Summary: In this detailed guide, learn how to mirror your GitLab repositories from an on-premises server to the cloud for enhanced data security and disaster recovery. By following this step-by-step process, you can ensure that your code is always backed up, accessible, and safe from hardware failures and data loss.
Why Mirror Your GitLab Repository?
Mirroring your GitLab repositories is essential for various reasons:
- Disaster Recovery: A cloud mirror safeguards against data loss and hardware failures.
- High Availability: Ensures access to your code, even if your local instance goes down.
- Backup and Redundancy: Automatic backups and replication mitigate the risk of data loss.
Having your local development mirrored to the cloud brings peace of mind, knowing your work is secure.
Prerequisites for Repository Mirroring
Before you start the mirroring process, ensure you have:
- Admin or Maintainer access to your on-premises GitLab repository.
- A GitLab.com account with a new empty repository created in GitLab Cloud.
- Network connectivity between your on-premises server and GitLab Cloud.
- Permission to unprotect branches on your cloud instance.
Step-by-Step Guide to Mirror Your GitLab Repo
Step 1: Create a New GitLab Repository in the Cloud
- Log in to GitLab.com.
- Select New project and choose Create blank project.
- Fill in your project details and create the repository.
Step 2: Unprotect the Repo
Unprotect the branch to allow force pushing:
- Access your GitLab project settings.
- Navigate to Repository Options and allow force push.
Step 3: Retrieve the Mirroring URL
Once your GitLab Cloud repository is set up:
- Go to your new GitLab Cloud repository.
- Click the Code button and copy the HTTPS or SSH URL.
Step 4: Configure Repository Mirroring
On your on-premises GitLab server:
- Open your repository settings.
- Navigate to Settings → Repository.
- Scroll to Mirroring repositories and paste the GitLab Cloud repository URL.
- Enter your credentials and click Mirror repository.
Choosing Your Mirroring Direction
For most users with an on-premises GitLab instance, select Push Mirroring to ensure changes sync from your local repository to GitLab Cloud:
- Push Mirroring: Sends changes to the cloud repository.
- Pull Mirroring: Pulls changes from the cloud to your local instance.
Verify Mirroring Setup
To confirm your setup:
- Check the status in the “Mirroring repositories” section.
- Ensure it reads “Last successful update.”
- Perform test commits and verify they appear in your GitLab Cloud repo.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
If you face issues, consider these common troubleshooting tips:
- Authentication Problems: Verify your access token is valid and has necessary permissions.
- Network Errors: Confirm there are no firewall restrictions affecting connectivity.
- Delayed Syncs: Check if sync frequency settings are correct.
Wrapping Up
By mirroring your GitLab repositories, you enhance the protection and availability of your valuable code. This method provides a reliable backup solution while supporting robust Disaster Recovery strategies. Have you implemented this in your home lab or production environment? Share your experience in the comments below!
FAQ
- What is repository mirroring in GitLab?
Repository mirroring allows you to create a backup of your repositories by syncing them between an on-premises server and the GitLab Cloud. - How often does repository mirroring occur?
The default sync interval is every 5 minutes, but you can also manually trigger a sync. - Can I mirror multiple repositories?
Yes, although you’ll need to configure each repository individually, or you can automate the process using GitLab APIs.