How To Set Up a Private Git Server on Linux

In today’s fast-paced development world, using version control is essential for managing your code efficiently. While platforms like GitHub and GitLab offer excellent services, there are times when having a private Git server is the best solution for your projects, especially if you’re concerned about security or need more control over your repositories. If you’re running a Linux server and want to set up your own private Git server, you’re in the right place. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through the steps to get your private Git server up and running.

Prerequisites

Before we dive into the setup process, make sure you have the following:

1. A Linux server (Ubuntu, Debian, CentOS, etc.)
2. Basic knowledge of the command line
3. Root or sudo access to the server
4. Git installed on your server. You can check if Git is installed by running:

   git --version

5. If Git is not installed, you can install it using:

• For Ubuntu/Debian:
  bash sudo apt update sudo apt install git
• For CentOS:
  bash sudo yum install git

Step 1: Create a User for Git

It’s a good practice to create a dedicated user for managing your Git repositories. This helps in maintaining security and organization. You can create a new user called git by running:

sudo adduser git

Follow the prompts to set a password and fill in additional information.

Step 2: Create a Directory for Your Repositories

Next, we need to create a directory where all your Git repositories will reside. You can create a directory called repos in the home directory of the git user:

sudo mkdir /home/git/repos

Then, change the ownership of the repos directory to the git user:

sudo chown git:git /home/git/repos

Step 3: Initialize a New Repository

Now it’s time to create your first Git repository. Switch to the git user:

sudo su - git

Then navigate to the repos directory and create a new bare repository. A bare repository is a version of the repository that doesn’t have a working directory, making it suitable for sharing:

cd ~/repos
git init --bare my_project.git

Step 4: Set Up SSH Access

To allow users to push and pull from your Git server, you should set up SSH access. First, make sure the git user has a .ssh directory:

mkdir ~/.ssh
chmod 700 ~/.ssh

Now you need to add the public SSH keys of all users who will access the Git server. You can do this by creating or editing the authorized_keys file:

nano ~/.ssh/authorized_keys

Paste the public keys into this file, one per line. Ensure that the file has the correct permissions:

chmod 600 ~/.ssh/authorized_keys

Step 5: Configure SSH for Git

We can enhance security by configuring SSH to only allow the git user to access the repositories. Edit the SSH configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/ssh/sshd_config

Add or modify the following lines:

Match User git
    ForceCommand internal-sftp
    ChrootDirectory /home/git
    AllowTcpForwarding no

This configuration restricts the git user to SFTP access only, limiting command execution and enhancing security.

After editing the file, restart the SSH service for the changes to take effect:

sudo systemctl restart sshd

Step 6: Clone the Repository

Now that your Git server is set up, it’s time to clone the repository from a local machine. Use the following command, replacing username and server_ip with your actual username and server IP address:

git clone git@server_ip:/home/git/repos/my_project.git

Step 7: Start Using Your Git Server

You can now start adding files, committing changes, and pushing them back to your private Git server. Here are some basic Git commands to get you started:

1. Add files:

   git add .

2. Commit changes:

   git commit -m "Initial commit"

3. Push changes to the remote repository:

   git push origin master

Conclusion

Setting up your own private Git server on Linux is a great way to take control of your code and collaborate securely with your team. With the steps outlined in this guide, you can have your Git server running in no time. Remember to regularly back up your repositories and keep your server secure for optimal performance and safety.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out to us at Greenhost.cloud.