Skip to main content

Getting Started with GitLab: Login & First Steps

GitLab is a complete DevOps platform delivered as a single application. When you install the GitLab appliance on a Tilaa VPS, it comes pre-configured with the Omnibus package.

1. First Login (Default Credentials)

After the installation completes, you can access the web interface via your browser.

  • URL: http://<your-server-ip> (or your hostname if configured).
  • Username: root
Where is the password?
For security reasons, GitLab generates a random initial password during installation. You can find this password by logging into your VPS via SSH and reading the following file:

sudo cat /etc/gitlab/initial_root_password

Note: This file is automatically deleted after 24 hours. Please log in and change your password immediately.

2. Resetting the Root Password

If the initial password file is missing or expired, you can reset the administrator credentials via the command line.

  1. Log in to your VPS via SSH.
  2. Run the GitLab reset tool:
sudo gitlab-rake gitlab:password:reset user=root

You will be prompted to enter a new password and confirm it. The change is active immediately.

3. Finding your User ID

If you need your numeric User ID (e.g., for API calls or automation), you can find this in your own GitLab instance.

Option A: Via the GUI (Easiest)

  1. Log in to your GitLab web interface.
  2. Click on your Avatar (top right) > Edit profile.
  3. Your User ID is displayed prominently under your username/settings.

Option B: Via the API (Advanced)

You can query your own server's API via the terminal. Replace the URL with your own VPS address:

# Replace  and 
curl https:///api/v4/users?username=