Migrating Your GitLab Instance: A Thorough Guide to Moving to a New Server

Migrating a GitLab instance to a new server is a complex process that requires careful planning and execution. This guide provides a comprehensive walkthrough to ensure a smooth transition, covering everything from preparing for migration to post-migration optimization. Whether you’re moving from a self-managed GitLab to GitLab.com, between self-managed instances, or within the same instance, this guide is designed to address all aspects of the migration process.

Key Takeaways

• Understand the various migration paths and methods, including direct transfer and export file upload, to choose the best approach for your scenario.
• Ensure prerequisites such as network connectivity, compatible GitLab versions, and proper configurations are met before initiating the migration.
• Create a comprehensive backup of your GitLab instance, paying special attention to large architectures and data integrity to prevent data loss.
• Re-register GitLab runners on the new instance and migrate configurations, understanding how to troubleshoot common runner issues post-migration.
• After migration, verify the outcome, enforce security measures like 2FA and SSH certificates, and optimize the new environment for performance.

Preparing for Migration

Assessing Your Current GitLab Setup

Before embarking on the migration journey, it’s crucial to thoroughly assess your current GitLab setup. This initial step will help you identify potential challenges and plan for a seamless transition. Start by reviewing your existing configuration files and settings. Ensure that you have a clear understanding of your current system’s architecture, including any custom integrations or modifications you’ve made.

GitLab Ultimate users should pay special attention to licensed features that may require additional steps to migrate. It’s also wise to document your current GitLab version and compare it with the version supported on the new server to avoid compatibility issues.

Remember, a successful migration hinges on meticulous planning. Take the time to catalog your current environment’s specifics, as this will be invaluable during the migration process.

Here’s a quick checklist to guide your assessment:

• Verify the current GitLab version and edition.
• List all custom configurations and integrations.
• Check for any licensed features specific to GitLab Ultimate.
• Document the size and structure of your repositories.
• Note down the details of your current backup strategies.

Understanding Migration Paths and Methods

When planning to migrate your GitLab instance, it’s crucial to understand the different paths and methods available. Choosing the right migration strategy is essential for a seamless transition. GitLab offers various methods, including direct transfer and export/import via file upload. Each method has its pros and cons, depending on the size and complexity of your instance.

Direct transfer is often the go-to method for smaller instances, as it allows for a straightforward migration of groups and projects. For larger instances, the export/import method provides a way to handle large datasets and complex architectures. It’s important to configure database credentials to ensure accessibility and redundancy during the migration process.

Remember, a successful migration hinges on meticulous planning and execution. Take the time to review your database layout, access patterns, and maintenance operations to avoid common pitfalls.

Here are some key considerations for your migration:

• Assess the size and scope of your GitLab instance
• Determine the number of projects and groups to be migrated
• Evaluate the need for downtime during migration
• Understand the impact on CI/CD pipelines and associated workflows

GitLab simplifies database management and migration with its user-friendly interface, version control, and CI/CD pipeline. Collaborate, track changes, and automate migrations efficiently.

Prerequisites for a Smooth Transition

Before embarking on the migration of your GitLab instance, it’s crucial to establish a clear plan and set of prerequisites. Ensure all team members are aware of the migration schedule and have access to the necessary resources. This includes understanding the roles and permissions required to execute the migration successfully.

• Verify that your current GitLab version is supported for migration.
• Confirm that you have at least the Maintainer role for transferring projects.
• Check the compatibility of third-party integrations and hooks.
• Prepare a rollback plan in case of unforeseen issues.

A meticulous approach to planning will significantly reduce the risk of downtime and data loss.

Remember, a successful migration is not just about moving data; it’s about ensuring continuity of work without disrupting your team’s workflow. By addressing these prerequisites, you’re laying the groundwork for a seamless transition to your new server.

Backing Up Your GitLab Instance

Creating a Comprehensive Backup

A comprehensive backup is the cornerstone of any migration process. Ensure that all data is backed up before proceeding, as this will be your safety net in case of any issues during the migration. The GitLab backup utility is designed to make this process straightforward, encapsulating everything from repositories to configurations.

To start, invoke the GitLab backup task using the command gitlab-rake gitlab:backup:create. This will generate a backup of your system data, including the database, uploads, and configurations. Here’s a quick checklist to guide you through the backup process:

• Verify that your backup directory has sufficient space.
• Exclude any unnecessary data using the SKIP option to reduce backup size.
• Confirm that the backup includes all custom hooks and integration data.

