1
Step 1Open the server Apps tab
Select the tutorial-vps VPS, open the Apps tab, and start a new app deployment. Keep sensitive server details hidden before capturing or sharing screenshots.
Back to all templates
GitLab
Development4096MB+ RAM
Complete DevOps platform with Git, CI/CD, and more
gitdevopsci-cdgithub-alternative
Deploy GitLab in 3 Steps
1
Connect Your VPS
Add your server credentials to Server Compass
2
Select GitLab
Choose from our template library
3
Deploy & Configure
Fill in settings and click Deploy
No Docker knowledge required
Step-by-step deployment guide
Deploy GitLab on a VPS with Server Compass
Use the GitLab template in Server Compass to deploy the GitLab CE DevOps platform, then verify the sign-in page in a browser.
About 10 minutesBrowser verified
2
Step 2Choose an app template
Click New App and choose the template deployment path so Server Compass can load the built-in catalog.
3
Step 3Search for GitLab
Use the template picker search to find GitLab in the Server Compass template catalog.
4
Step 4Select the GitLab template
Choose the GitLab template. Server Compass fills the GitLab CE service, persistent volumes, SSH port, HTTPS port, and external URL.
5
Step 5Review the GitLab settings
Confirm the app name, external URL, web port, HTTPS port, and SSH port. In this run, the app was named gitlab-demo and used host web port 4081.
6
Step 6Deploy GitLab
Review the generated compose settings, confirm the GitLab web, HTTPS, and SSH ports are available, and click Deploy.
7
Step 7Watch the deployment progress
Keep the deployment modal open while Server Compass uploads the compose file, pulls the GitLab CE image, starts the container, and verifies the stack. GitLab can take several minutes to finish its first boot.
8
Step 8Confirm GitLab is running
After deployment finishes, return to the Apps tab and confirm the GitLab app is marked Running with its application URL available.
9
Step 9Open GitLab in the browser
Open the application URL in a browser. The GitLab sign-in page confirms the self-hosted GitLab instance is reachable.
After GitLab Opens
- Read the initial root password from `/etc/gitlab/initial_root_password` inside the GitLab container.
- Sign in as root and immediately change the generated password.
- Configure HTTPS before production use.
- Add users, groups, projects, and protected branch rules for your workflow.
- Monitor GitLab memory, disk, and backup health before putting real repositories on the server.
Verified Result
The GitLab sign-in page loaded successfully from the deployed container.
GitLab deployment questions
What does the GitLab template deploy?
It deploys the official GitLab CE container with persistent config, logs, and data volumes, plus published web, HTTPS, and Git-over-SSH ports.
Which port did the tutorial use?
The tutorial used host web port 4081. GitLab Omnibus listens on the same internal port because the external URL includes that port.
Does GitLab need setup after deployment?
Yes. Retrieve the initial root password, sign in, change the root password, configure HTTPS, and set up users, groups, projects, and backups.
Should this become a blog post?
No. The deployment guide should live on the GitLab template detail page and be linked from the reusable template deployment docs page.
Manual Setup Guide
Set Up GitLab from Terminal
Get your hands dirty: manual GitLab deployment guide for developers.
1
Access Your VPS Terminal
Use your terminal to securely access your server. You'll need your server's IP address.
terminal
# Connect via SSH
ssh root@your-vps-ip
# Alternative with key file
ssh -i /path/to/key root@your-vps-ipFirst time? Make sure Docker is installed on your VPS. Run: curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh
2
Set Up the Deployment Folder
Initialize a project folder on your server.
terminal
# Create and navigate to project directory
mkdir -p ~/apps/gitlab
cd ~/apps/gitlab3
Set Up the Stack Definition
Use this Docker Compose configuration for your deployment:
docker-compose.yml
services:
gitlab:
image: gitlab/gitlab-ce:latest
ports:
- "80:80"
- "443:443"
- "2222:22"
environment:
GITLAB_OMNIBUS_CONFIG: |
external_url 'http://<your-external-url>'
gitlab_rails['gitlab_shell_ssh_port'] = 2222
volumes:
- gitlab_config:/etc/gitlab
- gitlab_logs:/var/log/gitlab
- gitlab_data:/var/opt/gitlab
shm_size: '256m'
restart: unless-stopped
volumes:
gitlab_config:
gitlab_logs:
gitlab_data:
Environment Variables
PORTHTTP port(default: 80)HTTPS_PORTHTTPS port(default: 443)SSH_PORTSSH port(default: 2222)EXTERNAL_URLExternal URL4
Start the Containers
Bring up your containers in detached mode.
terminal
# Start all services
docker compose up -d
# List running containers
docker compose ps
# Watch the logs
docker compose logs -f5
Set Up Firewall Rules
Allow the application port through your server's firewall.
terminal
# Allow the application port through firewall
sudo ufw allow 80/tcp
sudo ufw reload
# Access your app at:
# http://your-server-ip:80Skip the Terminal
Let Server Compass do the heavy lifting.
Why type commands when you can click? Deploy GitLab the easy way with Server Compass.
- Beautiful interface
- One-click deploys
- Let's Encrypt SSL
- Zero downtime
- Container monitoring
- Easy rollbacks
Download Server Compass$29 one-time • Lifetime license
After Deployment
After deploying GitLab with Server Compass, complete these steps to finish setup
1
Wait for GitLab to start (5-10 min)
2
Get root password from logs
3
Log in and change password
Need help? Check out our documentation for detailed guides.
GitLab FAQ
Common questions about self-hosting GitLab
How do I deploy GitLab with Server Compass?
Simply download Server Compass, connect to your VPS, and select GitLab from the templates list. Fill in the required configuration and click Deploy. The entire process takes under 3 minutes.
What are the system requirements for GitLab?
GitLab requires a minimum of 4096MB RAM. We recommend a VPS with at least 8192MB RAM for optimal performance. Any modern Linux server with Docker support will work.
Can I migrate my existing GitLab data?
Yes! Server Compass provides volume mapping that allows you to import existing data. You can also use standard GitLab backup and restore procedures.
How do I update GitLab to the latest version?
Server Compass makes updates easy. Simply click the Update button in your deployment dashboard, and the latest GitLab image will be pulled and deployed with zero downtime.
Is GitLab free to self-host?
GitLab is open-source software. You only pay for your VPS hosting (typically $5-20/month) and optionally Server Compass ($29 one-time). No subscription fees or per-seat pricing.
Related Templates
View all Development
PocketBase
Open-source backend in a single file with realtime database, auth, and file storage
Appwrite
Open-source backend-as-a-service - self-hosted Firebase alternative
Parse Server
Open-source backend framework with dashboard
Supabase
Full Supabase self-hosted with Kong, GoTrue Auth, Realtime, and Studio
Ready to Self-Host GitLab?
Download Server Compass and deploy GitLab to your VPS in under 3 minutes. No Docker expertise required.
Download Server Compass