
  • Generate checksums for critical files and verify them at the destination
  • Confirm whether dependency caches truly need long-term retention
B · REVOKE

Remove accounts, keys, and runners

  • Revoke repository deploy keys and automation tokens
  • Deregister the self-hosted runner and clear task labels
  • Delete unneeded local accounts and SSH public keys
C · CLEAN UP

Confirm project data is no longer needed

  • Check working directories, temporary files, logs, and export directories
  • Remove certificates, signing files, and environment-variable configuration
  • Record completed cleanup items and the responsible owner
D · VERIFY

Check rental and order status

  • Verify device, order, and rental records in the console
  • Confirm the team has no builds still in progress
  • If the status differs from expectations, open a ticket through the console

Once your configuration and public key are ready, submit the order

Choose Runner M4 or Runner M4 Plus, then select one of 5 locations, a daily, weekly, monthly, or quarterly term, and any required add-ons. Only USDT-TRC20 and Visa / Mastercard / Amex via Stripe are supported; all orders are settled in USD.