Remember, testing your backup by restoring it on a staging server is crucial to ensure its integrity.

Repository backups are a sub-task of the GitLab backup process, handled by the repositories sub-task. This uses the gitaly-backup command to safeguard your code. It’s important to schedule regular backups and keep them in a secure location, separate from your production environment.

Handling Large Reference Architectures

When dealing with large reference architectures, the complexity of your GitLab migration can increase significantly. It’s crucial to plan meticulously and leverage the capabilities of GitLab Premium for advanced features and support. Migrating large instances often involves substantial data, numerous projects, and complex configurations that require careful handling to ensure a seamless transition.

GitLab Premium users benefit from enhanced features that are particularly useful when managing large architectures, such as priority support and advanced analytics. To ensure data integrity and minimize downtime, follow these recommended steps:

• Review and optimize your database layout and access patterns.
• Utilize maintenance operations to clean up and prepare your databases.
• Implement post-deployment migrations to adjust and optimize database schemas.

Remember, the goal is to migrate your GitLab instance with minimal disruption to your operations. Taking the time to address these areas will pay off in a smoother migration process and a more stable new environment.

Ensuring Data Integrity

When migrating your GitLab instance, ensuring data integrity is paramount. This involves verifying that all data is accurately transferred and remains unaltered during the process. To achieve this, consider implementing a checksum verification step for each component of your GitLab instance, such as repositories, CI/CD configurations, and databases.

Checksum verification can be done using GitLab’s built-in tools or third-party utilities. Here’s a simple checklist to guide you through the verification process:

• Confirm that all repository data matches between the source and target servers.
• Verify the integrity of CI/CD pipeline configurations and job histories.
• Ensure that database records are consistent and that no data has been lost or corrupted.

Remember, a successful migration is not just about moving data, but also about maintaining its integrity. Take the time to perform thorough checks at every stage of the migration.

Lastly, be aware of the security considerations and limitations when moving from a cloud service to a self-hosted solution. GitLab provides robust tools for managing your repositories and CI/CD pipelines, but self-hosting may introduce new challenges that require careful planning and execution.

Setting Up the New Server

Configuring Network and Versions

When setting up your new GitLab server, it’s crucial to ensure that the network configuration aligns with your security and accessibility requirements. If your original instance utilized a private network, replicate this environment to safeguard your data during and after the migration process.

Ensure that the network connection supports HTTPS and that no firewalls are obstructing the communication between your old and new instances. This is particularly important if you’re planning to use the direct transfer method for migration.

Regarding versions, the source GitLab instance must be running at least GitLab 14.0 for group imports and 14.4 for project imports. To avoid compatibility issues and to take advantage of the latest features, consider updating to the latest version before initiating the migration.

It’s essential to verify that both the source and destination instances are running compatible versions to prevent any unexpected migration issues.

Here’s a quick checklist to help you configure the network and versions correctly:

• Confirm HTTPS support and firewall configurations
• Match or upgrade the GitLab versions on both instances
• Review the prerequisites for direct transfer, including the requirement for the Maintainer role introduced in GitLab 16.0

Securing Your New Installation

Once your new server is up and running, securing your installation should be your top priority. Start by enforcing two-factor authentication (2FA) to add an extra layer of security for user accounts. This simple step can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access.

Ensure that all communication between your server and clients is encrypted. Utilizing SSH certificates is a must, and consider enabling encrypted configuration to protect sensitive data.

To maintain a robust security posture, regularly perform maintenance tasks such as clean-up with Rake tasks and filesystem benchmarking. Remember, a secure GitLab is the foundation of a reliable DevOps practice.

Enabling Necessary Features and Settings

Once your new server is configured, it’s crucial to enable the necessary features and settings that align with your organization’s needs. Navigate to the global settings to adjust user sign-ups, access levels, and other critical configurations. For instance, to control user registration, expand the ‘Sign-up Restrictions’ section and toggle the sign-up option as needed.

GitLab offers a plethora of settings to fine-tune your instance for optimal performance and security. Here’s a quick checklist to ensure you’ve covered the essentials:

• License scanning and approval policies
• User account options and service accounts
• Permissions, roles, and custom permissions
• Personal access tokens and SSH key management
• Two-factor authentication and other security measures

Remember, the settings you choose can significantly impact the usability and security of your GitLab instance. Take the time to review each section carefully.

