GitLab

Development4096MB+ RAM

Complete DevOps platform with Git, CI/CD, and more

Download Server Compass View Documentation

gitdevopsci-cdgithub-alternative

Deploy GitLab in 3 Steps

Connect Your VPS

Add your server credentials to Server Compass

Select GitLab

Choose from our template library

Deploy & Configure

Fill in settings and click Deploy

No Docker knowledge required

Manual Setup Guide

Set Up GitLab from Terminal

Get your hands dirty: manual GitLab deployment guide for developers.

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-ip

First time? Make sure Docker is installed on your VPS. Run: curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com | sh

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/gitlab

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 URL

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 -f

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:80

Skip 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

Wait for GitLab to start (5-10 min)

Get root password from logs

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.