{"id":7667,"date":"2024-06-04T21:33:45","date_gmt":"2024-06-05T04:33:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ioflood.com\/blog\/?p=7667"},"modified":"2024-06-04T21:33:45","modified_gmt":"2024-06-05T04:33:45","slug":"install-gitlab-linux","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ioflood.com\/blog\/install-gitlab-linux\/","title":{"rendered":"GitLab Setup Guide | Install and Configure for Linux"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"Digital<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

When collaboratively developing scripts on Linux servers at IOFLOOD<\/a>, our workflow is simplified by using GitLab. Installing and configuring GitLab enables a comprehensive set of features including CI\/CD pipelines, issue tracking, and version control, for a complete DevOps platform. To assist our customers in optimizing their development and deployment processes on their bare metal cloud<\/a> platforms, we have formulate today’s article.<\/p>\n

In this guide, we will navigate you through the process of installing GitLab on Linux.<\/strong> We will provide you with installation instructions for APT-based distributions like Debian and Ubuntu, as well as YUM-based distributions like CentOS and AlmaLinux. We’ll delve into more advanced topics like compiling GitLab from source, installing a specific version, and finally, how to use GitLab and ensure it’s installed correctly.<\/p>\n

So, let’s dive in and start installing GitLab on your Linux system!<\/p>\n

TL;DR: How Do I Install GitLab on Linux?<\/h2>\n

\n You can install GitLab on Linux by running a series of commands. First, you need to update your system’s package list with sudo apt-get update<\/code>. Then, install the necessary dependencies using sudo apt-get install -y curl openssh-server ca-certificates<\/code>. After that, add the GitLab package repository to your system with curl https:\/\/packages.gitlab.com\/install\/repositories\/gitlab\/gitlab-ee\/script.deb.sh | sudo bash<\/code>. Finally, install GitLab by setting your server’s fully qualified domain name (FQDN) and running sudo EXTERNAL_URL=\"http:\/\/your-server-FQDN\" apt-get install gitlab-ee<\/code>.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

# Update your system's package list\nsudo apt-get update\n\n# Install the necessary dependencies\nsudo apt-get install -y curl openssh-server ca-certificates\n\n# Add the GitLab package repository to your system\ncurl https:\/\/packages.gitlab.com\/install\/repositories\/gitlab\/gitlab-ee\/script.deb.sh | sudo bash\n\n# Install GitLab\nsudo EXTERNAL_URL=\"http:\/\/your-server-FQDN\" apt-get install gitlab-ee\n\n# Output:\n# GitLab will be installed and configured\n<\/code><\/pre>\n
This is a basic way to install GitLab on Linux, but there’s much more to learn about the installation process, including more advanced methods and troubleshooting common issues. Continue reading for a more detailed guide.<\/p>\n
Getting Started with GitLab on Linux<\/h2>\n
GitLab is a web-based DevOps lifecycle tool that provides a Git-repository manager. It offers features like issue tracking, continuous integration\/deployment pipelines, and a multi-cloud Kubernetes integration. GitLab is an excellent choice for teams looking for a single comprehensive application that covers the entire DevOps lifecycle.<\/p>\n
Now, let’s get started on how to install GitLab on your Linux system. We’ll cover installation using two of the most popular package managers: APT (for Debian-based distributions) and YUM (for Red Hat-based distributions).<\/p>\n
Installing GitLab Using APT<\/h3>\n
For Debian-based systems like Ubuntu, we use the APT package manager. Here’s how you can install GitLab:<\/p>\n
# Update your system's package list\nsudo apt-get update\n\n# Install necessary dependencies\nsudo apt-get install -y curl openssh-server ca-certificates\n\n# Add the GitLab package repository to your system\ncurl https:\/\/packages.gitlab.com\/install\/repositories\/gitlab\/gitlab-ee\/script.deb.sh | sudo bash\n\n# Replace 'your-server-FQDN' with your server's fully qualified domain name\n# Install GitLab\nsudo EXTERNAL_URL=\"http:\/\/your-server-FQDN\" apt-get install gitlab-ee\n\n# Output:\n# GitLab will be installed and configured\n<\/code><\/pre>\n
In the code block above, we first update the system’s package list. Then, we install necessary dependencies such as curl, openssh-server, and ca-certificates. The next step is to add the GitLab package repository to your system. Finally, we install GitLab by setting your server’s fully qualified domain name (FQDN) and running the installation command.<\/p>\n