Finally, don’t overlook the package settings and cleanup policies, which are vital for maintaining a clean and efficient repository. With these settings in place, your new GitLab server will be ready to handle your projects and workflows seamlessly.

Migrating GitLab Groups and Projects

Direct Transfer vs. Export File Upload

When migrating GitLab groups and projects, you’re faced with two primary methods: Direct Transfer and Export File Upload. Direct Transfer is a real-time migration process that moves entities directly from the source to the destination instance. It’s suitable for instances where the number of workers is sufficient to handle multiple entities in parallel, thus reducing migration duration. On the other hand, Export File Upload involves creating an export file of your projects or groups and then uploading it to the new instance. This method can be more predictable when dealing with complex data structures or large volumes of data.

It’s crucial to consider the complexity and size of the data to be exported. A project with numerous attachments and comments may take longer to migrate than one with a simpler structure, even if they have the same number of merge requests.

To optimize the migration process, consider the following:

• Ensure the source instance has enough workers to export the 5 concurrent entities.
• Increase the number of workers on the destination instance to handle imports efficiently.
• Distribute projects across different groups to prevent timeouts, especially for large projects.

Selecting Items for Migration

When preparing to migrate your GitLab instance, it’s crucial to understand which items will be transferred and which will not. Carefully select the project and group items that are essential for your team’s continuity. GitLab emphasizes effective collaboration through project creation, management, and Git usage. Key steps include creating, importing projects, managing settings, and cloning repositories for streamlined teamwork.

Remember, not all project items are included in the migration process. Items such as CI/CD variables, deploy keys, and webhooks are typically excluded due to their sensitive nature or because they are not supported in the migration tool.

Here’s a quick rundown of what to expect:

• Migrated Items: Project avatars, container expiration policies, project properties, and Service Desk settings.
• Excluded Items: CI/CD variables, deploy tokens, pipeline triggers, and remote mirrors.

To ensure a smooth transition, verify the compatibility of each item with the version of GitLab on your new server. If necessary, use the API for project-only migrations or to retry a migration.

Managing Users and Permissions

When migrating to a new GitLab server, managing users and permissions is critical to ensure continuity and security. Audit your existing users and permissions before the migration to identify any discrepancies or required changes. Use the Credentials inventory to track and manage user access levels and permissions.

• Review and update user roles and permissions
• Reset passwords and enforce password policies
• Reconfigure two-factor authentication for all users

Ensure that all user accounts are correctly mapped to their new roles and permissions on the new server.

After migration, it’s important to verify that permissions are correctly applied and that users can access only what they’re authorized to. Regularly scheduled audits post-migration will help maintain the integrity of user roles and permissions.

Handling GitLab Runners

Re-registering Runners on the New Instance

After setting up your new GitLab server, re-registering your runners is a critical step to ensure your CI/CD pipelines continue to function seamlessly. Start by listing all runners currently registered to your old instance using sudo gitlab-runner list. This will give you a clear overview of the runners that need to be migrated.

To unregister a runner from the old server, you can use the command sudo gitlab-runner unregister --url OLD_GITLAB_URL --token RUNNER_TOKEN. For a bulk operation, --all-runners can be used to unregister all runners at once. Remember to replace OLD_GITLAB_URL and RUNNER_TOKEN with the appropriate values for your setup.

Ensure that each runner is properly unregistered from the old instance before proceeding to register it on the new server.

Once the runners are unregistered, proceed to register them on the new instance. The registration process involves providing the new GitLab server’s URL and a registration token. This token can be obtained from the GitLab’s project settings or the admin area for shared runners. The command to register a runner is sudo gitlab-runner register --url NEW_GITLAB_URL --registration-token REGISTRATION_TOKEN.

Registration tokens are unique to each project or instance and are crucial for linking runners to the correct GitLab server. Keep these tokens secure and rotate them if there’s any suspicion of compromise.

Migrating Runner Configurations

When moving to a new server, it’s crucial to ensure that your GitLab runners are correctly migrated to maintain CI/CD processes. Migrating runner configurations can be as simple as copying the config.toml files, but this method may not always work, especially when dealing with different server environments or runner types.

