---
layout: post
title:  "Gitlab with apache2 and multiple websites"
---


This tutorial assumes you have a Ubuntu 14.04 droplet on Digital Ocean. The idea is to first install the Gitlab Omnibus package, install apache and configure gitlab to use the installed apache server instead of its default nginx server.

## Gitlab Omnibus Install

First install all dependencies. Choose "Internet Site" during Postfix install. Then install the [GitLab Omnibus package](https://about.gitlab.com/downloads/#ubuntu1404):

    sudo apt-get install curl openssh-server ca-certificates postfix
    curl https://packages.gitlab.com/install/repositories/gitlab/gitlab-ce/script.deb.sh | sudo bash
    sudo apt-get install gitlab-ce

Modify the GitLab configuration file located on ```/etc/gitlab/gitlab.rb```:

    external_url "https://gitlab.<yourdomain>/"
    gitlab_rails['gitlab_email_from'] = "gitlab@<yourdomain>"
    gitlab_rails['gitlab_support_email'] = "gitlab-support@<yourdomain>"

Then run ```sudo gitlab-ctl reconfigure``` to reboot GitLab with the new settings.

After the last step, GitLab should be working properly. Visit your GitLab URL and login using the username ```root``` and password ``` 5iveL!fe```.

## Installing apache2

Install apache2:

    sudo apt-get update
    sudo apt-get install apache2

    sudo a2enmod proxy_http
    sudo a2enmod proxy
    sudo a2enmod rewrite
    sudo a2enmod ssl
    sudo a2enmod headers
    sudo /etc/init.d/apache2 restart

If apache doesnt work with the [error](https://www.digitalocean.com/community/questions/98-address-already-in-use-ah00072-make_sock-could-not-bind-to-address-80-error):

    (98)Address already in use: AH00072: make_sock: could not bind to address [::]:80 - error

You can try to close other processes using port 80 with the commands:

    # Find the process with
    sudo lsof -i:80
    # or
    sudo netstat -ltnp | grep ':80'
    # Then kill the process using its pid
    sudo kill -9 1047

Another cause for this problem may be two directives in the apache configuration trying to bind to the same port.

    grep Listen /etc/apache2/ports.conf

This command will show all lines that have the word "listen", including the port numbers. If there is more than one port 80 declaration in this file, remove one of them.


## Configuring a website

## Configuring gitlab to use apache2

In ```/etc/gitlab/gitlab.rb``` modify:

    external_url "http://gitlab.example.com"
    # Disable nginx
    nginx['enable'] = false
    # Give apache user privileges to listen to GitLab
    web_server['external_users'] = ['www-data']

Create the Virtual Host file for GitLab on ```/etc/apache2/sites-available/gitlab.conf``` with the contents below, modifying the URLs:

    #This configuration has been tested on GitLab 6.0.0 and GitLab 6.0.1
    #Note this config assumes unicorn is listening on default port 8080.
    #Module dependencies
    #  mod_rewrite
    #  mod_proxy
    #  mod_proxy_http
    <VirtualHost gitlab.example.com:80>
    ServerName gitlab.example.com
    ServerSignature Off

    ProxyPreserveHost On

    # Ensure that encoded slashes are not decoded but left in their encoded state.
    # http://doc.gitlab.com/ce/api/projects.html#get-single-project
    AllowEncodedSlashes NoDecode

    <Location />
    # New authorization commands for apache 2.4 and up
    # http://httpd.apache.org/docs/2.4/upgrading.html#access
    Require all granted

    ProxyPassReverse http://127.0.0.1:8080
    ProxyPassReverse http://gitlab.example.com/
    </Location>

    #apache equivalent of nginx try files
    # http://serverfault.com/questions/290784/what-is-apaches-equivalent-of-nginxs-try-files
    # http://stackoverflow.com/questions/10954516/apache2-proxypass-for-rails-app-gitlab
    RewriteEngine on
    RewriteCond %{DOCUMENT_ROOT}/%{REQUEST_FILENAME} !-f
    RewriteRule .* http://127.0.0.1:8080%{REQUEST_URI} [P,QSA]

    # needed for downloading attachments
    DocumentRoot /opt/gitlab/embedded/service/gitlab-rails/public

    #Set up apache error documents, if back end goes down (i.e. 503 error) then a maintenance/deploy page is thrown up.
    ErrorDocument 404 /404.html
    ErrorDocument 422 /422.html
    ErrorDocument 500 /500.html
    ErrorDocument 503 /deploy.html

    LogFormat "%{X-Forwarded-For}i %l %u %t \"%r\" %>s %b" common_forwarded
    ErrorLog  /var/log/httpd/logs/gitlab.example.com_error.log
    CustomLog /var/log/httpd/logs/gitlab.example.com_forwarded.log common_forwarded
    CustomLog /var/log/httpd/logs/gitlab.example.com_access.log combined env=!dontlog
    CustomLog /var/log/httpd/logs/gitlab.example.com.log combined

    </VirtualHost>

Then bind GitLab virtual host to enabled sites and restart apache:

    sudo a2ensite gitlab
    sudo service apache2 restart

Then run ```sudo gitlab-ctl reconfigure``` to reload GitLab configurations. If you need to restart the server, use the command ```sudo gitlab-ctl restart```.

If by any chance you have to change the git-data file, its locate in ```/var/opt/gitlab/git-data```.

## Links

* [Using a non-bundled web-server - GiLab Help](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/omnibus-gitlab/blob/master/doc/settings/nginx.md#using-a-non-bundled-web-server)
* [Setting up Gitlab on Ubuntu 14.04 with Apache2 without owning a domain name - GitLab Forum](https://forum.gitlab.com/t/solved-setting-up-gitlab-on-ubuntu-14-04-with-apache2-without-owning-a-domain-name/679)
* [Host GitLab on Digital Oena - Geek Igor](http://igor.kupczynski.info/2014/07/08/host-gitlab-on-digitalocean.html)
* [Install GitLab on Ubuntu 14.04 using Apache2](http://paulshipley.id.au/blog/coding-tips/install-gitlab-on-ubuntu-14-04-using-apache2)
* [How To Install Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP (LAMP) stack on Ubuntu 14.04 - Digital Ocean](https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-install-linux-apache-mysql-php-lamp-stack-on-ubuntu-14-04)
* [Using gitlab's nginx to serve another app - Stack Overflow](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/24090624/using-gitlabs-nginx-to-serve-another-app)