Installing GitLab Using YUM<\/h3>\n
For Red Hat-based systems like CentOS, we use the YUM package manager. Here’s how you can install GitLab:<\/p>\n
# Update your system's package list\nsudo yum update\n\n# Install necessary dependencies\nsudo yum install -y curl policycoreutils openssh-server openssh-clients postfix\n\n# Add the GitLab package repository to your system\ncurl https:\/\/packages.gitlab.com\/install\/repositories\/gitlab\/gitlab-ee\/script.rpm.sh | sudo bash\n\n# Replace 'your-server-FQDN' with your server's fully qualified domain name\n# Install GitLab\nsudo EXTERNAL_URL=\"http:\/\/your-server-FQDN\" yum install gitlab-ee\n\n# Output:\n# GitLab will be installed and configured\n<\/code><\/pre>\n
In the code block above, we first update the system’s package list. Then, we install necessary dependencies such as curl, policycoreutils, openssh-server, openssh-clients, and postfix. The next step is to add the GitLab package repository to your system. Finally, we install GitLab by setting your server’s fully qualified domain name (FQDN) and running the installation command.<\/p>\n
Remember, after running these commands, GitLab will start automatically. You can then navigate to the FQDN you set during installation in your web browser to access your GitLab instance.<\/p>\n
Installing GitLab from Source<\/h2>\n
For users who want more control over the installation process, GitLab can be installed from source. This method allows you to access the latest features and bug fixes, but it requires more technical knowledge and is more time-consuming than installing from a package manager.<\/p>\n
To install GitLab from source, you first need to clone the GitLab repository and then compile the code. Here’s how you can do it:<\/p>\n
# Clone the GitLab repository\ngit clone https:\/\/gitlab.com\/gitlab-org\/gitlab-foss.git\n\n# Navigate to the cloned directory\ncd gitlab-foss\n\n# Compile the code\nmake\n\n# Output:\n# GitLab will be compiled and ready to be installed\n<\/code><\/pre>\n
Installing Specific Versions of GitLab<\/h2>\n
There may be times when you need to install a specific version of GitLab, either for compatibility reasons or to use a feature that was removed or changed in a later version.<\/p>\n
Installing Specific Versions from Source<\/h3>\n
To install a specific version of GitLab from source, you need to check out the appropriate tag before compiling the code. Here’s an example of how to install GitLab version 13.12.4:<\/p>\n
# Clone the GitLab repository\ngit clone https:\/\/gitlab.com\/gitlab-org\/gitlab-foss.git\n\n# Navigate to the cloned directory\ncd gitlab-foss\n\n# Check out the appropriate tag\ngit checkout v13.12.4\n\n# Compile the code\nmake\n\n# Output:\n# GitLab version 13.12.4 will be compiled and ready to be installed\n<\/code><\/pre>\n
Installing Specific Versions with APT<\/h3>\n
To install a specific version of GitLab with APT, you can specify the version number in the installation command. Here’s an example of how to install GitLab version 13.12.4:<\/p>\n
# Update your system's package list\nsudo apt-get update\n\n# Install GitLab version 13.12.4\nsudo apt-get install gitlab-ee=13.12.4-ee.0\n\n# Output:\n# GitLab version 13.12.4 will be installed\n<\/code><\/pre>\n
Installing Specific Versions with YUM<\/h3>\n
To install a specific version of GitLab with YUM, you can also specify the version number in the installation command. Here’s an example of how to install GitLab version 13.12.4:<\/p>\n
# Update your system's package list\nsudo yum update\n\n# Install GitLab version 13.12.4\nsudo yum install gitlab-ee-13.12.4-ee.0.el7\n\n# Output:\n# GitLab version 13.12.4 will be installed\n<\/code><\/pre>\n
Version Comparison<\/h3>\n
Different versions of GitLab come with different features, improvements, and bug fixes. Here’s a brief comparison of some recent versions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Version<\/th>\nKey Changes<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
