Install GitLab by using Docker

Tier: Free, Premium, Ultimate Offering: Self-managed

The GitLab Docker images are monolithic images of GitLab running all the necessary services in a single container.

Find the GitLab official Docker image at:

The Docker images don’t include a mail transport agent (MTA). The recommended solution is to add an MTA (such as Postfix or Sendmail) running in a separate container. As another option, you can install an MTA directly in the GitLab container, but this adds maintenance overhead as you’ll likely need to reinstall the MTA after every upgrade or restart.

You should not deploy the GitLab Docker image in Kubernetes as it creates a single point of failure. If you want to deploy GitLab in Kubernetes, the GitLab Helm Chart or GitLab Operator should be used instead.

caution
Docker for Windows is not officially supported. There are known issues with volume permissions, and potentially other unknown issues. If you are trying to run on Docker for Windows, see the getting help page for links to community resources (such as IRC or forums) to seek help from other users.

Prerequisites

To use the GitLab Docker images:

  • You must install Docker.
  • You must use a valid externally-accessible hostname. Do not use localhost.

Configure the SSH port

GitLab uses SSH to interact with Git over SSH. By default, GitLab uses port 22.

To use a different port when using the GitLab Docker image, you can either:

  • Change the server’s SSH port (recommended).
  • Change the GitLab Shell SSH port.

Change the server’s SSH port

You can change the server’s SSH port without making another SSH configuration change in GitLab. In that case, the SSH clone URLs looks like ssh://git@gitlab.example.com/user/project.git.

To change the server’s SSH port:

  1. Open /etc/ssh/sshd_config with your editor, and change the SSH port: 

    Port = 2424

  2. Save the file and restart the SSH service: 

    sudo systemctl restart ssh

  3. Open a new terminal session and verify that you can connect using SSH to the server using the new port.

Change the GitLab Shell SSH port

If you don’t want to change the server’s default SSH port, you can configure a different SSH port that GitLab uses for Git over SSH pushes. In that case, the SSH clone URLs looks like ssh://git@gitlab.example.com:<portNumber>/user/project.git.

For more information, see how to change the GitLab Shell SSH port.

Set up the volumes location

Before setting everything else, create a directory where the configuration, logs, and data files will reside. It can be under your user’s home directory (for example ~/gitlab-docker), or in a directory like /srv/gitlab. To create that directory: 

sudo mkdir -p /srv/gitlab

If you’re running Docker with a user other than root, ensure appropriate permissions have been granted to that directory.

Configure a new environment variable $GITLAB_HOME that sets the path to the directory you created: 

export GITLAB_HOME=/srv/gitlab

You can also append the GITLAB_HOME environment variable to your shell’s profile so it is applied on all future terminal sessions:

  • Bash: ~/.bash_profile
  • ZSH: ~/.zshrc

The GitLab container uses host mounted volumes to store persistent data:

Local location Container location Usage
$GITLAB_HOME/data /var/opt/gitlab For storing application data.
$GITLAB_HOME/logs /var/log/gitlab For storing logs.
$GITLAB_HOME/config /etc/gitlab For storing the GitLab configuration files.

Find the GitLab version and edition to use

In a production environment, you should pin your deployment to a specific GitLab version. Find the version to use in the Docker tags page:

The tag name consists of the following: 

gitlab/gitlab-ee:<version>-ee.0

Where <version> is the GitLab version, for example 16.5.3. It always includes <major>.<minor>.<patch> in its name.

For testing purposes, you can use the latest tag, such as gitlab/gitlab-ee:latest, which points to the latest stable release.

In the following examples, we use a stable Enterprise Edition version, but if you want to use the Release Candidate (RC) or nightly image, use gitlab/gitlab-ee:rc or gitlab/gitlab-ee:nightly instead.

To install the Community Edition, replace ee with ce.

