How to Host Bitbucket Server: A Comprehensive Guide for Devs

Welcome, Devs, to our comprehensive guide on how to host Bitbucket Server. You may already know that Bitbucket is a popular code collaboration and version control platform, widely used by software development teams for managing and sharing their code repositories. However, hosting your own Bitbucket Server can give you more control and customisation options, among other benefits. In this article, we will guide you through the process of setting up and managing a Bitbucket Server on your own infrastructure, using best practices and tips from experienced Devs.

1. Introduction to Bitbucket Server

If you’re not familiar with Bitbucket Server, it’s a self-hosted version of Atlassian’s Bitbucket, which is a cloud-based Git repository management service. Bitbucket Server is designed to offer the same functionality as Bitbucket, but with the added benefits of control, privacy, and customisation. With Bitbucket Server, you can host your repositories on your own servers, configure security settings, integrate with other tools, and access advanced features that are not available in Bitbucket Cloud.

Bitbucket Server allows you to manage your Git repositories, pull requests, commits, issues, and code reviews in a centralised environment. You can also collaborate with your team members, set up workflows, and automate your CI/CD pipelines. Bitbucket Server is highly customisable and extensible, thanks to its plugins and APIs.

1.1 Features of Bitbucket Server

Before we dive into the hosting part, let’s take a quick look at some of the features that Bitbucket Server offers:

1.2 Benefits of Hosting Your Own Bitbucket Server

Now that you know some of the features of Bitbucket Server, let’s look at the benefits of hosting your own Bitbucket Server:

• You have more control and ownership over your code repositories, and can customise them to suit your needs.
• You can ensure the security and privacy of your code, by hosting it on your own servers and controlling the access.
• You can integrate Bitbucket Server with your existing tools and workflows, and automate your CI/CD pipelines.
• You can save costs and avoid vendor lock-in, by not relying on a cloud-based platform and paying subscription fees.
• You can access advanced features that are not available in Bitbucket Cloud, such as branch permissions, code search, and pull request workflows.

2. Prerequisites and System Requirements

Before you start hosting your own Bitbucket Server, you need to ensure that your infrastructure meets the system requirements and prerequisites. This includes hardware, software, network, and security considerations. Here are some of the key requirements:

2.1 Hardware Requirements

The hardware requirements for your Bitbucket Server depend on the number of users, repositories, and activity level. Atlassian provides a handy sizing guide that can help you estimate the hardware requirements. Here are some of the factors to consider:

• CPU: Bitbucket Server requires at least 2 CPU cores, and recommends at least 4 cores for better performance.
• Memory: Bitbucket Server requires at least 8GB of RAM, and recommends at least 16GB for better performance.
• Storage: Bitbucket Server requires at least 10GB of disk space, and recommends at least 50GB for better storage capacity.
• Network: Bitbucket Server requires a reliable network connection, with at least 1Gbps bandwidth and low latency.
• Backup: Bitbucket Server requires a backup strategy, with regular backups of your repositories, configuration files, and database.

2.2 Software Requirements

The software requirements for your Bitbucket Server depend on the operating system and database system you choose. Atlassian provides support for several operating systems and database systems, including:

• Operating systems: Linux (CentOS, RedHat, Ubuntu, Debian), Windows Server
• Database systems: PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle, SQL Server
• Java: Bitbucket Server requires Java 8 or later, and recommends Java 11 for better performance.

2.3 Network Requirements

The network requirements for your Bitbucket Server depend on the network infrastructure and security policies you have in place. Here are some of the key considerations:

• Firewall and ports: Bitbucket Server requires certain ports to be open, such as TCP port 7990 for HTTP traffic and 7999 for SSH traffic.
• Load balancer: If you have multiple Bitbucket Servers, you can use a load balancer to distribute the traffic and ensure high availability.
• Domain name and SSL: It’s recommended to use a domain name and SSL certificate to secure your Bitbucket Server.

2.4 Security Requirements

The security requirements for your Bitbucket Server depend on the sensitivity of your code and the compliance regulations you need to follow. Here are some of the key security considerations:

• User management: You should have a robust user management system, with strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and user roles and permissions.
• Access control: You should define access control policies that restrict access to sensitive repositories and data, and monitor access logs.
• Encryption: You should use encryption for data at rest and in transit, using technologies such as TLS and SSH.
• Compliance: You should ensure that your Bitbucket Server meets the compliance requirements of your industry, such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS.

3. Installing and Configuring Bitbucket Server

Now that you have met the prerequisites and system requirements, you can proceed to install and configure your Bitbucket Server. This involves several steps, including:

3.1 Downloading and Installing Bitbucket Server

The first step is to download the Bitbucket Server installation file, and install it on your server. Atlassian provides detailed installation guides for different operating systems and databases. Here are some of the key steps:

1. Download the Bitbucket Server installation file from the Atlassian website, and save it on your server.
2. Run the installation file, and follow the prompts to install Bitbucket Server.
3. Choose the appropriate database system for your needs, and configure the database settings.
4. Choose the appropriate installation directory for your needs, and configure the home directory.
5. Set up the initial administrator account, and configure the email and proxy settings.
6. Start the Bitbucket Server service, and verify that it’s running correctly.

3.2 Configuring Bitbucket Server Settings

Once you have installed Bitbucket Server, you need to configure the settings to match your requirements. This includes several areas, such as:

• Server settings: You can configure the server settings, such as the base URL, the email settings, the proxy settings, and the backup settings.
• User management: You can configure the user management settings, such as the user directories, the LDAP settings, and the user roles and permissions.
• Repository settings: You can configure the repository settings, such as the branch permissions, the pull request workflows, and the merge strategies.
• Integration settings: You can configure the integration settings, such as the Jira integration, the Bamboo integration, the Jenkins integration, and the Slack integration.
• Plugin settings: You can configure the plugin settings, such as the third-party plugins and the ScriptRunner plugin.