13.12.4<\/td>\nIntroduced security dashboard, improved merge request performance<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
13.11.3<\/td>\nAdded support for group wikis, enhanced Kubernetes integration<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
13.10.2<\/td>\nIntroduced pipeline editor, improved issue tracking<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
Verifying Your GitLab Installation<\/h2>\n
After installing GitLab, it’s important to verify that the installation was successful. This can be done by navigating to your server’s FQDN in your web browser and checking that the GitLab interface loads correctly. You can also run the following command to check the status of the GitLab service:<\/p>\n
# Check the status of the GitLab service\nsudo gitlab-ctl status\n\n# Output:\n# The status of the GitLab service will be displayed\n<\/code><\/pre>\n
If GitLab is running correctly, you should see an output indicating that the GitLab service is active.<\/p>\n
Alternative Methods to Install GitLab<\/h2>\n
While using a package manager or installing from source are typical methods to install GitLab, there are alternative approaches that can be more suitable depending on your specific needs. Two such methods involve using a different package manager or leveraging Docker.<\/p>\n
Installing GitLab with DNF<\/h3>\n
DNF is the next-generation version of the YUM package manager. It’s the default package manager for Fedora and is also available on RHEL-based systems. Here’s how to install GitLab with DNF:<\/p>\n
# Update your system's package list\nsudo dnf update\n\n# Install necessary dependencies\nsudo dnf install -y curl policycoreutils openssh-server openssh-clients postfix\n\n# Add the GitLab package repository to your system\ncurl https:\/\/packages.gitlab.com\/install\/repositories\/gitlab\/gitlab-ee\/script.rpm.sh | sudo bash\n\n# Replace 'your-server-FQDN' with your server's fully qualified domain name\n# Install GitLab\nsudo EXTERNAL_URL=\"http:\/\/your-server-FQDN\" dnf install gitlab-ee\n\n# Output:\n# GitLab will be installed and configured\n<\/code><\/pre>\n
In the code block above, we first update the system’s package list. Then, we install necessary dependencies such as curl, policycoreutils, openssh-server, openssh-clients, and postfix. The next step is to add the GitLab package repository to your system. Finally, we install GitLab by setting your server’s fully qualified domain name (FQDN) and running the installation command.<\/p>\n
Installing GitLab with Docker<\/h3>\n
Docker offers a way to run applications securely isolated in a container, packaged with all its dependencies and libraries. Here’s how to install GitLab with Docker:<\/p>\n
# Pull the GitLab Docker image\ndocker pull gitlab\/gitlab-ee:latest\n\n# Run the GitLab container\n# Replace 'your-server-FQDN' with your server's fully qualified domain name\ndocker run --detach --hostname your-server-FQDN --publish 443:443 --publish 80:80 --publish 22:22 --name gitlab --restart always --volume \/srv\/gitlab\/config:\/etc\/gitlab --volume \/srv\/gitlab\/logs:\/var\/log\/gitlab --volume \/srv\/gitlab\/data:\/var\/opt\/gitlab gitlab\/gitlab-ee:latest\n\n# Output:\n# GitLab will be installed and running in a Docker container\n<\/code><\/pre>\n
In the code block above, we first pull the GitLab Docker image. Then we run the GitLab container with specific settings, including detached mode, hostname, port mapping, container name, restart policy, and volume mapping.<\/p>\n
Advantages and Disadvantages of Each Method<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Method<\/th>\nAdvantages<\/th>\nDisadvantages<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
APT\/YUM<\/td>\nEasy to use, widely supported<\/td>\nLimited control over installation process<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Source<\/td>\nFull control over installation process, access to latest features<\/td>\nMore complex, time-consuming<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
DNF<\/td>\nImproved dependency resolution, better performance than YUM<\/td>\nNot available on all distributions<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Docker<\/td>\nEasy to update and rollback, isolated environment<\/td>\nRequires understanding of Docker, extra overhead<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