Installation

The GitLab Docker images can be run in multiple ways:

Install GitLab using Docker Engine

You can fine tune these directories to meet your requirements. Once you’ve set up the GITLAB_HOME variable, you can run the image: 

sudo docker run --detach \
  --hostname gitlab.example.com \
  --env GITLAB_OMNIBUS_CONFIG="external_url 'http://gitlab.example.com'" \
  --publish 443:443 --publish 80:80 --publish 22:22 \
  --name gitlab \
  --restart always \
  --volume $GITLAB_HOME/config:/etc/gitlab \
  --volume $GITLAB_HOME/logs:/var/log/gitlab \
  --volume $GITLAB_HOME/data:/var/opt/gitlab \
  --shm-size 256m \
  gitlab/gitlab-ee:<version>-ee.0

This command downloads and starts a GitLab container, and publishes ports needed to access SSH, HTTP and HTTPS. All GitLab data are stored as subdirectories of $GITLAB_HOME. The container automatically restarts after a system reboot.

If you are on SELinux, then run this instead: 

sudo docker run --detach \
  --hostname gitlab.example.com \
  --env GITLAB_OMNIBUS_CONFIG="external_url 'http://gitlab.example.com'" \
  --publish 443:443 --publish 80:80 --publish 22:22 \
  --name gitlab \
  --restart always \
  --volume $GITLAB_HOME/config:/etc/gitlab:Z \
  --volume $GITLAB_HOME/logs:/var/log/gitlab:Z \
  --volume $GITLAB_HOME/data:/var/opt/gitlab:Z \
  --shm-size 256m \
  gitlab/gitlab-ee:<version>-ee.0

This command ensures that the Docker process has enough permissions to create the configuration files in the mounted volumes.

If you’re using the Kerberos integration, you must also publish your Kerberos port (for example, --publish 8443:8443). Failing to do so prevents Git operations with Kerberos.

The initialization process may take a long time. You can track this process with: 

sudo docker logs -f gitlab

After starting the container, you can visit gitlab.example.com. It might take a while before the Docker container starts to respond to queries.

Visit the GitLab URL, and sign in with the username root and the password from the following command: 

sudo docker exec -it gitlab grep 'Password:' /etc/gitlab/initial_root_password
note
The password file is automatically deleted in the first container restart after 24 hours.

Install GitLab using Docker Compose

With Docker Compose you can easily configure, install, and upgrade your Docker-based GitLab installation:

  1. Install Docker Compose.

  2. Create a docker-compose.yml file: 

    version: '3.6'
services:
  gitlab:
    image: gitlab/gitlab-ee:<version>-ee.0
    container_name: gitlab
    restart: always
    hostname: 'gitlab.example.com'
    environment:
      GITLAB_OMNIBUS_CONFIG: |
        # Add any other gitlab.rb configuration here, each on its own line
        external_url 'https://gitlab.example.com'
    ports:
      - '80:80'
      - '443:443'
      - '22:22'
    volumes:
      - '$GITLAB_HOME/config:/etc/gitlab'
      - '$GITLAB_HOME/logs:/var/log/gitlab'
      - '$GITLAB_HOME/data:/var/opt/gitlab'
    shm_size: '256m'

  3. Make sure you are in the same directory as docker-compose.yml and start GitLab: 

    docker compose up -d
note
Read the Pre-configure Docker container section to see how the GITLAB_OMNIBUS_CONFIG variable works.

Below is another docker-compose.yml example with GitLab running on a custom HTTP and SSH port. Notice how the GITLAB_OMNIBUS_CONFIG variables match the ports section: 

version: '3.6'
services:
  gitlab:
    image: gitlab/gitlab-ee:<version>-ee.0
    container_name: gitlab
    restart: always
    hostname: 'gitlab.example.com'
    environment:
      GITLAB_OMNIBUS_CONFIG: |
        external_url 'http://gitlab.example.com:8929'
        gitlab_rails['gitlab_shell_ssh_port'] = 2424
    ports:
      - '8929:8929'
      - '443:443'
      - '2424:22'
    volumes:
      - '$GITLAB_HOME/config:/etc/gitlab'
      - '$GITLAB_HOME/logs:/var/log/gitlab'
      - '$GITLAB_HOME/data:/var/opt/gitlab'
    shm_size: '256m'

This configuration is the same as using --publish 8929:8929 --publish 2424:22.

