Easy Steps to Install GitLab on Ubuntu 22.04

GitLab is a powerful, web-based Git repository manager that offers free open and private repositories, issue tracking, and wikis. As a comprehensive DevOps platform, it empowers professionals to manage every aspect of a project lifecycle, from initial planning and source code control to monitoring and security. GitLab fosters collaboration among teams, enabling them to build better software more efficiently. This guide, presented by Orcacore, will walk you through the Easy Steps to Install GitLab on Ubuntu 22.04.

Before proceeding with the installation, ensure you’re logged into your Ubuntu 22.04 server as a non-root user with sudo privileges and that a basic firewall is configured. You can refer to our guide on Initial Server Setup with Ubuntu 22.04 for detailed instructions on these prerequisites.

Additionally, you’ll need a domain name pointed to your server’s IP address.

1. Install GitLab on Ubuntu 22.04

First, update your local package index:

sudo apt update

Next, install GitLab’s dependencies:

sudo apt install ca-certificates curl openssh-server postfix tzdata perl -y

During the postfix installation, select Internet Site when prompted. On the subsequent screen, enter your server’s domain name to configure the system’s mail sending.

Download the GitLab Installation Script

Navigate to the /tmp directory:

cd /tmp

Download the GitLab installation script for Ubuntu 22.04:

curl -LO https://packages.gitlab.com/install/repositories/gitlab/gitlab-ce/script.deb.sh

Execute the installer script:

sudo bash /tmp/script.deb.sh

Upon completion, you should see the following output:

**Output**
The repository is setup! You can now install packages.

Install the GitLab application:

sudo apt install gitlab-ce

Configure Firewall Rules

Ensure your firewall allows web traffic. Assuming you’ve enabled the UFW firewall, adjust the rules:

# sudo ufw allow http
# sudo ufw allow https
# sudo ufw allow OpenSSH

Reload the firewall to apply the new rules:

sudo ufw reload

2. Configure GitLab on Ubuntu 22.04

Update the GitLab configuration file using your preferred text editor (here, vi is used):

sudo vi /etc/gitlab/gitlab.rb

Locate the external_url configuration line and update it to your domain, changing http to https to enable automatic redirection to the Let’s Encrypt-protected site:

...
external_url 'https://your_domain'
...

Find the following line, uncomment it (remove the #), and set your email address:

...
letsencrypt['contact_emails'] = ['olivia@example.com']
...

Save and close the file.

Reconfigure GitLab:

sudo gitlab-ctl reconfigure

This process initializes GitLab using your server’s information and configures a Let’s Encrypt certificate for your domain. It may take a while to complete.

Upon successful completion, you’ll see the following output:

**Output**
gitlab Reconfigured!

3. Access GitLab Web Interface

Now that you have completed the Easy Steps to Install GitLab on Ubuntu 22.04, you can configure GitLab further via the web interface. Enter your domain name in your web browser:

https://your_domain

You’ll be presented with the GitLab Community Edition Login page.

Note: GitLab generates an initial secure password, stored in a file accessible as a sudo user:

sudo vi /etc/gitlab/initial_root_password

You should see something like this:

Password: your-initial-root-password

Enter root as the username and your initial password to sign in.

[GitLab login screen – Install GitLab on Ubuntu 22.04 Image]

You’ll be taken to the GitLab dashboard, prompting you to add projects.

[GitLab dashboard Image]

From here, you can update your password, profile settings, account name, and add an SSH key.

4. Renew Let’s Encrypt Certificates for GitLab on Ubuntu 22.04

GitLab schedules a task to renew Let’s Encrypt certificates after midnight every fourth day, with the exact minute based on your external_url.

You can modify these settings in the GitLab configuration file:

sudo vi /etc/gitlab/gitlab.rb

Find the following lines, uncomment them, and update them as needed:

letsencrypt['auto_renew'] = true
letsencrypt['auto_renew_hour'] = "12"
letsencrypt['auto_renew_minute'] = "30"
letsencrypt['auto_renew_day_of_month'] = "*/7"
...

This will renew your certificates every 7th day at 12:30. Adjust as desired.

To disable auto-renewal, set letsencrypt['auto_renew'] to false:

...
letsencrypt['auto_renew'] = false
...

Save and close the file.

Conclusion

This guide has shown you the Easy Steps to Install GitLab on Ubuntu 22.04. You’ve also learned to configure and access the GitLab dashboard. We hope you find it useful. Remember that following the Easy Steps to Install GitLab on Ubuntu 22.04 is a great way to get up and running.

