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This version of GitHub Enterprise was discontinued on 2022-10-12. No patch releases will be made, even for critical security issues. For better performance, improved security, and new features, upgrade to the latest version of GitHub Enterprise. For help with the upgrade, contact GitHub Enterprise support.

Managing GitHub Connect

In this article

You can enable GitHub Connect to access additional features and workflows for your GitHub Enterprise Server instance.

About GitHub Connect

You can access additional features and workflows on your GitHub Enterprise Server instance by enabling GitHub Connect. For more information, see "About GitHub Connect."

When you enable GitHub Connect, you configure a connection between your GitHub Enterprise Server instance and an organization or enterprise account on GitHub Enterprise Cloud. Enabling GitHub Connect creates a GitHub App owned by the organization or enterprise account on GitHub Enterprise Cloud. GitHub Enterprise Server uses the GitHub App's credentials to make requests to GitHub Enterprise Cloud.

GitHub Enterprise Server stores credentials from the GitHub App. The following credentials will be replicated to all nodes in a high availability or cluster environment, and stored in any backups, including snapshots created by GitHub Enterprise Server Backup Utilities.

  • An authentication token, which is valid for one hour
  • A private key, which is used to generate a new authentication token

Prerequisites

To use GitHub Connect, you must have an organization or enterprise account on GitHub.com that uses GitHub Enterprise Cloud. You may already have GitHub Enterprise Cloud included in your plan. For more information about how you can try GitHub Enterprise Cloud for free, see "Setting up a trial of GitHub Enterprise Cloud."

If your organization or enterprise account on GitHub.com uses IP allow lists, you must add the IP address or network for your GitHub Enterprise Server instance to your IP allow list on GitHub.com. For more information, see "Managing allowed IP addresses for your organization" and "Enforcing policies for security settings in your enterprise" in the GitHub Enterprise Cloud documentation.

To configure a connection, your proxy configuration must allow connectivity to github.com, api.github.com, and uploads.github.com. For more information, see "Configuring an outbound web proxy server."

Enabling GitHub Connect

Enterprise owners who are also owners of an organization or enterprise account that uses GitHub Enterprise Cloud can enable GitHub Connect.

If you're connecting your GitHub Enterprise Server instance to an organization on GitHub Enterprise Cloud that is not owned by an enterprise account, you must sign into GitHub.com as an organization owner.

If you're connecting your GitHub Enterprise Server instance to an organization on GitHub Enterprise Cloud that is owned by an enterprise account or to an enterprise account itself, you must sign into GitHub.com as an enterprise owner.

  1. Sign in to your GitHub Enterprise Server instance and GitHub.com.

  2. In the top-right corner of GitHub Enterprise Server, click your profile photo, then click Enterprise settings. "Enterprise settings" in drop-down menu for profile photo on GitHub Enterprise Server

  3. In the enterprise account sidebar, click GitHub Connect. GitHub Connect tab in the enterprise account sidebar

  4. Under "GitHub Connect is not enabled yet", click Enable GitHub Connect. By clicking Enable GitHub Connect, you agree to the "GitHub Terms for Additional Products and Features."

    Enable GitHub Connect button

  5. Next to the enterprise account or organization you'd like to connect, click Connect. Connect button next to an enterprise account or business

Disabling GitHub Connect

Enterprise owners can disable GitHub Connect.

When you disconnect from GitHub Enterprise Cloud, the GitHub Connect GitHub App is deleted from your enterprise account or organization and credentials stored on your GitHub Enterprise Server instance are deleted.

  1. In the top-right corner of GitHub Enterprise Server, click your profile photo, then click Enterprise settings. "Enterprise settings" in drop-down menu for profile photo on GitHub Enterprise Server

  2. In the enterprise account sidebar, click GitHub Connect. GitHub Connect tab in the enterprise account sidebar

  3. Next to the enterprise account or organization you'd like to disconnect, click Disable GitHub Connect.

    Disable GitHub Connect button next to an enterprise account or organization name

  4. Read the information about disconnecting and click Disable GitHub Connect. Modal with warning information about disconnecting and confirmation button