Install GitLab using Docker swarm mode

With Docker swarm mode, you can easily configure and deploy your Docker-based GitLab installation in a swarm cluster.

In swarm mode you can leverage Docker secrets and Docker configurations to efficiently and securely deploy your GitLab instance. Secrets can be used to securely pass your initial root password without exposing it as an environment variable. Configurations can help you to keep your GitLab image as generic as possible.

Here’s an example that deploys GitLab with four runners as a stack, using secrets and configurations:

  1. Set up a Docker swarm.

  2. Create a docker-compose.yml file: 

    version: "3.6"
services:
  gitlab:
    image: gitlab/gitlab-ee:<version>-ee.0
    container_name: gitlab
    restart: always
    hostname: 'gitlab.example.com'
    ports:
      - "22:22"
      - "80:80"
      - "443:443"
    volumes:
      - $GITLAB_HOME/data:/var/opt/gitlab
      - $GITLAB_HOME/logs:/var/log/gitlab
      - $GITLAB_HOME/config:/etc/gitlab
    shm_size: '256m'
    environment:
      GITLAB_OMNIBUS_CONFIG: "from_file('/omnibus_config.rb')"
    configs:
      - source: gitlab
        target: /omnibus_config.rb
    secrets:
      - gitlab_root_password
  gitlab-runner:
    image: gitlab/gitlab-runner:alpine
    deploy:
      mode: replicated
      replicas: 4
configs:
  gitlab:
    file: ./gitlab.rb
secrets:
  gitlab_root_password:
    file: ./root_password.txt

    For simplicity reasons, the network configuration was omitted. More information can be found in the official Compose file reference.

  3. Create a gitlab.rb file: 

    external_url 'https://my.domain.com/'
gitlab_rails['initial_root_password'] = File.read('/run/secrets/gitlab_root_password').gsub("\n", "")

  4. Create a file called root_password.txt containing the password: 

    MySuperSecretAndSecurePassw0rd!

  5. Make sure you are in the same directory as docker-compose.yml and run: 

    docker stack deploy --compose-file docker-compose.yml mystack

Configuration

This container uses the official Linux package, so all configuration is done in the unique configuration file /etc/gitlab/gitlab.rb.

To access the GitLab configuration file, you can start a shell session in the context of a running container. This will allow you to browse all directories and use your favorite text editor: 

sudo docker exec -it gitlab /bin/bash

You can also just edit /etc/gitlab/gitlab.rb: 

sudo docker exec -it gitlab editor /etc/gitlab/gitlab.rb

Once you open /etc/gitlab/gitlab.rb make sure to set the external_url to point to a valid URL.

To receive emails from GitLab you have to configure the SMTP settings because the GitLab Docker image doesn’t have an SMTP server installed. You may also be interested in enabling HTTPS.

After you make all the changes you want, you will need to restart the container to reconfigure GitLab: 

sudo docker restart gitlab

GitLab will reconfigure itself whenever the container starts. For more options about configuring GitLab, check the configuration documentation.

Pre-configure Docker container

You can pre-configure the GitLab Docker image by adding the environment variable GITLAB_OMNIBUS_CONFIG to Docker run command. This variable can contain any gitlab.rb setting and is evaluated before the loading of the container’s gitlab.rb file. This behavior allows you to configure the external GitLab URL, and make database configuration or any other option from the Linux package template. The settings contained in GITLAB_OMNIBUS_CONFIG aren’t written to the gitlab.rb configuration file, and are evaluated on load. To provide multiple settings, separate them with a colon (;).