Alternative Installation Methods

While the above method is straightforward, there are alternative approaches to installing GitLab on Ubuntu 22.04, offering different levels of control and flexibility.

1. Installing GitLab using Docker

Docker provides a containerized environment for running applications, ensuring consistency across different environments. Installing GitLab via Docker allows for easier upgrades, rollbacks, and portability. This is another great way to implement the Easy Steps to Install GitLab on Ubuntu 22.04.

Explanation:

Docker containers encapsulate all the necessary dependencies for GitLab, isolating it from the host system and preventing conflicts. This method is particularly beneficial for managing multiple GitLab instances or for development environments.

Steps:

Install Docker and Docker Compose: If you don’t have Docker and Docker Compose installed, follow the official Docker documentation for Ubuntu.
```
sudo apt update
sudo apt install docker-ce docker-ce-cli containerd.io docker-compose-plugin
```
Create a docker-compose.yml file: This file defines the GitLab service and its dependencies. Create a new file named docker-compose.yml in a suitable directory (e.g., /opt/gitlab):
```
mkdir /opt/gitlab
cd /opt/gitlab
nano docker-compose.yml
```

Populate the docker-compose.yml file: Add the following content to the file:

version: '3.6'
services:
  gitlab:
    image: 'gitlab/gitlab-ce:latest'
    restart: always
    hostname: 'gitlab.example.com' # Replace with your domain
    environment:
      GITLAB_OMNIBUS_CONFIG: |
        external_url 'https://gitlab.example.com' # Replace with your domain
        gitlab_rails['gitlab_shell_ssh_port'] = 2224 # SSH port
        letsencrypt['enabled'] = false # Disable Let's Encrypt for initial setup
    ports:
      - '80:80'
      - '443:443'
      - '2224:22'
    volumes:
      - '/opt/gitlab/config:/etc/gitlab'
      - '/opt/gitlab/logs:/var/log/gitlab'
      - '/opt/gitlab/data:/var/opt/gitlab'

Note: Replace gitlab.example.com with your actual domain name. Also, disabling letsencrypt in the initial setup simplifies the process. You can later configure it properly or use a reverse proxy with SSL termination.

Start GitLab using Docker Compose:
```
sudo docker-compose up -d
```
This command will download the GitLab image and start the container in detached mode.
Access GitLab: After the container is running (it might take a few minutes to initialize), access GitLab through your browser using the domain specified in the docker-compose.yml file.

2. Manual Installation from Source

While less common, installing GitLab from source provides the most control over the installation process and allows for customization beyond what the Omnibus package offers. This method is complex and requires a good understanding of Ruby, Rails, and system administration.

Explanation:

Installing from source involves downloading the GitLab source code, installing all dependencies manually, configuring the application, and setting up web server integration. This approach is best suited for advanced users with specific requirements or those who want to contribute to GitLab development.

High-Level Steps (Very Simplified):

Install Dependencies: This is the most time-consuming part. You’ll need to install Ruby, Rails, Git, PostgreSQL, Redis, and numerous other libraries and tools. Consult the GitLab documentation for the specific dependencies required for your GitLab version.
Download and Extract the Source Code: Download the desired GitLab version’s source code from the GitLab repository and extract it to a suitable directory.
Configure GitLab: Create a gitlab.yml file and configure database connections, SMTP settings, and other application parameters.
Create Database and User: Create a PostgreSQL database and a user account for GitLab.
Install Gems and Migrate Database: Use bundle install to install the required Ruby gems, and then run rake db:migrate to create the database schema.
Set up a Web Server: Configure a web server like Nginx or Apache to serve the GitLab application. This involves creating virtual host configurations and setting up reverse proxying to the GitLab Unicorn server.
Start GitLab: Start the GitLab Unicorn server and other necessary processes.

Note: Providing a complete code example for manual installation is beyond the scope of this article due to its complexity. The official GitLab documentation provides detailed instructions for this method. It’s crucial to follow the official documentation closely. This is generally not recommended for beginners.

These alternative methods offer flexibility in deploying GitLab on Ubuntu 22.04, catering to various needs and skill levels. Choose the method that best suits your requirements and experience. Remember that the Easy Steps to Install GitLab on Ubuntu 22.04 provided in the initial section are often the most efficient for getting started.