# administering and running gitolite

*Note*: some of the paths in this document use variable names.  Just refer to
`~/.gitolite.rc` for the correct values for *your* installation.

### administer

  * ask each user who will get access to send you a public key.  See other
    sources (for example
    [here](http://sitaramc.github.com/0-installing/2-access-gitolite.html#generating_a_public_key))
    for how to do this
  * rename each public key according to the user's name, with a `.pub`
    extension, like `sitaram.pub` or `john-smith.pub`.  You can also use
    periods and underscores
  * copy all these `*.pub` files to `$GL_KEYDIR`
  * edit the config file (`$GL_CONF`) and give the new users permissions as
    required.  The users names should be exactly the same as their keyfile
    names, but without the `.pub` extension
  * backup your `~/.ssh/authorized_keys` file if you feel nervous :-)
  * cd to `$GL_ADMINDIR` and run `src/gl-compile-conf`

That should be it, really.  However, if you want to be doubly sure, or maybe
the first couple of times you use it, you may want to check these:

  * check the outputs

      * `~/.ssh/authorized_keys` should contain one line for each "user" pub
        key added, between two "marker" lines (which you should please please
        not remove!).  The line should contain a "command=" pointing to a
        `$GL_ADMINDIR/src/gl-auth-command` file, then some sshd restrictions, the
        key, etc.
      * `$GL_CONF_COMPILED` should contain an expanded list of the access
        control rules.  It may look a little long, but it's fairly intuitive!

  * if the run threw up any "initialising empty repo" messages, check the
    individual repos (inside `$REPO_BASE`) if you wish.  Especially make sure
    the `$REPO_BASE/[reponame].git/hooks/update` got copied OK and is
    executable