To migrate runners effectively, follow these steps:

1. Install GitLab on the new server if not already done.
2. Copy the /etc/gitlab files from the old server to the new server.
3. Update the configurations as necessary, paying special attention to any hardcoded IP addresses or domain names.
4. If applicable, disable incoming email to prevent any automated processes from starting during the migration.

Remember, each runner is unique and may require individual attention during migration. It’s essential to verify that all runners are operational post-migration to avoid disruptions in your workflow.

For Docker or SSH runners, which are commonly used, ensure that the new server has the same capabilities or better than the old one. This might involve installing additional software or adjusting resource allocations. After the migration, re-register each runner with the new instance to ensure they are connected and ready to process jobs.

Troubleshooting Runner Issues

When you encounter issues with GitLab Runners, it’s essential to approach troubleshooting methodically. Check the runner’s logs first; they often provide clues to the root cause. Ensure that the runner’s configuration aligns with the official documentation and that you’ve followed the correct registration workflow. If problems persist, consider the community support forums as a valuable resource.

If you’re migrating runners, remember to enable them in the new instance’s Settings -> CI/CD -> Runners section. For a smooth transition, verify that all necessary permissions are in place and that the runners are correctly linked to the projects they serve.

It’s crucial to maintain the integrity of your CI/CD pipelines during migration. Ensure that all runners are operational and properly configured before considering the migration complete.

Lastly, if you’re scaling your fleet of runners, keep an eye on performance metrics to preemptively address any potential bottlenecks.

Post-Migration Steps

Verifying the Migration Outcome

After the migration process, it’s crucial to ensure that all data has been transferred correctly and is functioning as expected. Perform a thorough review of your new GitLab instance, comparing it to the original. This includes checking user accounts, project repositories, and settings. Use the Database review guidelines to verify the integrity of your data.

Ensure that all groups and projects have been migrated successfully by navigating to the group’s page and selecting ‘Import group’ or creating a new subgroup.

To streamline the verification process, consider the following checklist:

• Connect to the source GitLab instance
• Select the groups and projects to import
• Review the results of the import
• Check for any excluded items in both groups and projects

Address any discrepancies immediately to avoid disruptions in your workflow. Remember, a successful migration is not just about moving data, but also about maintaining the continuity of your operations.

Reviewing and Addressing Import History

After successfully migrating your GitLab instance, it’s crucial to review the import history to ensure all projects and groups have been transferred correctly. GitLab provides a straightforward process to assess the results of your import, which can be accessed through the Group import history page. Here’s how you can check the import status:

1. Sign in to your GitLab account.
2. Navigate to ‘Create new’ and select ‘New group’.
3. Click on ‘Import group’, then ‘History’ in the upper-right corner.
4. For any errors, click ‘See failures’ to view detailed information.

It’s important to note that the items migrated may vary based on the GitLab version on your new server. If you encounter a Partially completed or Failed status, investigate the details to understand which items were not imported and why. Addressing these issues promptly will help maintain the integrity of your GitLab environment.

Remember, GitLab makes project setup and collaboration efficient with comprehensive documentation and an intuitive interface. Ensuring a complete and accurate migration is key to leveraging these benefits on your new server.

Restarting and Testing the New Instance

Once your new GitLab server is up and running, it’s crucial to ensure all systems are operational. Begin by restarting your GitLab instance to confirm that all services and background jobs, such as Sidekiq, start up correctly. After the restart, conduct a thorough testing phase that includes:

• Verifying that all web interfaces are accessible.
• Checking repository access through Git over SSH and HTTP(s).
• Ensuring that all GitLab Runners are connected and operational.
• Confirming that scheduled tasks like backups and cron jobs are functioning.

Remember, this is the perfect time to validate the integrity of your data and the consistency of user permissions across the migrated projects and groups.

If you encounter any issues, refer to the GitLab documentation or community forums, which provide step-by-step guides on GitLab setup, hosting, cloning, version discovery, and access token retrieval. Categories include DevOps, GitLab Runner, and more. Addressing these early on will save you from potential headaches down the line.

Troubleshooting Common Migration Challenges

Resolving Stale Imports

When migrating to a new GitLab server, encountering stale imports can disrupt the process. Stale imports occur when import workers exceed the 8-hour execution limit, leading to a timeout status. To resolve this, identify the affected imports by querying the BulkImports::Entity associated with the group’s namespace_id. If the import.status returns 3, it indicates a timeout.

