Project Export never completes and link expires

Question

My project is too big (9.9GB) because it has many commited versions of a ~400MB tar file. I was suggested to use filter-repo (https://docs.gitlab.com/ee/user/project/repository/reducing_the_repo_size_using_git.html). But I have to export the project.

I started the Export process and after I received a link by email (also there is a Download button on the export page). But when I try to download the exported file, I get this message: "The file containing the export is not available yet; it may still be transferring. Please try again later." How am I supposed to download the file? Please don't tell me that it cannot be exported because it is too big and there is no available space...

The download link is valid only for 24h. Maybe the export process is taking more than 24h... Any hint to reduce the repo size?

Thank you

Luis

Answer 1

But I have to export the project.

You should not have to export a GitLab project to apply git filter-repo.
You should only git clone the GitLab repository locally.

Once locally cloned:

• perform the git filter-repo (for instance git filter-repo --strip-blobs-bigger-than 10M)
• Check the size of your local repository with git-sizer
• git push --mirror

As usual, this kind of command rewrites history, so make sure to notify any collaborator.

The OP LuisGomes also mention Reduce repository size with git-filter-repo.

That thread mentions the workaround:

I had to create a new empty project and copy all the files from the big project to it.
If you need, you can change the name and the path of the old project so the new project can have the original ones, and you won’t have to change other source codes.