| Hostname | IP Address | RAM (GB) | Cores | Storage (GB) | OS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| gitlab2.dev.naijalabs.net | 192.168.1.232 | 4 | 2 | 150 | Ubuntu 22.04 LTS Jammy Jellyfish |
Learn how to install GitLab CE on Ubuntu 22.04 with this step-by-step guide. Includes CLI examples, troubleshooting tips, and best practices for a smooth deployment.
GitLab CE (Community Edition) is a robust, self-hosted Git repository management system that provides CI/CD, issue tracking, and more. In this guide, we will walk through the step-by-step process of installing GitLab CE on Ubuntu 22.04. This tutorial is designed to be SEO-optimized, providing clear instructions, tables, and CLI examples to help users successfully deploy GitLab CE.
Before proceeding with the installation, ensure you have the following:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| OS | Ubuntu 22.04 LTS |
| User Privileges | Root or sudo privileges |
| RAM | Minimum 4GB (8GB recommended) |
| Storage | At least 20GB of available disk space |
| CPU Cores | 2 or more |
| Internet Access | Required to download dependencies |
For this demonstration, we’ve configured our Linux server as follows:
| Hostname | IP Address | RAM (GB) | Cores | Storage (GB) | OS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| gitlab2.dev.naijalabs.net | 192.168.1.232 | 4 | 2 | 150 | Ubuntu 22.04 LTS Jammy Jellyfish |
Step 1: Update and Upgrade System Packages |
Before installing GitLab, update the package index and upgrade existing packages (then, reboot your machine):
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y && sudo systemctl reboot
Step 2: Install Required Dependencies |
GitLab requires some dependencies for proper installation. Install them using the command below:
sudo apt install -y curl openssh-server ca-certificates tzdata perl
For email notifications, install Postfix:
sudo apt install -y postfix
During installation, select “Internet Site” and configure the system mail name accordingly.
Photo by admingeek from Infotechys
Step 3: Add GitLab Repository and Install GitLab CE |
To install GitLab CE, follow these steps:
Add the GitLab Package Repository |
curl -fsSL https://packages.gitlab.com/install/repositories/gitlab/gitlab-ce/script.deb.sh | sudo bash
Detected operating system as Ubuntu/jammy.
Checking for curl...
Detected curl...
Checking for gpg...
Detected gpg...
Running apt-get update... done.
Installing apt-transport-https... done.
Installing /etc/apt/sources.list.d/gitlab_gitlab-ce.list...done.
Importing packagecloud gpg key... done.
Running apt-get update... done.
The repository is setup! You can now install packages.
Install GitLab CE |
Replace gitlab2.dev.naijalabs.net with your actual domain or IP address:
sudo EXTERNAL_URL="http://gitlab2.dev.naijalabs.net" apt install gitlab-ce -y
Photo by admingeek from Infotechys
Step 4: Configure GitLab |
Once installed, configure GitLab using the following command:
sudo gitlab-ctl reconfigure
This step may take several minutes as it configures all necessary services.
Photo by admingeek from Infotechys
Step 5: Adjust Firewall Rules |
Allow HTTP and HTTPS traffic:
sudo ufw allow http
sudo ufw allow https
sudo ufw allow OpenSSH
sudo ufw enable
Command may disrupt existing ssh connections. Proceed with operation (y|n)? y
Firewall is active and enabled on system startup
Step 6: Access GitLab Web Interface |
Now, open a web browser and navigate to [ http://yourdomain.com ]:
Photo by admingeek from Infotechys
You will be prompted to set a new root password. Once done, log in using:
| Username | Password |
| root | sudo cat /etc/gitlab/initial_root_password |
You initial root password is stored in /etc/gitlab/initial_root_password.
sudo cat /etc/gitlab/initial_root_password
# WARNING: This value is valid only in the following conditions
# 1. If provided manually (either via `GITLAB_ROOT_PASSWORD` environment variable or via `gitlab_rails['initial_root_password']` setting in `gitlab.rb`, it was provided before database was seeded for the first time (usually, the first reconfigure run).
# 2. Password hasn't been changed manually, either via UI or via command line.
#
# If the password shown here doesn't work, you must reset the admin password following https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/security/reset_user_password.html#reset-your-root-password.
Password: yI3fpcKMS4j62v+6YiYc8NdZbL87MISajFkqn8m9VwE=
# NOTE: This file will be automatically deleted in the first reconfigure run after 24 hours.
Note: The root password is temporary and will expire in 24 hours. After your initial login, immediately update your password by navigating to your user settings at [http://yourdomain.com/-/user_settings/password/edit]
Photo by admingeek from Infotechys
Step 7: Enable HTTPS (Optional but Recommended) |
For security, configure SSL with Let’s Encrypt:
sudo EXTERNAL_URL="https://yourdomain.com" gitlab-ctl reconfigure
Ensure your domain has a valid DNS record pointing to your server.
Step 8: Start and Enable GitLab Services |
Ensure GitLab services are running:
sudo gitlab-ctl status
If necessary, restart services:
sudo gitlab-ctl restart
Step 9: Configure GitLab for First Use |
Navigate to Admin Area > Settings to:
|
|
|
| Issue | Solution |
| 502 Gateway Error | Restart GitLab with sudo gitlab-ctl restart |
| Email Not Sending | Check sudo gitlab-ctl tail postfix logs |
| Web UI Not Loading | Ensure firewall allows HTTP/HTTPS traffic |
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