Convert a Linux package CE instance to EE

DETAILS: Tier: Free, Premium, Ultimate Offering: GitLab Self-Managed

You can convert an existing Linux package instance from Community Edition (CE) to Enterprise Edition (EE). To convert the instance, you install the EE Linux package on top of the CE instance.

You don't need the same version of CE to EE. For example, CE 17.0 to EE 17.1 should work. However, upgrading the same version (for example, CE 17.1 to EE 17.1) is recommended.

WARNING: After you convert from EE from CE, don't revert back to CE if you plan to go to EE again. Reverting back to CE can cause database issues that may require Support intervention.

Convert from CE to EE

To convert a Linux package CE instance to EE:

Make a GitLab backup.
Find the installed GitLab version:

::Tabs

:::TabTitle Debian/Ubuntu
```
sudo apt-cache policy gitlab-ce | grep Installed
```
Note down the returned version.

:::TabTitle CentOS/RHEL
```
sudo rpm -q gitlab-ce
```
Note down the returned version.

::EndTabs
Add the gitlab-ee Apt or Yum repository. These commands find your OS version and automatically set up the repository. If you are not comfortable installing the repository through a piped script, you can first check the script's contents.

::Tabs

:::TabTitle Debian/Ubuntu
```
curl --silent "https://packages.gitlab.com/install/repositories/gitlab/gitlab-ee/script.deb.sh" | sudo bash
```
:::TabTitle CentOS/RHEL
```
curl --silent "https://packages.gitlab.com/install/repositories/gitlab/gitlab-ee/script.rpm.sh" | sudo bash
```
::EndTabs

To use dpkg or rpm instead of using apt-get or yum follow Upgrade using a manually downloaded package.

Install the gitlab-ee Linux package. The install automatically uninstalls the gitlab-ce package on your GitLab.

::Tabs

:::TabTitle Debian/Ubuntu

## Make sure the repositories are up-to-date
sudo apt-get update

## Install the package using the version you wrote down from step 1
sudo apt-get install gitlab-ee=17.1.0-ee.0

## Reconfigure GitLab
sudo gitlab-ctl reconfigure

:::TabTitle CentOS/RHEL

## Install the package using the version you wrote down from step 1
sudo yum install gitlab-ee-17.1.0-ee.0.el9.x86_64

## Reconfigure GitLab
sudo gitlab-ctl reconfigure

::EndTabs

Add your license to activate Enterprise Edition.
Confirm that GitLab is working as expected, then you can remove the old Community Edition repository:

::Tabs

:::TabTitle Debian/Ubuntu
```
sudo rm /etc/apt/sources.list.d/gitlab_gitlab-ce.list
```
:::TabTitle CentOS/RHEL
```
sudo rm /etc/yum.repos.d/gitlab_gitlab-ce.repo
```
::EndTabs
Optional. Set up the Elasticsearch integration to enable advanced search.

That's it! You can now use GitLab Enterprise Edition! To upgrade to a newer version, follow Upgrading Linux package instances.