GitLab on Ubuntu 22.04: Self-Hosted Version Control
Published: 2024-05-15 00:38:31

GitLab is a powerful, open-source platform that provides a complete DevOps lifecycle solution, including version control (Git), continuous integration/continuous delivery (CI/CD), issue tracking, and more. By self-hosting GitLab on an EcoStack Cloud VPS, you gain complete control over your code repository, development pipeline, and data, while benefiting from the performance and reliability of our infrastructure.

### Why Choose GitLab and EcoStack Cloud?

**GitLab:**

* **Comprehensive DevOps Platform:**  GitLab offers a rich feature set that covers everything from code management to project planning, making it a one-stop shop for development teams.
* **Self-Hosted Control:** Maintain full control over your data and customization options, unlike with cloud-based solutions.
* **Collaboration:**  Streamline collaboration with features like merge requests, code reviews, and issue tracking.
* **Automation:** Automate your development workflow with GitLab's built-in CI/CD capabilities.
* **Open Source:** Benefit from a vibrant community, frequent updates, and the flexibility to extend and customize the platform.

**EcoStack Cloud VPS:**

* **NVMe Storage:**  Blazing-fast NVMe storage ensures rapid access to your Git repositories, accelerating cloning, branching, and other Git operations.
* **KVM Virtualization:**  Enjoy dedicated resources and isolation for your GitLab instance, guaranteeing consistent performance even under heavy loads.
* **1 Gbit/s Uplink (Soon to be 10 Gbit/s):**  Fast and reliable network connectivity allows for smooth collaboration and efficient data transfer.
* **IPv6 Connectivity:**  Future-proof your self-hosted GitLab instance with IPv6 support, ensuring broader accessibility.
* **European Datacenters:** Benefit from low-latency connections and data sovereignty compliance with our European datacenters.

### Installing GitLab on Ubuntu 22.04 (EcoStack Cloud VPS)

1. **Prerequisites:**
   * An EcoStack Cloud VPS running Ubuntu 22.04 (grab a great deal on our VPS plans [here](https://ecostack.cloud))
   * SSH access to your VPS.
   * A domain name (optional, but recommended).
   * Sufficient RAM (at least 4GB recommended for small teams).

2. **Install Dependencies:**
   ```bash
   sudo apt update
   sudo apt install -y curl openssh-server ca-certificates
   ```

3. **Install Postfix (for Email Notifications):**
   ```bash
   sudo apt install -y postfix
   ```
   During installation, select "Internet Site" and enter your server's domain name.

4. **Add GitLab Repository:**
   ```bash
   curl https://packages.gitlab.com/install/repositories/gitlab/gitlab-ee/script.deb.sh | sudo bash
   ```

5. **Install GitLab:**
   ```bash
   sudo EXTERNAL_URL="http://your_domain_or_IP" apt install -y gitlab-ee
   ```

6. **Configure GitLab:**
   * After installation, GitLab will be accessible at the URL you specified in `EXTERNAL_URL`.
   * Complete the initial setup through the web interface, including setting a password for the root user.

### Best Practices for a High-Performance GitLab Instance:

* **Caching:** Utilize Redis for caching to improve performance.
* **Backups:**  Regularly back up your GitLab data.
* **Security:**  Keep your GitLab instance updated and follow security best practices.
* **Monitoring:**  Monitor resource usage and performance to identify potential bottlenecks.

### Conclusion

By self-hosting GitLab on an EcoStack Cloud VPS, you gain a powerful, customizable DevOps platform with the performance and reliability to support your team's collaboration and development workflows.

Ready to streamline your development process? Get started with an EcoStack Cloud VPS today and empower your team with GitLab!