To manage these stale imports effectively, follow these steps:

1. Retrieve a list of entities with timeouts using BulkImports::Entity.where(namespace_id: Group.id).map(&:bulk_import).
2. For a broader view of failures, use entities.map(&:failures).flatten or filter by status with entities.where(status: [-1]).pluck(:destination_name, :destination_namespace, :status).
3. If available, utilize the API endpoint to review all migrated entities and associated failures.

It’s essential to monitor the import status in real-time, especially for large migrations. The Status column in the import interface provides updates, allowing for timely intervention in case of stale imports.

Remember, timely intervention is crucial to prevent a backlog of stale imports, which can complicate the migration process. Ensure that you have a clear understanding of the migration prerequisites and limits to minimize the occurrence of such issues.

Dealing with Inactive Project Deletion

When migrating to a new GitLab server, it’s crucial to address the fate of inactive projects. Inactive projects can clutter your new environment, leading to unnecessary consumption of resources and potential confusion. To manage this, GitLab provides settings to limit project creation, which can be adjusted to prevent the proliferation of unused projects post-migration.

Project limits can be set to zero for new users, ensuring they can join existing projects without starting new ones. This is done from the ‘Account and limit’ settings. Here’s a quick guide on how to update these settings:

• Navigate to the ‘Account and limit’ section.
• Set the Default projects limit to 0.
• Click on the Save changes button.

Remember, while new users won’t be able to create projects, they’ll still have access to internal or public projects.

Additionally, consider creating a list of projects to be excluded from the migration, especially those that may contain sensitive information or are not supported by the migration process. This will help streamline the transition and maintain a clean, efficient new server environment.

Overcoming Limits and Rate Restrictions

When migrating your GitLab instance, you may encounter various limits and rate restrictions that can impede the process. Understanding and planning for these limitations is crucial to ensure a smooth transition. GitLab imposes rate limits on certain operations to maintain performance and stability, which can affect migrations, especially when dealing with large volumes of data.

To effectively manage these restrictions, it’s important to familiarize yourself with the specific limits that apply to your instance. This includes push event activities, API usage, and repository size limits, among others.

Here are some steps to help you navigate through these constraints:

• Review the GitLab documentation to identify all applicable rate limits.
• Consider temporarily increasing limits, if possible, during the migration.
• Stagger your migration to avoid hitting rate limits by spreading out the transfer over a longer period.
• Use GitLab’s Rake tasks for uploads migration and sanitization to handle large data sets efficiently.

Remember, if you’re unsure about how to adjust these settings or need assistance, reaching out to GitLab support can provide you with the guidance necessary to overcome these challenges.

Enhancing Security Post-Migration

Enforcing Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

In the realm of security, enforcing two-factor authentication (2FA) is a critical step in safeguarding your GitLab environment. By requiring a second form of identification, 2FA significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access. Users must combine something they know, like a password, with something they have, such as a mobile device or a security token.

To implement 2FA on your new GitLab server, follow these steps:

1. Navigate to the Admin Area and select ‘Settings’.
2. Under ‘Security’, find the ‘Two-factor Authentication’ section.
3. Enable ‘Require two-factor authentication for all users’.
4. Set a grace period that allows users time to set up 2FA after their first login.

Remember, while 2FA adds an extra layer of security, it’s also important to maintain password standards and educate users on best practices for account safety.

Finally, ensure that all team members are aware of the new security measures. Regularly review and update your security protocols to adapt to evolving threats and maintain a robust defense against potential vulnerabilities.

Managing SSH Keys and Certificates

When migrating to a new GitLab server, managing SSH keys and certificates is crucial for maintaining secure access to your repositories. Ensure that all SSH keys are transferred correctly and that permissions are set appropriately. To generate a new SSH key, typically a 4096-bit key for robust security, use the command ssh-keygen -b 4096. Remember to append the public key to the authorized_keys file to authorize users.

It’s essential to revoke permissions for group and others from the private key, leaving the owner with exclusive access. This can be done with chmod og= $ID_RSA. Additionally, installing the openssh-client on your new server will provide the necessary SSH commands for secure operations.

GitLab provides secure SSH key management, project creation options, and benefits like CI/CD pipelines. Configure your profile and invite team members for collaboration. Keep in mind that there may be limits on SSH keys; ensure you’re aware of any restrictions that could affect your migration process.

