GitLab Enablement & Migration
The customer operated a self-managed GitLab Community Edition and wanted to upgrade to the Enterprise Edition to take advantage of its advanced features. Additionally, the team lacked experience in setting up and managing CI/CD pipelines. The goal of the project was to perform the migration to the Enterprise Edition and train the employees in the new features and GitLab CI/CD.
The challenge
Although GitLab was already in use, only its basic features were being utilized. Migrating to the Enterprise Edition required clean license integration and a smooth data migration process. Furthermore, the teams needed to become capable of independently developing and maintaining their own pipelines.
- Migration of an existing GitLab installation
- Lack of knowledge about GitLab CI/CD
- Ensuring proper license activation and system stability
Project goals
The project objectives were:
- Migrate the GitLab Community Edition to the Enterprise Edition
- Train employees in GitLab administration and GitLab CI/CD
- Build internal expertise for developing and maintaining pipelines
- Ensure full utilization of Enterprise features
Solution approach
I began with training sessions on GitLab and GitLab CI/CD to familiarize the team with key functionalities. Afterward, I performed the migration from the Community Edition to the Enterprise Edition, including license activation and data migration. Finally, I supported the teams in creating and optimizing CI/CD pipelines to put their new knowledge into practice.
The implementation
- Training: Introduced GitLab administration, CI/CD fundamentals, runners, and pipeline design
- Migration: Upgraded from Community to Enterprise Edition with full license activation
- CI/CD Pipelines: Created example pipelines and introduced best practices
- Enablement: Supported teams with hands-on guidance and project-specific consulting
The result
- Successful migration to the GitLab Enterprise Edition
- Teams now actively use CI/CD and develop their own pipelines
- Enterprise features are fully utilized
- Sustainable knowledge transfer through practical, hands-on training
Insights
This project deepened my expertise in GitLab administration, CI/CD architecture, and Enterprise migrations.
- Experience migrating GitLab CE to EE
- Effective enablement and training of development teams
- Established robust CI/CD structures for long-term scalability