Google OAuth2 OmniAuth Provider

To enable the Google OAuth2 OmniAuth provider you must register your application with Google. Google will generate a client ID and secret key for you to use.

  1. Sign in to the Google Developers Console with the Google account you want to use to register GitLab.

  2. Select "Create Project".

  3. Provide the project information

    • Project name: 'GitLab' works just fine here.
    • Project ID: Must be unique to all Google Developer registered applications. Google provides a randomly generated Project ID by default. You can use the randomly generated ID or choose a new one.
  4. Refresh the page. You should now see your new project in the list. Click on the project.

  5. Select the "Google APIs" tab in the Overview.

  6. Select and enable the following Google APIs - listed under "Popular APIs"

    • Enable Contacts API
    • Enable Google+ API
  7. Select "Credentials" in the submenu.

  8. Select "Create New Client ID".

  9. Fill in the required information

  10. Under the heading "Client ID for web application" you should see a Client ID and Client secret (see screenshot). Keep this page open as you continue configuration. Google app

  11. On your GitLab server, open the configuration file.

    For omnibus package:

      sudo editor /etc/gitlab/gitlab.rb

    For installations from source:

      cd /home/git/gitlab
    
      sudo -u git -H editor config/gitlab.yml
  12. See Initial OmniAuth Configuration for initial settings.

  13. Add the provider configuration:

    For omnibus package:

      gitlab_rails['omniauth_providers'] = [
        {
          "name" => "google_oauth2",
          "app_id" => "YOUR_APP_ID",
          "app_secret" => "YOUR_APP_SECRET",
          "args" => { "access_type" => "offline", "approval_prompt" => '' }
        }
      ]

    For installations from source:

     - { name: 'google_oauth2', app_id: 'YOUR_APP_ID',
       app_secret: 'YOUR_APP_SECRET',
       args: { access_type: 'offline', approval_prompt: '' } }
  14. Change 'YOUR_APP_ID' to the client ID from the Google Developer page from step 10.

  15. Change 'YOUR_APP_SECRET' to the client secret from the Google Developer page from step 10.

  16. Make sure that you configure GitLab to use an FQDN as Google will not accept raw IP addresses.

    For Omnibus packages:

    external_url 'https://gitlab.example.com' 

    For installations from source:

    gitlab:
      host: https://gitlab.example.com
  17. Save the configuration file.

  18. Reconfigure or restart GitLab for the changes to take effect if you installed GitLab via Omnibus or from source respectively.

On the sign in page there should now be a Google icon below the regular sign in form. Click the icon to begin the authentication process. Google will ask the user to sign in and authorize the GitLab application. If everything goes well the user will be returned to GitLab and will be signed in.

Further Configuration

This further configuration is not required for Google authentication to function but it is strongly recommended. Taking these steps will increase usability for users by providing a little more recognition and branding.

At this point, when users first try to authenticate to your GitLab installation with Google they will see a generic application name on the prompt screen. The prompt informs the user that "Project Default Service Account" would like to access their account. "Project Default Service Account" isn't very recognizable and may confuse or cause users to be concerned. This is easily changeable.

  1. Select 'Consent screen' in the left menu. (See steps 1, 4 and 5 above for instructions on how to get here if you closed your window).
  2. Scroll down until you find "Product Name". Change the product name to something more descriptive.
  3. Add any additional information as you wish - homepage, logo, privacy policy, etc. None of this is required, but it may help your users.