Project import/export administration (FREE SELF)

GitLab provides Rake tasks relating to project import and export. For more information, see:

• Project import/export documentation.
• Project import/export API.
• Developer documentation: project import/export

Project import status

You can query an import through the Project import/export API. As described in the API documentation, the query may return an import error or exceptions.

Import/export Rake tasks

The GitLab import/export version can be checked by using the following command:

# Omnibus installations
sudo gitlab-rake gitlab:import_export:version

# Installations from source
bundle exec rake gitlab:import_export:version RAILS_ENV=production

The current list of DB tables to export can be listed by using the following command:

# Omnibus installations
sudo gitlab-rake gitlab:import_export:data

# Installations from source
bundle exec rake gitlab:import_export:data RAILS_ENV=production

Note the following:

• Importing is only possible if the version of the import and export GitLab instances are compatible as described in the Version history.

• The project import option must be enabled:

  1. On the top bar, select Main menu > Admin.
  2. On the left sidebar, select Settings > General.
  3. Expand Visibility and access controls.
  4. Under Import sources, check the "Project export enabled" option.
  5. Select Save changes.

• The exports are stored in a temporary directory and are deleted every 24 hours by a specific worker.

Import large projects using a Rake task

If you have a larger project, consider using a Rake task as described in our developer documentation.

Export using a Rake task

Introduced in GitLab 12.9.

You can use a Rake task to export large project.

Parameters:

gitlab-rake "gitlab:import_export:export[username, namespace_path, project_path, archive_path]"

Troubleshooting

If you are having trouble with import/export, you can enable debug mode using the same Rake task:

# Import
IMPORT_DEBUG=true gitlab-rake "gitlab:import_export:import[root, group/subgroup, testingprojectimport, /path/to/file_to_import.tar.gz]"

# Export
EXPORT_DEBUG=true gitlab-rake "gitlab:import_export:export[root, group/subgroup, projectnametoexport, /tmp/export_file.tar.gz]"