Synchronizing Two Subversion Repositories: A Guide
Subversion (SVN) is a popular version control system used by many software development teams to manage and track changes to their codebase. One of the key features of SVN is its ability to synchronize changes across multiple repositories. This allows teams to collaborate on a project from different locations and keep their code in sync.
In this guide, we will explore the process of synchronizing two SVN repositories, providing you with a step-by-step tutorial to help you get started.
Step 1: Understanding the Basics of Repository Synchronization
Before we dive into the synchronization process, it is important to understand the basics of how SVN handles repository synchronization. SVN uses a concept called "repository replication" to synchronize changes between repositories. This means that when a change is made in one repository, it is automatically propagated to the other repositories.
SVN also uses a "master-slave" model for repository synchronization. This means that one repository is designated as the "master" repository, and all changes made in this repository are automatically propagated to the "slave" repositories. This is important to keep in mind as we move through the synchronization process.
Step 2: Setting up the Master Repository
The first step in synchronizing two SVN repositories is to designate one as the master repository. This is the repository that will be the source of truth for all changes. To set up the master repository, follow these steps:
1. Create a new SVN repository or designate an existing one as the master repository.
2. Ensure that the repository is accessible by all team members who will be making changes.
3. Set up user permissions to restrict who can make changes to the repository.
4. Create a "mirror" or "sync" branch in the master repository. This will be used to synchronize changes to the slave repositories.
Step 3: Setting up the Slave Repositories
Next, we need to set up the slave repositories that will be synchronized with the master repository. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Create a new SVN repository or designate an existing one as the slave repository.
2. Ensure that the repository is accessible by all team members who will be making changes.
3. Set up user permissions to restrict who can make changes to the repository.
4. Create a "mirror" or "sync" branch in the slave repository. This will be used to receive changes from the master repository.
Step 4: Configuring the Master Repository for Synchronization
Now that both the master and slave repositories are set up, we need to configure the master repository to start synchronizing changes. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Open the master repository in your SVN client.
2. Navigate to the "sync" or "mirror" branch that you created in step 2.
3. Right-click on the branch and select "Properties."
4. In the properties window, click on the "New" button and add a new property called "svnsync". Set the value of this property to "1".
5. Save the changes and close the properties window.
Step 5: Configuring the Slave Repositories for Synchronization
Next, we need to configure the slave repositories to receive changes from the master repository. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Open the slave repository in your SVN client.
2. Navigate to the "sync" or "mirror" branch that you created in step 3.
3. Right-click on the branch and select "Properties."
4. In the properties window, click on the "New" button and add a new property called "svnsync". Set the value of this property to "2".
5. Save the changes and close the properties window.
Step 6: Initiating the Synchronization Process
Now that both the master and slave repositories are configured for synchronization, we can initiate the synchronization process. To do this, follow these steps:
1. Open the master repository in your SVN client.
2. Navigate to the "sync" or "mirror" branch.
3. Right-click on the branch and select "SVN Sync" > "Initialize Sync".
4. Enter the URL of the slave repository and click "OK" to start the synchronization process.
Step 7: Monitoring the Synchronization Process
Once the synchronization process has been initiated, you can monitor its progress by following these steps:
1. Open the master repository in your SVN client.
2. Navigate to the "sync" or "mirror" branch.
3. Right-click on the branch and select "SVN Sync" > "Sync Monitor".
4. In the sync monitor window, you can see the status of the synchronization process and any errors that may have occurred.
Step 8: Resolving Conflicts
In some cases, conflicts may arise during the synchronization process. This can happen when changes have been made to the same file in both the master and slave repositories. To resolve conflicts,