Securing Against the CRIME Vulnerability

The CRIME (Compression Ratio Info-leak Made Easy) vulnerability can compromise the security of your GitLab instance by exploiting the compression feature of SSL/TLS. To mitigate this risk, it’s crucial to disable SSL/TLS compression on your new server. This can typically be done by adjusting the server’s configuration files.

Disabling compression not only secures your instance against CRIME but also sets a precedent for proactive security measures. Ensure that all third-party integrations follow suit by rotating their secrets regularly.

Remember, a secure GitLab environment is the foundation of trust for your users and teams. Regularly review and update your security practices to maintain this trust.

Additionally, consider the following steps to enhance your security posture:

• Review and update SSL/TLS settings
• Rotate secrets and tokens for integrations
• Enforce strict transport security headers
• Regularly audit for outdated or vulnerable software components

Optimizing Your New GitLab Environment

Configuring for Performance and Scalability

When it comes to optimizing your new GitLab environment, performance and scalability should be at the forefront of your configuration efforts. Ensure that your GitLab instance can handle the expected load by fine-tuning settings such as database load balancing, application cache intervals, and Sidekiq job limits. Proper configuration of these parameters will lead to a more robust and responsive system.

Database optimization is key to maintaining a high-performance GitLab instance. Consider using tools like PgBouncer for connection pooling and configuring PostgreSQL for replication and failover. This not only improves performance but also adds redundancy, ensuring that your GitLab remains operational even in the event of a database issue.

To achieve optimal performance, regularly review and adjust your GitLab configuration settings. This includes monitoring and managing instance limits, as well as utilizing Rake tasks for maintenance and troubleshooting.

Here’s a quick checklist to help you get started:

• Review and configure instance limits
• Set up database load balancing with PostgreSQL
• Implement connection pooling with PgBouncer
• Configure Redis for replication
• Optimize Sidekiq processes and job limits
• Regularly run Rake tasks for system checks and cleanups

Remember, a well-configured GitLab environment not only performs better but also provides a more seamless experience for your users.

Setting Up Encrypted Configuration

When migrating to a new GitLab server, ensuring the security of your configuration is paramount. Encrypting your configuration files is a critical step that protects sensitive data from unauthorized access. Start by generating a strong 4096-bit SSH key without a passphrase for simplicity, but consider adding a passphrase for an additional layer of security if your threat model calls for it.

• Generate SSH key: ssh-keygen -b 4096
• Secure the key: chmod og= $ID_RSA
• Append public key: cat ~/.ssh/id_rsa.pub >> ~/.ssh/authorized_keys

Remember, while GitLab is a powerful platform, enhancing security measures is crucial, especially during migrations.

After setting up SSH keys, use SSH certificates to establish a secure communication channel. This ensures that your GitLab instance remains secure and that any data transferred during the migration process is encrypted. For a seamless transition, leverage Rake tasks to automate and verify the encryption of your configurations.

Utilizing Rake Tasks for Maintenance

Rake tasks in GitLab are essential for automating maintenance operations, ensuring your instance remains clean, efficient, and up-to-date. Regularly scheduled Rake tasks can help manage everything from repository checks to Geo configuration and database replication.

• To list all repositories, use the List repositories Rake task.
• For managing object storage and merge request diffs, Rake tasks are available to streamline these processes.
• Setting up and maintaining Geo for high availability setups involves several Rake tasks, including those for database replication and secondary runners.

Ensuring your GitLab instance is well-maintained will reduce downtime and improve overall performance.

Remember to regularly monitor tests and deployments for stability and security, as part of your maintenance routine. This proactive approach will help you avoid common pitfalls and keep your GitLab environment optimized for continuous integration and delivery.

Finalizing the Migration

Transitioning to a Read-Only State

As you approach the final stages of your GitLab migration, it’s crucial to transition your old instance to a read-only state. This ensures that no new data is introduced during the migration process, which could lead to inconsistencies or data loss. Set your GitLab instance to read-only mode to prevent users from making changes that won’t be reflected in the new server.

To do this effectively, follow these steps:

1. Communicate the upcoming read-only period to all users well in advance.
2. Schedule the read-only window during off-peak hours to minimize disruption.
3. Update your GitLab configuration to enforce the read-only state.
4. Monitor the system to ensure compliance and address any unauthorized access attempts.

