In the world of DevOps, managing container images efficiently is crucial for streamlined development and deployment processes. While Docker Hub and other cloud-based registries are popular choices, there are scenarios where a self-hosted solution is preferable. Gitea, a lightweight and open-source Git service, can be extended to function as a container image registry, providing a seamless and integrated experience for managing both code and container images.

Why Use Gitea as a Container Image Registry?

1. Unified Platform: Gitea allows you to manage your source code and container images in one place, simplifying your infrastructure and reducing the need for multiple tools.

2. Self-Hosted: For organizations with strict compliance or security requirements, hosting your own registry ensures that your data remains within your control.

3. Cost-Effective: Being open-source, Gitea eliminates the need for expensive third-party services, making it an economical choice for startups and small teams.

4. Customization and Integration: Gitea’s extensibility allows for custom workflows and integrations with other tools in your CI/CD pipeline.

Setting Up Gitea as a Container Image Registry

Prerequisites

• A running instance of Gitea.
• Docker installed on your server.
• Basic knowledge of Docker and containerization concepts.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Install Gitea: If you haven’t already, set up Gitea by following the official installation guide. Ensure it’s accessible and configured correctly.

2. Enable Container Registry Support: Gitea itself doesn’t natively support container registries, but you can use a companion tool like Harbor or Portus to provide this functionality. These tools can be integrated with Gitea to manage container images.

3. Configure Docker: Set up Docker to use your chosen registry. This involves configuring Docker to trust your self-hosted registry, especially if it’s using a self-signed certificate.

   sudo mkdir -p /etc/docker/certs.d/your-registry-domain
   sudo cp /path/to/your/certificate.crt /etc/docker/certs.d/your-registry-domain/ca.crt
   

4. Push Images to the Registry: Tag and push your Docker images to your registry. Replace your-registry-domain with your actual domain.

   docker tag your-image:latest your-registry-domain/your-image:latest
   docker push your-registry-domain/your-image:latest
   

5. Integrate with CI/CD: Modify your CI/CD pipelines to pull images from your Gitea-hosted registry. This can be done by updating the image source in your deployment scripts or configuration files.

6. Access Control: Use Gitea’s user management features to control access to your repositories and images, ensuring that only authorized users can push or pull images.

Best Practices

• Security: Always use HTTPS for your registry to encrypt data in transit. Consider using tools like Let’s Encrypt for free SSL certificates.

• Backups: Regularly back up your Gitea instance and container images to prevent data loss.

• Monitoring: Implement monitoring and logging for your registry to track usage patterns and detect any anomalies.

Conclusion

Using Gitea as a container image registry can streamline your DevOps processes by consolidating your code and image management into a single platform. While it requires some initial setup and integration, the benefits of a self-hosted, cost-effective, and customizable solution are well worth the effort.

By leveraging open-source tools like Harbor or Portus alongside Gitea, you can create a robust and secure environment for managing your container images, tailored to your organization’s specific needs.

References

• Gitea Documentation
• Docker Documentation
• Harbor Project
• Portus Project