Here’s an example that sets the external URL, enables LFS, and starts the container with a minimal shm size required for Prometheus: 

sudo docker run --detach \
  --hostname gitlab.example.com \
  --env GITLAB_OMNIBUS_CONFIG="external_url 'http://gitlab.example.com'; gitlab_rails['lfs_enabled'] = true;" \
  --publish 443:443 --publish 80:80 --publish 22:22 \
  --name gitlab \
  --restart always \
  --volume $GITLAB_HOME/config:/etc/gitlab \
  --volume $GITLAB_HOME/logs:/var/log/gitlab \
  --volume $GITLAB_HOME/data:/var/opt/gitlab \
  --shm-size 256m \
  gitlab/gitlab-ee:<version>-ee.0

Every time you execute a docker run command, you need to provide the GITLAB_OMNIBUS_CONFIG option. The content of GITLAB_OMNIBUS_CONFIG is not preserved between subsequent runs.

Run GitLab on a public IP address

You can make Docker to use your IP address and forward all traffic to the GitLab container by modifying the --publish flag.

To expose GitLab on IP 198.51.100.1: 

sudo docker run --detach \
  --hostname gitlab.example.com \
  --env GITLAB_OMNIBUS_CONFIG="external_url 'http://gitlab.example.com'" \
  --publish 198.51.100.1:443:443 \
  --publish 198.51.100.1:80:80 \
  --publish 198.51.100.1:22:22 \
  --name gitlab \
  --restart always \
  --volume $GITLAB_HOME/config:/etc/gitlab \
  --volume $GITLAB_HOME/logs:/var/log/gitlab \
  --volume $GITLAB_HOME/data:/var/opt/gitlab \
  --shm-size 256m \
  gitlab/gitlab-ee:<version>-ee.0

You can then access your GitLab instance at http://198.51.100.1/ and https://198.51.100.1/.

Expose GitLab on different ports

GitLab will occupy some ports inside the container.

If you want to use a different host port than 80 (HTTP), 443 (HTTPS), or 22 (SSH), you need to add a separate --publish directive to the docker run command.

For example, to expose the web interface on the host’s port 8929, and the SSH service on port 2424:

  1. Use the following docker run command: 

    sudo docker run --detach \
  --hostname gitlab.example.com \
  --env GITLAB_OMNIBUS_CONFIG="external_url 'http://gitlab.example.com:8929'; gitlab_rails['gitlab_shell_ssh_port'] = 2424" \
  --publish 8929:8929 --publish 2424:22 \
  --name gitlab \
  --restart always \
  --volume $GITLAB_HOME/config:/etc/gitlab \
  --volume $GITLAB_HOME/logs:/var/log/gitlab \
  --volume $GITLAB_HOME/data:/var/opt/gitlab \
  --shm-size 256m \
  gitlab/gitlab-ee:<version>-ee.0
    note
    The format for publishing ports is hostPort:containerPort. Read more in the Docker documentation about exposing incoming ports.

  2. Enter the running container: 

    sudo docker exec -it gitlab /bin/bash

  3. Open /etc/gitlab/gitlab.rb with your editor and set external_url: 

    # For HTTP
external_url "http://gitlab.example.com:8929"

or

# For HTTPS (notice the https)
external_url "https://gitlab.example.com:8929"

    The port specified in this URL must match the port published to the host by Docker. Additionally, if the NGINX listen port is not explicitly set in nginx['listen_port'], it will be pulled from the external_url. For more information see the NGINX documentation.

  4. Set the SSH port: 

    gitlab_rails['gitlab_shell_ssh_port'] = 2424

  5. Finally, reconfigure GitLab: 

    gitlab-ctl reconfigure

Following the above example, you will be able to reach GitLab from your web browser under <hostIP>:8929 and push using SSH under the port 2424.

A docker-compose.yml example that uses different ports can be found in the Docker compose section.

Configure multiple database connections

In GitLab 16.0, GitLab defaults to using two database connections that point to the same PostgreSQL database.

If, for any reason, you wish to switch back to single database connection:

  1. Edit /etc/gitlab/gitlab.rb inside the container: 

    sudo docker exec -it gitlab editor /etc/gitlab/gitlab.rb

  2. Add the following line: 

    gitlab_rails['databases']['ci']['enable'] = false

  3. Restart the container: 

sudo docker restart gitlab

After completing your installation, consider taking the recommended next steps, including authentication options and sign-up restrictions.

Upgrade

In most cases, upgrading GitLab is as easy as downloading the newest Docker image tag.

