Connect Jira to GitHub Enterprise Server

You can connect GitHub Enterprise Server to Jira using the GitHub for Atlassian app. The GitHub for Atlassian app has a unified connector that integrates and shares your GitHub development and security activities with Atlassian Teamwork Graph, enabling data use in Jira and across your Atlassian apps.

When you connect a GitHub Enterprise Server to Jira, your team can link their development activity to Jira work items. This lets you track branches, commits, and pull requests in the context of your Jira work items, on your Jira board, in the releases feature, and more.

Before you begin

If you’re not familiar with setting up firewall or gateway settings on a GitHub Enterprise Server, you may also need to contact your GitHub Enterprise Server administrator for help preparing your server.

Set up your server’s firewall

Your GitHub Enterprise Server is behind a firewall. Before you can connect to a Jira site, you must open a hole in that firewall to let Jira communicate with your server.

There are two ways to do this:

1. If your GitHub Enterprise Server has a public-facing URL, you can set up the server’s firewall to allow access from Atlassian IP addresses. Here’s how to set up a GitHub IP allow list

2. If you would like an additional layer of security, or your GitHub Enterprise Server does not have a public-facing URL, your technical team can create a locked, public-facing gateway using this code template. Once they’ve created this, your technical team will give you the following items that Jira will use to connect to your server:

   1. A server URL for your locked gateway.

   2. A HTTP request header name.

   3. An API key value.

Install the GitHub for Atlassian app

1. In Jira, select Apps, then select Explore more apps.

2. Search for GitHub for Atlassian, then select it from the results.

3. Select Get app, then Get it now.

Connect a GitHub Enterprise Server

1. After the GitHub for Atlassian app is installed, select Get started. If the app is already installed on your Jira site, you can find this section by selecting Apps, then Manage your apps, and then GitHub for Atlassian.

2. Select Continue.

3. Select GitHub Enterprise Server, then Next.

4. Enter your GitHub Enterprise Server URL using the format http(s)://<your-github-enterprise-server-domain. This will be either your server’s public-facing URL, or the URL of the locked gateway provided by your technical team.

5. If you’re using a locked gateway, enter the HTTP request header name and the API key value provided by your technical team.

6. Select Next.

Create a GitHub app

Once you’ve connected a GitHub Enterprise Server, you'll need to create an app on that server to manage the flow of data to your Jira site. This app will also control settings such as which repositories are available to your site, and what Jira automations your team can trigger through GitHub commit messages.

Your GitHub Enterprise Server can create this app automatically, or you can create it manually using information provided in Jira. As the outcome is exactly the same regardless of which method you use, we recommend the more convenient automatic method.

Create an app automatically (recommended)

1. Select Automatic app creation. You’ll be redirected to GitHub to automatically create your app.

2. Give your app a unique name and select Create GitHub App.

3. Go to http(s)://<your-github-enterprise-server-domain>/settings/apps/<your-github-app-name and update the Homepage URL to include the name of your app.

Create an app manually

If you're creating the app manually, you’ll need to create a GitHub App within your GitHub Enterprise Server account. Show me how to manually create a GitHub app

Uninstall legacy connections

After you have connected all your GitHub Enterprise organizations to GitHub for Atlassian, you can remove them from DVCS.

1. Make sure you have added all your GitHub Enterprise organizations to GitHub for Atlassian.

2. Go to Jira Settings, then select Products, then DVCS Accounts.

3. Select More actions () on the organizations you want to remove from DVCS and select Disconnect.