To install subversion, open a terminal and run the following command:

We’re going to create the subversion repository in /svn, although you should choose a location that has a good amount of space.

Next we’ll need to edit the configuration file for the subversion webdav module. You can use a different editor if you’d like.

The Location element in the configuration file dictates the root directory where subversion will be acessible from, for instance: http://www.server.com/svn

The DAV line needs to be uncommented to enable the dav module

The SVNPath line should be set to the same place your created the repository with the svnadmin command.

The next section will let you turn on authentication. This is just basic authentication, so don’t consider it extremely secure. The password file will be located where the AuthUserFile setting sets it to…  probably best to leave it at the default.

To create a user on the repository use, the following command:

Note that you should only use the -c option the FIRST time that you create a user. After that you will only want to use the -m option, which specifies MD5 encryption of the password, but doesn’t recreate the file.

Example:

Restart apache by running the following command:

Now if you go in your browser to http://www.server.com/svn, you should see that the repository is enabled for anonymous read access, but commit access will require a username.

If you want to force all users to authenticate even for read access, add the following line right below the AuthUserFile line from above. Restart apache after changing this line.

Now if you refresh your browser, you’ll be prompted for your credentials:

You now have a working subversion server!