Recommendations<\/h3>\n
The best method to install GitLab depends on your specific needs. If you’re looking for a straightforward installation process and don’t need the latest features, using APT or YUM is a good choice. If you need more control over the installation process or want to access the latest features, installing from source could be the best option. If you’re using Fedora or a RHEL-based distribution and want better performance and improved dependency resolution, consider using DNF. And if you want an easy way to update and rollback GitLab or want to run it in an isolated environment, Docker could be the best choice.<\/p>\n
GitLab Installation Troubleshooting<\/h2>\n
The installation process can sometimes be interrupted due to various issues. Here are some common problems you might encounter and their solutions.<\/p>\n
Permission Denied Error<\/h3>\n
You might encounter a ‘Permission denied’ error when running the installation commands. This is usually due to insufficient user permissions.<\/p>\n
To solve this, you can use the sudo<\/code> command to run the commands with root privileges:<\/p>\n
# An example command that might cause a 'Permission denied' error\napt-get update\n\n# Output:\n# E: Could not open lock file \/var\/lib\/apt\/lists\/lock - open (13: Permission denied)\n# E: Unable to lock directory \/var\/lib\/apt\/lists\/\n\n# The correct command with 'sudo'\nsudo apt-get update\n\n# Output:\n# Hit:1 http:\/\/security.ubuntu.com\/ubuntu bionic-security InRelease\n# Ign:2 http:\/\/dl.google.com\/linux\/chrome\/deb stable InRelease\n# Hit:3 http:\/\/dl.google.com\/linux\/chrome\/deb stable Release\n# Hit:4 http:\/\/us.archive.ubuntu.com\/ubuntu bionic InRelease\n# Reading package lists... Done\n<\/code><\/pre>\n
In the code block above, the first command fails due to a ‘Permission denied’ error. The correct command uses sudo<\/code> to run the command with root privileges.<\/p>\n
Incorrect Server FQDN<\/h3>\n
Setting the wrong server fully qualified domain name (FQDN) during the installation can lead to problems accessing GitLab. To fix this, you need to reconfigure GitLab with the correct FQDN:<\/p>\n
# Reconfigure GitLab with the correct FQDN\nsudo gitlab-ctl reconfigure\n\n# Output:\n# Starting Chef Infra Client, version 16.6.14\n# resolving cookbooks for run list: [\"gitlab\"]\n# ... truncated for brevity ...\n# Chef Infra Client finished, 398\/1411 resources updated in 02 minutes 28 seconds\n<\/code><\/pre>\n
In the code block above, the gitlab-ctl reconfigure<\/code> command reconfigures GitLab with the correct FQDN.<\/p>\n
GitLab Service Not Starting<\/h3>\n
Sometimes, the GitLab service might not start after installation. This can be due to various reasons, such as insufficient memory or disk space. You can check the status of the GitLab service with the following command:<\/p>\n
# Check the status of the GitLab service\nsudo gitlab-ctl status\n\n# Output:\n# run: alertmanager: (pid 1171) 1667s; run: log: (pid 1160) 1667s\n# run: gitaly: (pid 1186) 1667s; run: log: (pid 1175) 1667s\n# ... truncated for brevity ...\n<\/code><\/pre>\n
In the code block above, the gitlab-ctl status<\/code> command checks the status of the GitLab service. If the service is not running, you might need to check the system logs for more information.<\/p>\n
Remember, troubleshooting is a systematic approach to solving a problem. The key is to understand the problem, plan a solution, implement the solution, and then test to see if the problem has been resolved.<\/p>\n
Exploring Version Control Systems<\/h2>\n
Before we dive deeper into GitLab, it’s crucial to understand the concepts underlying it, mainly version control systems (VCS). VCS are a type of software tools that help software teams manage changes to source code over time. They keep track of every modification to the code in a special kind of database. If a mistake is made, developers can turn back the clock and compare earlier versions of the code to help fix the mistake while minimizing disruption to all team members.<\/p>\n
The Importance of Version Control in Software Development<\/h3>\n
Version control systems are a cornerstone of modern software development practices. They offer numerous benefits:<\/p>\n