---
title: One-Click GitLab repository manager deployment on Scaleway Instances using InstantApp
description: Learn how to deploy and manage your projects with the GitLab repository manager InstantApp on Scaleway. Follow our step-by-step guide to optimize your Scaleway Instance for efficient project management.
tags: apps GitLab InstantApp
products:
  - instances
dates:
  validation: 2025-07-16
  posted: 2015-05-07
  validation_frequency: 12
difficulty: beginner
usecase:
  - application-hosting
ecosystem:
  - third-party
---
import Requirements from '@macros/iam/requirements.mdx'


This guide explains the usage of the GitLab repository manager InstantApp, on a Scaleway Instance. GitLab is a web-based platform designed for managing Git repositories and provides a wide range of features, including code reviews, wikis, and issue tracking.

Scaleway provides a GitLab image that is built on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish) and includes GitLab version 16.3.3.

<Requirements />

- A Scaleway account logged into the [console](https://console.scaleway.com)
- [Owner](/iam/concepts/#owner) status or [IAM permissions](/iam/concepts/#permission) allowing you to perform actions in the intended Organization
- An [SSH key](/organizations-and-projects/how-to/create-ssh-key/)

## Creating a GitLab Instance

1. Click **CPU & GPU Instances** in the **Compute** section of the side menu. The [Instances page](https://console.scaleway.com/instance/servers) displays.
2. Click **Create Instance**. The [Instance creation wizard](https://console.scaleway.com/instance/servers/create) displays.
3. Choose the Availability Zone for your Instance.
4. Select the Instance type you want to create.
5. Select the **GitLab** image in the **InstantApps** tab.
6. Add storage volumes to your Instance.
7. Enter a name and optional tags for your Instance.
8. Click **Create Instance** to launch your GitLab Instance.

<Message type="tip">
  For detailed information about Instance creation, refer to the [create an Instance](/instances/how-to/create-an-instance/) documentation.
</Message>

## Configuring GitLab

1. Log in to your Instance using SSH.
2. You find your GitLab password in the `MOTD` when you log in to your Instance.
    ```
    #################### GITLAB ####################
    Gitlab version 16.9.1 is installed.
    Getting started with: https://www.scaleway.com/docs/how-to-use-the-gitlab-instant-apps.

    WARNING: Gitlab is not ready yet.
    You can check the status of Gitlab services by running "gitlab-ctl status".
    You can also check if the application server is running by using the monitoring endpoints:
    * curl -s http://localhost/-/health
    * curl -s http://localhost/-/readiness
    * curl -s http://localhost/-/liveness


    To access the GitLab web interface, open http://4bdbae5e-f6ea-43ad-8d4b-26c088417e5c.pub.instances.scw.cloud in your browser.
    Once connected, we strongly advise you to change your password by going in user settings page: http://4bdbae5e-f6ea-43ad-8d4b-26c088417e5c.pub.instances.scw.cloud/-/profile/password/edit

    You can hide this message for the next connections by deleting the /etc/update-motd.d/70-gitlab file.
    ################################################
    ```
3. Access GitLab's web interface by copy/pasting the URL from the MOTD or the Instance's IP address into your browser's navigation bar. GitLab's login screen displays.
4. Log in using the user `root` and the password shown in the MOTD of your Instance.
5. Change your password by accessing the URL shown in the MOTD above for security reasons.
6. Remove the MOTD file from your Instance
    ```
    rm /etc/update-motd.d/70-gitlab
    ```

## Configuring Let's Encrypt

GitLab can automatically fetch and renew [let's encrypt](https://letsencrypt.org/) certificates. Follow this [tutorial from the official GitLab documentation](https://docs.gitlab.com/omnibus/settings/ssl/index.html#enable-the-lets-encrypt-integration).

## Opening the mail ports to send emails

<Message type="note">
  To prevent spam, our infrastructure does not allow access to remote mail ports by default. However, since GitLab requires the ability to send emails, you must enable access to these ports. Your account needs to undergo a validation process before you can enable the SMTP ports. [Learn more about identity verification](/account/how-to/verify-identity/).
</Message>

1. Click the **Security groups** tab on the Instances overview page.
2. Click **Create a new security group** and input the security group name and description.
3. Check the **Enable SMTP** box to unblock the mail ports.
4. Return to the overview tab and select the security group you created in step 2.

    The new security group configuration will be applied automatically on Instances.