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diff --git a/doc/user/admin_area/license_file.md b/doc/user/admin_area/license_file.md new file mode 100644 index 00000000000..e0332e70681 --- /dev/null +++ b/doc/user/admin_area/license_file.md @@ -0,0 +1,127 @@ +--- +stage: Fulfillment +group: License +info: To determine the technical writer assigned to the Stage/Group associated with this page, see https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/engineering/ux/technical-writing/#assignments +--- + +# Activate GitLab EE with a license file or key + +If you receive a license file from GitLab (for example, for a trial), you can +upload it to your instance or add it during installation. The license file is +a base64-encoded ASCII text file with a `.gitlab-license` extension. + +The first time you sign in to your GitLab instance, a note with a +link to the **Add license** page should be displayed. + +Otherwise, to add your license: + +1. Sign in to GitLab as an administrator. +1. On the top bar, select **Menu > Admin**. +1. On the left sidebar, select **Settings > General**. +1. In the **License file** area, select **Add a license**. +1. Add a license by either uploading the file or pasting the key. +1. Select the **Terms of Service** checkbox. +1. Select **Add license**. + +## Add your license during installation + +You can import a license file when you install GitLab. + +- **For installations from source** + - Place the `Gitlab.gitlab-license` file in the `config/` directory. + - To specify a custom location and filename for the license, set the + `GITLAB_LICENSE_FILE` environment variable with the path to the file: + + ```shell + export GITLAB_LICENSE_FILE="/path/to/license/file" + ``` + +- **For Omnibus package** + - Place the `Gitlab.gitlab-license` file in the `/etc/gitlab/` directory. + - To specify a custom location and filename for the license, add this entry to `gitlab.rb`: + + ```ruby + gitlab_rails['initial_license_file'] = "/path/to/license/file" + ``` + +WARNING: +These methods only add a license at the time of installation. To renew or upgrade +a license, add the license in the **Admin Area** in the web user interface. + +## What happens when your license expires + +Fifteen days before the license expires, a notification banner with the upcoming expiration +date displays to GitLab administrators. + +When your license expires, GitLab locks features, like Git pushes +and issue creation. Your instance becomes read-only and +an expiration message displays to all administrators. You have a 14-day grace period +before this occurs. + +To resume functionality, activate a new subscription. + +To go back to Free features, [delete all expired licenses](#remove-a-license). + +## Remove a license + +To remove a license from a self-managed instance: + +1. On the top bar, select **Menu > Admin**. +1. On the left sidebar, select **Subscription**. +1. Select **Remove license**. + +Repeat these steps to remove all licenses, including those applied in the past. + +## View license details and history + +To view your license details: + +1. On the top bar, select **Menu > Admin**. +1. On the left sidebar, select **Subscription**. + +You can add and view more than one license, but only the latest license in +the current date range is the active license. + +When you add a future-dated license, it doesn't take effect until its applicable date. +You can view all active subscriptions in the **Subscription history** table. + +You can also [export](../../subscriptions/self_managed/index.md) your license usage information to a CSV file. + +NOTE: +In GitLab 13.6 and earlier, a banner about an expiring license may continue to display +when you add a new license. This happens when the start date of the new license +is in the future and the expiring one is still active. +The banner disappears after the new license becomes active. + +## Troubleshooting + +### No Subscription area in the Admin Area + +You cannot add your license because there is no **Subscription** area. +This issue might occur if: + +- You're running GitLab Community Edition. Before you add your license, you + must [upgrade to Enterprise Edition](../../update/index.md#community-to-enterprise-edition). +- You're using GitLab.com. You cannot add a self-managed license to GitLab.com. + To use paid features on GitLab.com, [purchase a separate subscription](../../subscriptions/gitlab_com/index.md). + +### Users exceed license limit upon renewal + +GitLab displays a message prompting you to purchase +additional users. This issue occurs if you add a license that does not have enough +users to cover the number of users in your instance. + +To fix this issue, purchase additional seats to cover those users. +For more information, read the [licensing FAQ](https://about.gitlab.com/pricing/licensing-faq/). + +In GitLab 14.2 and later, for instances that use a license file, the following +rules apply: + +- If the users over license are less than or equal to 10% of the users in the license + file, the license is applied and you pay the overage in the next renewal. +- If the users over license are more than 10% of the users in the license file, + you cannot apply the license without purchasing more users. + +For example, if you purchase a license for 100 users, you can have 110 users when you add +your license. However, if you have 111 users, you must purchase more users before you can add +the license. |