Remember, the read-only period is temporary but essential. It’s a safeguard that protects the integrity of your data during the critical transition phase.

Once the migration is complete and you’ve verified the integrity and completeness of the data on the new server, you can lift the read-only restriction and resume normal operations.

Executing a Silent Mode Switch-Over

Once you’ve transitioned your GitLab instance to a read-only state, the next critical step is to execute a silent mode switch-over. This process involves a seamless transition where users experience no downtime or disruption in service. Ensure that all traffic is now directed to the new server, and the old server is effectively out of the loop.

During this phase, it’s essential to monitor the new server’s performance closely. Any anomalies or performance issues should be addressed immediately to prevent impact on user experience.

Remember to update DNS records if necessary, and verify that all services are running as expected. Here’s a quick checklist to follow:

• [ ] Update DNS records to point to the new server
• [ ] Verify that all GitLab services are operational
• [ ] Monitor server performance and logs
• [ ] Conduct a final security sweep

Completing these steps will ensure that your GitLab instance continues to operate smoothly, with minimal user impact during the final stages of migration.

Confirming Account and Email Verification

Once the migration is complete, it’s crucial to ensure that all user accounts have been successfully transferred and that their email addresses are verified. Account verification solidifies user ownership and is a critical step in maintaining the integrity of your new GitLab instance. Users should look for a confirmation email and follow the provided instructions to verify their accounts.

To streamline the verification process, consider these steps:

1. Check that each user’s account on the new server has a verified email address.
2. Instruct users to complete the email verification if they haven’t done so already.
3. Address any issues where users fail to prove account ownership, referring to the GitLab Handbook for guidance.

It’s important to note that users can have multiple verified email addresses associated with their account. Ensure that all email addresses are confirmed to avoid any disruptions in service.

Lastly, remember that bypassing the user account verification is possible with verified email domains. This can significantly reduce the administrative overhead during the migration process.

Conclusion

In wrapping up our comprehensive guide on migrating your GitLab instance, we’ve covered the essentials from preparing your migration to troubleshooting common issues. Remember, whether you’re moving between self-managed instances, to or from GitLab.com, or reconfiguring your GitLab runners, the key is in the details. Ensure you meet all prerequisites, including network requirements and version compatibility, and follow best practices for a seamless transition. Don’t forget to back up your data, secure your new installation, and verify all configurations post-migration. With careful planning and execution, your migration can be a smooth and successful process. Should you encounter any hiccups along the way, refer back to this guide and the GitLab documentation for solutions. Happy migrating!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I migrate GitLab groups between different types of instances?

Yes, you can migrate GitLab groups from self-managed GitLab to GitLab.com, from GitLab.com to self-managed GitLab, between self-managed GitLab instances, or within the same GitLab instance. Direct transfer is recommended, but you can also use an export file upload method.

Is it possible to migrate GitLab runners from one server to another?

Yes, GitLab runners can be migrated from one server to another. This process typically involves re-registering the runners on the new GitLab instance.

What should I consider before starting a GitLab migration?

Before migrating, consider known issues, estimate migration duration, be aware of limits and visibility rules, and ensure prerequisites such as network, versions, and configuration are met. Additionally, prepare to connect the source GitLab instance, select groups and projects to import, and plan for troubleshooting.

How do I ensure the integrity of my data during migration?

To ensure data integrity during migration, create a comprehensive backup, handle large reference architectures appropriately, and verify the migration outcome post-migration.

What are some common challenges in GitLab migration and how can they be resolved?

Common challenges include resolving stale imports, dealing with inactive project deletion, and overcoming limits and rate restrictions. Each of these issues requires specific troubleshooting steps outlined in the GitLab migration documentation.

How can I enhance security after migrating my GitLab instance?

Post-migration, you can enhance security by enforcing two-factor authentication (2FA), managing SSH keys and certificates, and securing against the CRIME vulnerability.

What steps should I take to optimize my new GitLab environment?

To optimize your new GitLab environment, configure for performance and scalability, set up encrypted configuration, and utilize Rake tasks for maintenance.

What is the final step in the GitLab migration process?

The final step in the GitLab migration process is to transition the old instance to a read-only state, execute a silent mode switch-over, and confirm account and email verification on the new instance.