How to Set Up a Git Server on Your Dedicated Server

How to Set Up a Git Server on Your Dedicated Server

Setting up a Git server on your dedicated server allows you to manage and store your code repositories in a secure and private environment. This guide will walk you through the steps to install and configure a Git server on your dedicated server.

Step 1: Install Git on Your Dedicated Server

• Connect to your dedicated server using SSH.

• Update your package list to ensure you have the latest software versions:

  sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y  # For Debian/Ubuntu
  sudo yum update -y                     # For CentOS/RHEL
  

• Install Git using the following command:

  sudo apt install git -y   # For Debian/Ubuntu
  sudo yum install git -y   # For CentOS/RHEL
  

• Verify the installation:

  git --version
  

Step 2: Create a Git User for Repository Management

• To keep repositories organized and secure, create a dedicated Git user:

  sudo adduser git
  

• Set a strong password for the Git user and complete the account setup.

Step 3: Set Up SSH Access for Git

• Switch to the Git user account:

  sudo su - git
  

• Create an SSH directory:

  mkdir -p ~/.ssh && chmod 700 ~/.ssh
  

• Add authorized keys for users who should have access:

  nano ~/.ssh/authorized_keys
  

• Paste the public SSH keys of users who will connect to the Git server and save the file.

• Set the correct permissions:

  chmod 600 ~/.ssh/authorized_keys
  

Step 4: Create a Bare Git Repository

• Navigate to the home directory of the Git user:

  cd /home/git
  

• Create a new repository:

  mkdir myrepo.git
  cd myrepo.git
  git init --bare
  

• This initializes a bare repository, which is designed for remote collaboration.

Step 5: Set Up Permissions for Repository Access

• Ensure that only the Git user can modify repository files:

  chown -R git:git /home/git/myrepo.git
  

Step 6: Clone the Git Repository on a Local Machine

• On your local computer, run the following command to clone the repository:

  git clone git@gitserver:/home/git/myrepo.git
  

  • Replace gitserver with your server’s IP address or hostname.
  • You may need to confirm the SSH key fingerprint on the first connection.

Step 7: Push Code to the Git Server

• After cloning, navigate into the repository:

  cd myrepo
  

• Add a new file and commit it:

  echo "Welcome to my Git server" > README.md
  git add README.md
  git commit -m "Initial commit"
  

• Push the changes to the server:

  git push origin master
  

Step 8: Manage User Access and Repositories

• To create additional repositories, repeat Step 4.
• To add more users, append their SSH keys to ~/.ssh/authorized_keys.
• Consider using Gitolite or Gitea for advanced repository management and access control.

By setting up a Git server on your dedicated server, you gain complete control over your repositories, ensuring privacy, security, and efficiency in your development workflow.