Upgrade GitLab using Docker Engine

To upgrade GitLab that was installed using Docker Engine:

  1. Take a backup. As a minimum, back up the database and the GitLab secrets file.

  2. Stop the running container: 

    sudo docker stop gitlab

  3. Remove the existing container: 

    sudo docker rm gitlab

  4. Pull the new image: 

    sudo docker pull gitlab/gitlab-ee:<version>-ee.0

  5. Ensure that the GITLAB_HOME environment variable is defined: 

    echo $GITLAB_HOME

  6. Create the container once again with the previously specified options: 

    sudo docker run --detach \
--hostname gitlab.example.com \
--publish 443:443 --publish 80:80 --publish 22:22 \
--name gitlab \
--restart always \
--volume $GITLAB_HOME/config:/etc/gitlab \
--volume $GITLAB_HOME/logs:/var/log/gitlab \
--volume $GITLAB_HOME/data:/var/opt/gitlab \
--shm-size 256m \
gitlab/gitlab-ee:<version>-ee.0

On the first run, GitLab will reconfigure and upgrade itself.

Refer to the GitLab Upgrade recommendations when upgrading between versions.

Upgrade GitLab using Docker compose

To upgrade GitLab that was installed using Docker Compose:

  1. Take a backup. As a minimum, back up the database and the GitLab secrets file.
  2. Edit docker-compose.yml and change the version to pull.

  3. Download the newest release and upgrade your GitLab instance: 

    docker compose pull
docker compose up -d

Convert Community Edition to Enterprise Edition

You can convert an existing Docker-based GitLab Community Edition (CE) container to a GitLab Enterprise Edition (EE) container using the same approach as upgrading the version.

We recommend you convert from the same version of CE to EE (for example, CE 14.1 to EE 14.1). This is not explicitly necessary, and any standard upgrade (for example, CE 14.0 to EE 14.1) should work. The following steps assume that you are upgrading the same version.

  1. Take a backup. As a minimum, back up the database and the GitLab secrets file.

  2. Stop the current CE container, and remove or rename it.

  3. To create a new container with GitLab EE, replace ce with ee in your docker run command or docker-compose.yml file. However, reuse the CE container name, port and file mappings, and version.

Downgrade GitLab

caution
You must at least have a database backup created under the exact same version and edition you are downgrading to. Restoring the backup is required to revert the schema changes (migrations) made as part of the upgrade. The restore overwrites all newer GitLab database content with the older state. We can therefore only recommend a downgrade, if for example post-upgrade tests reveal problems that can not be resolved quickly.

To downgrade GitLab shortly after an upgrade:

  1. Follow the upgrade procedure, by specifying an earlier version than you have installed.

  2. Restore the database backup you made before the upgrade.

    • Follow the restore steps for Docker images, including stopping Puma and Sidekiq. Only the database must be restored, so add SKIP=artifacts,repositories,registry,uploads,builds,pages,lfs,packages,terraform_state to the gitlab-backup restore command line arguments.

Back up GitLab

You can create a GitLab backup with: 

docker exec -t <container name> gitlab-backup create

Read more on how to back up and restore GitLab.

note
If configuration is provided entirely via the GITLAB_OMNIBUS_CONFIG environment variable (per the “Pre-configure Docker Container” steps), meaning no configuration is set directly in the gitlab.rb file, then there is no need to back up the gitlab.rb file.
caution
Backing up the GitLab secrets file is required to avoid complicated steps when recovering GitLab from backup. The secrets file is stored at /etc/gitlab/gitlab-secrets.json inside the container, or $GITLAB_HOME/config/gitlab-secrets.json on the container host.

Create a database backup

A database backup is required to roll back a GitLab upgrade if you encounter issues. 

docker exec -t <container name> gitlab-backup create SKIP=artifacts,repositories,registry,uploads,builds,pages,lfs,packages,terraform_state

The backup is written to /var/opt/gitlab/backups which should be on a volume mounted by Docker.

Troubleshooting

See Troubleshooting GitLab installations that use Docker.