3.3 Importing Repositories and Data

If you have existing repositories and data in other Git hosting platforms, you can import them into your Bitbucket Server. This requires some preparation and planning, to ensure that the import process goes smoothly. Atlassian provides a detailed import guide that covers different scenarios. Here are some of the key steps:

1. Prepare your repositories and data for import, by cleaning up the code, resolving conflicts, and ensuring consistency.
2. Create a backup of your repositories and data, in case of any issues during the import process.
3. Choose the appropriate import method, depending on the Git hosting platform and the repository type.
4. Follow the import wizard, and provide the necessary credentials and settings for the import.
5. Verify that the import has been successful, by checking the code, the commits, and the issues.

4. Best Practices for Hosting Bitbucket Server

Now that you have set up your Bitbucket Server, you need to follow some best practices to ensure its optimal performance and security. Here are some of the best practices:

4.1 Monitor and Optimise Performance

You should monitor the performance of your Bitbucket Server, and optimise it when necessary. This includes several areas, such as:

• Resource usage: You should monitor the CPU, memory, and disk usage of your Bitbucket Server, and optimise the configuration accordingly.
• Database performance: You should monitor the database performance, and optimise the queries, the indexing, and the caching accordingly.
• Network latency: You should monitor the network latency, and optimise the server location, the DNS resolution, and the SSL settings accordingly.
• Cache settings: You should configure the cache settings of your Bitbucket Server, such as the HTTP cache, the SSH cache, and the Git LFS cache.

4.2 Backup and Restore Regularly

You should set up a regular backup and restore strategy for your Bitbucket Server, to avoid data loss and downtime. This includes several areas, such as:

• Backup frequency: You should choose a backup frequency that matches your data volume and activity level, and test the backup restoration process regularly.
• Backup scope: You should backup not only your repositories, but also your configuration files, database, and other relevant data.
• Backup storage: You should store your backups in a secure and reliable location, such as cloud storage or offsite storage.
• Restore process: You should test the restore process, and ensure that you can recover your Bitbucket Server from a backup in case of a disaster.

4.3 Secure and Monitor Access

You should ensure that your Bitbucket Server is secure and your data is protected, by implementing access control policies and monitoring access logs. This includes several areas, such as:

• User management: You should enforce strong passwords, two-factor authentication, and user roles and permissions, and monitor user activity logs.
• Access control: You should restrict access to sensitive repositories and data, and monitor access logs for any suspicious activity.
• Encryption: You should use encryption for data at rest and in transit, using technologies such as TLS and SSH.
• Compliance: You should ensure that your Bitbucket Server meets the compliance requirements of your industry, such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS.

4.4 Integrate with other Tools and Workflows

You should integrate your Bitbucket Server with other tools and workflows, to automate your CI/CD pipelines and streamline your development process. This includes several areas, such as:

• Continuous integration: You can integrate Bitbucket Server with CI/CD tools such as Bamboo, Jenkins, or CircleCI, to automate your build and test processes.
• Code review: You can use pull requests and code review tools such as Crucible, to streamline your code review process and ensure quality code.
• Issue tracking: You can integrate Bitbucket Server with issue tracking tools such as Jira, to manage your issues and track your progress.
• Collaboration: You can integrate Bitbucket Server with team chat tools such as Slack, to enable team collaboration and communication.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

5.1 What is Bitbucket Server?

Bitbucket Server is a self-hosted version of Atlassian’s Bitbucket, which is a cloud-based Git repository management service. Bitbucket Server allows you to manage your Git repositories, pull requests, commits, issues, and code reviews in a centralised environment, and customise your workflows and integrations.

5.2 Why should I host my own Bitbucket Server?

Hosting your own Bitbucket Server gives you more control and ownership over your code repositories, and enables you to customise them to suit your needs. It also ensures the security and privacy of your code, by hosting it on your own servers and controlling the access. Hosting your own Bitbucket Server also allows you to integrate Bitbucket with your existing tools and workflows, and access advanced features that are not available in Bitbucket Cloud.

5.3 What are the system requirements for hosting Bitbucket Server?

The system requirements for hosting Bitbucket Server depend on several factors, such as the number of users, repositories, and activity level. Atlassian provides a sizing guide that can help you estimate the hardware requirements, which include CPU, memory, and storage. Bitbucket Server also requires a reliable network connection, and a backup strategy for data protection.

5.4 How do I install and configure Bitbucket Server?

Installing and configuring Bitbucket Server involves several steps, such as downloading the installation file, choosing the database system, configuring the settings, and importing repositories and data. Atlassian provides detailed installation guides and documentation for each step, which you can follow to set up your Bitbucket Server. You can also consult experienced Devs or Atlassian support for any issues or questions.

5.5 How do I ensure the security and performance of my Bitbucket Server?

You can ensure the security and performance of your Bitbucket Server by following some best practices, such as monitoring and optimising the resource usage, setting up a regular backup and restore strategy, securing and monitoring access, and integrating with other tools and workflows. Atlassian provides a security guide and a performance guide that cover these areas, and you can also consult experienced Devs or Atlassian support for any specific needs or concerns.

5.6 How do I integrate Bitbucket Server with other tools and workflows?

You can integrate Bitbucket Server with other tools and workflows using various methods, such as plugins, APIs, webhooks, or third-party tools. Atlassian provides a marketplace and a developer documentation that list and explain the available integrations, and you can also consult experienced Devs or Atlassian support for any specific needs or questions.