If you're not sure which installation method to use, we recommend you use
Omnibus GitLab. The Omnibus GitLab packages are mature,
[scalable](../administration/reference_architectures/index.md), and are used
today on GitLab.com. The Helm charts are recommended for those who are familiar
with Kubernetes.
## Requirements
Before you install GitLab, be sure to review the [system requirements](requirements.md).
The system requirements include details about the minimum hardware, software,
database, and additional requirements to support GitLab.
## Installing GitLab on Linux using the Omnibus GitLab package (recommended)
The Omnibus GitLab package uses our official deb/rpm repositories, and is
recommended for most users.
If you need additional scale or resilience, we recommend deploying
GitLab as described in our [reference architecture documentation](../administration/reference_architectures/index.md).
[**> Install GitLab using the Omnibus GitLab package.**](https://about.gitlab.com/install/)
### GitLab Environment Toolkit (GET)
The [GitLab Environment Toolkit](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/quality/gitlab-environment-toolkit)(GET) provides a set of automation tools to easily deploy a [reference architecture](../administration/reference_architectures/index.md) on most major cloud providers.
It is currently in beta, and is not yet recommended for production use.
[**> Install a GitLab reference architecture using the GitLab Environment Toolkit.**](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/quality/gitlab-environment-toolkit#documentation)
## Installing GitLab on Kubernetes via the GitLab Helm charts
## Choose the installation method
When installing GitLab on Kubernetes, there are some trade-offs that you
need to be aware of:
- Administration and troubleshooting requires Kubernetes knowledge.
- It can be more expensive for smaller installations. The default installation
requires more resources than a single node Omnibus deployment, as most services
are deployed in a redundant fashion.
- There are some feature [limitations to be aware of](https://docs.gitlab.com/charts/#limitations).
Due to these trade-offs, having Kubernetes experience is a requirement for
using this method. We recommend being familiar with Kubernetes before using it
to deploy GitLab in production. The methods for management, observability, and
some concepts are different than traditional deployments.
[**> Install GitLab on Kubernetes using the GitLab Helm charts.**](https://docs.gitlab.com/charts/)
## Installing GitLab with Docker
GitLab maintains a set of official Docker images based on the Omnibus GitLab
package.
[**> Install GitLab using the official GitLab Docker images.**](docker.md)
## Installing GitLab from source
If the Omnibus GitLab package isn't available for your distribution, you can
install GitLab from source. This can be useful with unsupported systems, like
\*BSD. For an overview of the directory structure, see the
[**> Install GitLab from source.**](installation.md)
## Installing GitLab on cloud providers
GitLab can be installed on a variety of cloud providers by using any of
the above methods, provided the cloud provider supports it.
Depending on your platform, select from the following available methods to
install GitLab:
-[Install on AWS](aws/index.md): Install Omnibus GitLab on AWS using the community AMIs that GitLab provides.
-[Install GitLab on Google Cloud Platform](google_cloud_platform/index.md): Install Omnibus GitLab on a VM in GCP.
-[Install GitLab on Azure](azure/index.md): Install Omnibus GitLab from Azure Marketplace.
-[Install GitLab on OpenShift](https://docs.gitlab.com/charts/installation/cloud/openshift.html): Install GitLab on OpenShift by using the GitLab Helm charts.
-[Install GitLab on DigitalOcean](https://www.digitalocean.com/community/tutorials/how-to-install-and-configure-gitlab-on-ubuntu-18-04): Install Omnibus GitLab on DigitalOcean.
- _Testing only!_ [DigitalOcean and Docker Machine](digitaloceandocker.md):
Quickly test any version of GitLab on DigitalOcean using Docker Machine.
| Installation method | Description | When to choose |
| [Linux package](https://docs.gitlab.com/omnibus/installation/) | The official deb/rpm packages (also known as Omnibus GitLab) that contains a bundle of GitLab and the components it depends on, including PostgreSQL, Redis, and Sidekiq. | This is the recommended method for getting started. The Linux packages are mature, scalable, and are used today on GitLab.com. If you need additional flexibility and resilience, we recommend deploying GitLab as described in the [reference architecture documentation](../administration/reference_architectures/index.md). |
| [Helm charts](https://docs.gitlab.com/charts/) | The cloud native Helm chart for installing GitLab and all of its components on Kubernetes. | When installing GitLab on Kubernetes, there are some trade-offs that you need to be aware of: <br/>- Administration and troubleshooting requires Kubernetes knowledge.<br/>- It can be more expensive for smaller installations. The default installation requires more resources than a single node Linux package deployment, as most services are deployed in a redundant fashion.<br/>- There are some feature [limitations to be aware of](https://docs.gitlab.com/charts/#limitations).<br/><br/> Use this method if your infrastructure is built on Kubernetes and you're familiar with how it works. The methods for management, observability, and some concepts are different than traditional deployments. |
| [Docker](https://docs.gitlab.com/omnibus/docker/) | The GitLab packages, Dockerized. | Use this method if you're familiar with Docker. |
| [Source](installation.md) | Install GitLab and all of its components from scratch. | Use this method if none of the previous methods are available for your platform. Useful for unsupported systems like \*BSD.|
| [GitLab Environment Toolkit (GET)](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/quality/gitlab-environment-toolkit#documentation) | The GitLab Environment toolkit provides a set of automation tools to deploy a [reference architecture](../administration/reference_architectures/index.md) on most major cloud providers. | Since GET is in beta and not yet recommended for production use, use this method if you want to test deploying GitLab in scalable environment. |
## Install GitLab on cloud providers
Regardless of the installation method, you can install GitLab on several cloud
providers, assuming the cloud provider supports it. Here are several possible installation
methods, the majority which use the Linux packages:
| [AWS (HA)](aws/index.md) | Install GitLab on AWS using the community AMIs provided by GitLab. |
| [Google Cloud Platform (GCP)](google_cloud_platform/index.md) | Install GitLab on a VM in GCP. |
| [Azure](azure/index.md) | Install GitLab from Azure Marketplace. |
| [DigitalOcean](https://about.gitlab.com/blog/2016/04/27/getting-started-with-gitlab-and-digitalocean/) | Install GitLab on DigitalOcean. You can also [test GitLab on DigitalOcean using Docker Machine](digitaloceandocker.md). |
