How to GitLab on Ubuntu 24.04

Install OpenSSH

Before you can install GitLab on Ubuntu, you’ll need OpenSSH server set up. If you haven’t already done so, check out our guide on how to install it on Ubuntu.

How to install OpenSSH server on Ubuntu

Once that’s done, you can move on.

Install SMTP server

Next, you’ll need an SMTP server (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol server for sending emails). If you already have one set up, great! Otherwise, you can learn how to install Postfix MTA server here.

How to install Postfix on Ubuntu

After that’s complete, you’re ready for the main event: installing GitLab.

Install GitLab

Now you are ready to install GitLab.

Start by installing some recommended packages with this command:

sudo apt install ca-certificates tzdata perl

Then, download the GitLab repository installer using this command:

curl -O https://packages.gitlab.com/install/repositories/gitlab/gitlab-ee/script.deb.sh
sudo bash ./script.deb.sh

Finally, install GitLab itself by running this command:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install gitlab-ee

If everything went well, you will get a success message like the one below.

       *.                  *.
      ***                 ***
     *****               *****
    .******             *******
    ********            ********
   ,,,,,,,,,***********,,,,,,,,,
  ,,,,,,,,,,,*********,,,,,,,,,,,
  .,,,,,,,,,,,*******,,,,,,,,,,,,
      ,,,,,,,,,*****,,,,,,,,,.
         ,,,,,,,****,,,,,,
            .,,,***,,,,
                ,*,.
  


     _______ __  __          __
    / ____(_) /_/ /   ____ _/ /_
   / / __/ / __/ /   / __ `/ __ 
  / /_/ / / /_/ /___/ /_/ / /_/ /
  ____/_/__/_____/__,_/_.___/
  

Thank you for installing GitLab!

Configure GitLab next by running the command below.

sudo gitlab-ctl reconfigure

An initial password is stored in [/etc/gitlab/initial_root_password]. Take notes of the temporary password. You will need it later.

Access GitLab

Now that GitLab is installed, you can reach it from any computer on your network using its IP address or hostname in a web browser.

Enter the root for username and the initial password in the file.

Login and start using GitLab.

That should do it!

Conclusion:

Installing GitLab on Ubuntu 24.04 provides a robust platform for managing your software development projects. Here are the key takeaways from the installation process:

• Prerequisites: Ensure that both the OpenSSH server and an SMTP server (like Postfix) are installed before proceeding.
• Installation Steps: Follow the steps to install necessary packages, ⬇️ download the GitLab repository installer, and install GitLab using the provided commands.
• Configuration: Remember to run the configuration command to set up GitLab properly after installation.
• Access: You can access your newly installed GitLab instance via its IP address or hostname in a web browser.
• Temporary Password: Don’t forget to note down the temporary root password /etc/gitlab/initial_root_password for your first login.

With these steps completed, you can use GitLab effectively for your development needs!