Setting up an SVN server
Published 16 July 2015
This is a simple overview of setting up a Subversion (SVN) server using VisualSVN Server, an installation and administration application for SVN on Microsoft Windows servers. This page doesn't cover manual installation and configuration of SVN, or installation on non-Windows servers.
For more detailed information about setting up an SVN server, see:
- Chapter 6 of the Subversion documentation - Server Configuration (svnbook.red-bean.com)
- Chapter 3 of the TortoiseSVN documentation - The Repository (tortoisesvn.net)
Installing VisualSVN Server
VisualSVN Server automates the setup of a SVN server, and is available both as a free tool (the Standard Edition), and as the paid Enterprise Edition. The Enterprise Edition includes Integrated Windows Authentication, as well as richer logging and administration tools.
This example uses the free version.
To set up SVN, download and run the VisualSVN Server installer on the server you want to use, then follow the wizard to complete the installation.
VisualSVN Server provides an installation getting started guide.
Page 4 of the installation wizard lets you specify the location where the SVN repositories are created, and the type of authentication:
SVN authentication requires you to set up users and credentials on the SVN server.
Windows authentication allows you to use your existing Windows user accounts.
Creating a repository
To set up a repository to use with SQL Source Control:
- After you've installed it, run the VisualSVN Server Manager:
The Server Manager allows you to set up repositories and configure security. - In the Console Tree pane, to the left, right-click Repositories, and click Create New Repository.
The Create New Repository dialog box is displayed. - In Repository Name, type a name for the repository.
Optionally, to create the recommended VisualSVN Server directory structure in your repository, select the Create default structure check box.
- Click OK.
The repository is created.
Using the repository with SQL Source Control
To use the repository with SQL Source Control, you need to create a folder for your database.
To create a folder in the repository:
- Right click the repository, select New, and click Folder.
The Create Folder dialog box is displayed. - Specify a name for the folder, and click OK.
The folder is created.
To link a database to SVN, you need the URL for the repository.
To find the URL of a repository in VisualSVN Server Manager, right-click the repository, and click Copy URL to Clipboard.
