Using SVN

Last updated 6th January 2021

Objective

SVN, which stands for "subversion," is a version management system.

This guide explains how to use SVN over an SSH connection on your Web Hosting plan.

Requirements

• a Web Hosting plan that allows an SSH connection (from the Professional plan onwards)
• access to your Web Hosting plan via SSH (see our guide on accessing a Web Hosting plan via SSH)

Instructions

Creating the repository

Once you have logged in via SSH on your hosting, first create the root directory of your SVN repositories, then the repository.

To do this, simply type these commands:

mkdir svn

svnadmin create svn/depot_test

You can then check that the directories have been created with the following command:

ls -la

You should see the directories as shown in the following image:

Creating public/private keys

Before you continue, it is necessary to create a pair of SSH keys from the desktop you will use to connect to the SVN repository.

In order to create a key pair, please follow our guide on Creating SSH keys. You can ignore the step regarding the import of your SSH key to the OVHcloud Control Panel.

Adding the public key to the Web Hosting plan

Once you have obtained your key, add it in the ".ssh/authorised_keys2" file by typing the commands below:

mkdir .ssh
chmod 700 .ssh
vi .ssh/authorized_keys2

The new file opens for editing. Insert the following line, followed by the previously created key. Make sure that the whole string is on the same line.

command="/usr/bin/svnserve --root=/homez.XXX/loginFTP/svn --tunnel --tunnel-user=john",no-port-forwarding,no-agent-forwarding,no-X11-forwarding,no-pty

You can retrieve the contents of the repository without directly logging in via SSH on the hosting.

Examples

On Linux

You can run a test from the computer connecting to the SVN repository by typing the following line:

svn checkout svn+ssh://loginFTP@clusterXXX/depot_test

On Windows with TortoiseSVN

• Download and install TortoiseSVN (http://tortoisesvn.net/downloads)
• Right-click the private key. An icon appears in the bottom right-hand corner, and the key is loaded into the authentication agent.
• Create a directory, right-click on it and select "SVN Checkout".
• Enter svn+ssh://loginFTP@xxplan.ovh.net/depot_test in the “URL of repository” field and click OK.

Please also read the documentation for Subversion: http://svnbook.red-bean.com/en/1.5/index.html

Specific cases

Creating multiple accounts

First, you need to create SSH key pairs for each user. Then add the public key to the hosting as explained above:

command="/usr/bin/svnserve --root=/home.XXX/loginFTP/svn --tunnel --tunnel-user=username",no-port-forwarding,no-agent-forwarding,no-X11-forwarding,no-pty

Replace "username" with your respective identifiers and repeat the command to add multiple users.

Note that it is also possible to grant a read-only access by adding this parameter:

--read-only.

Checking locally on the server

If you want to perform a local check, the examples provided will not work. You will need to use the command like this:

svn+ssh://login@ftp.name-of-site.tld/home.XXX/login/svn/depot_test

Go further

Accessing a Web Hosting plan via SSH

Join our community of users on https://community.ovh.com/en/.

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