Gitea

Step-by-Step Guide to Installing and Configuring Gitea as a Self-Hosting Git Repository on Ubuntu 24.04

Philip Jensen

— 3 min read

Introduction

If you're looking to host your own Git repositories securely and efficiently, install Gitea on Ubuntu 24.04 is an excellent choice. Gitea is a lightweight, self-hosted Git service that offers a user-friendly interface, robust features, and easy management. At ByteHosting, we understand the importance of reliable hosting, and in this guide, we'll walk you through the step-by-step process of installing and configuring Gitea on your Ubuntu 24.04 server, ensuring optimal security and performance.

Prerequisites: VPS Setup, Domain, and SSL Considerations

Before diving into the installation, ensure you have a VPS ready. We recommend our cost-effective KVM VPS plans, which provide the performance and stability needed for hosting Git repositories. You should also have a registered domain pointing to your server's IP address. For secure access, setting up SSL is crucial—either via Let's Encrypt or your preferred certificate authority—to encrypt data in transit.

Here's a quick checklist:

  • VPS with Ubuntu 24.04 installed
  • Domain pointing to your server's IP
  • Root or sudo privileges on the server
  • Basic knowledge of Linux command line

Download Gitea Binary and Prepare System Dependencies

First, connect to your server via SSH. Then, update your package list and install necessary dependencies:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install -y git sqlite3 wget ca-certificates

Next, download the latest Gitea binary. Visit the official Gitea downloads page to find the latest version. For example:

GITEA_VERSION=1.20.4
wget -O gitea https://dl.gitea.io/gitea/${GITEA_VERSION}/gitea-${GITEA_VERSION}-linux-amd64

Make the binary executable and move it to /usr/local/bin for system-wide access:

chmod +x gitea
sudo mv gitea /usr/local/bin/

Install Gitea as a systemd Service for Automatic Management

To ensure Gitea runs smoothly and restarts automatically, set it up as a systemd service. First, create a dedicated user:

sudo adduser --system --group --disabled-login --no-create-home gitea

Then, create necessary directories:

sudo mkdir -p /var/lib/gitea/{custom,data,log}
sudo chown -R gitea:gitea /var/lib/gitea
sudo chmod -R 750 /var/lib/gitea

Next, create a systemd service file:

sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/gitea.service

Insert the following configuration:

[Unit]
Description=Gitea
After=network.target

[Service]
User=gitea
Group=gitea
Type=simple
ExecStart=/usr/local/bin/gitea web -p 3000 --config /etc/gitea/app.ini
Restart=always
Environment=USER=gitea HOME=/home/gitea

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Save and enable the service:

sudo systemctl daemon-reload
sudo systemctl enable gitea
sudo systemctl start gitea

You can check the status with:

sudo systemctl status gitea

Configure Gitea Settings for Secure Access and Repository Management

Once Gitea is running, access it via your server's IP or domain on port 3000:

http://your-domain.com:3000

Follow the initial setup wizard to configure your database, application URL, and administrator account. For production, it's recommended to set up SSL. You can do this by configuring a reverse proxy with Nginx or Apache, terminating SSL there.

Sample Nginx Reverse Proxy with SSL

server {
    listen 443 ssl;
    server_name your-domain.com;

    ssl_certificate /path/to/fullchain.pem;
    ssl_certificate_key /path/to/privkey.pem;

    location / {
        proxy_pass http://localhost:3000;
        proxy_set_header Host $host;
        proxy_set_header X-Real-IP $remote_addr;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-For $proxy_add_x_forwarded_for;
        proxy_set_header X-Forwarded-Proto $scheme;
    }
}

This setup ensures your Gitea interface is accessible securely over HTTPS.

Verify Gitea Installation and Initial Login

After completing the setup, log in with the administrator account you created. Verify that repositories can be created, cloned, and managed. Test access over HTTPS to confirm SSL is working correctly.

Troubleshoot Common Issues

Service Startup Problems

If Gitea doesn't start, check the service status:

sudo systemctl status gitea

Review logs for errors and ensure the binary has correct permissions.

Permissions and Ownership

Ensure all directories and files are owned by the gitea user, especially /var/lib/gitea.

SSL and Reverse Proxy Issues

If SSL isn't working, double-check your certificate paths and proxy configuration. Use tools like curl -I https://your-domain.com to verify HTTPS response headers.

Conclusion

Self-hosting Gitea on Ubuntu 24.04 provides a secure, efficient way to manage your Git repositories privately. By following our step-by-step guide, you can set up Gitea with optimal security and performance. At ByteHosting, we’re committed to providing reliable hosting solutions, and our VPS plans are perfect for hosting your own Gitea instance. Whether you're an individual developer or a team, hosting your own Git service empowers you with full control over your code. Get started today and enjoy seamless, self-managed Git repositories!

Read more