VisualSVN Server 3.0 Release Notes

VisualSVN Server 3.0 has the following main enhancements:

  • New Multisite Repository Replication feature allows bidirectional replication of the Subversion repository contents between geographically distributed sites.
  • Native 64-bit support to fully utilize the modern hardware capabilities.

These and other significant changes are briefly described below.

Multisite Repository Replication

The Multisite Repository Replication feature is based on the VisualSVN Distributed File System (VDFS) technology and enables geographically distributed teams to work with the Subversion repositories at LAN speeds. Replication is transparent for the end users, and VDFS-based repositories behave as a regular writeable Subversion repositories.

The VisualSVN Distributed File System follows the classic master/slave replication architecture. Each VDFS repository can be created as either a master or a slave, not both. All the data modifications are automatically replicated to all the replication partners.

The Multisite Repository Replication feature is available in VisualSVN Server Enterprise Edition only. VisualSVN Server is licensed per server instance, so you are required to have different enterprise license keys on all the replication partners.

The VisualSVN Distributed File System is designed and implemented to be a first class citizen in an Active Directory environment. Being tightly integrated with Windows, it provides the highest level of robustness and performance.

For the further details, consider the KB68: Getting started with VDFS replication in an Active Directory environment article.

Native 64-bit support

VisualSVN Server 3.0 brings native Windows 64-bit support. There are two installation packages for 32-bit and 64-bit operating systems and if you are using a 64-bit version of Windows on your server, you are required to choose the 64-bit one. All the components of the VisualSVN Server are native 64-bit in that case, allowing you to fully leverage all the capabilities of your hardware.

Other VisualSVN Server 3.0 improvements

VisualSVN Server 3.0 introduces other functional and usability improvements, such as the following:

  • New option to generate SSL certificates with alternative common names.
  • Enhance default cipher suites to mitigate BEAST and CRIME vulnerabilities.
  • Provide detailed information on errors occurring in the WMI provider when accessed via PowerShell scripts.

For the complete list of changes, see the VisualSVN Server 3.0.0 changelog.

Upgrade and compatibility concerns

We recommend all users of VisualSVN Server to upgrade to 3.0. Read the KB81: Upgrading to VisualSVN Server 3.0 article before upgrading.

You are required to upgrade the operating system if you are still using Windows Server 2003 or Windows XP on the computer where VisualSVN Server is installed. The minimum supported operating systems for VisualSVN Server 3.0 are Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista.

Upgrade is free for all customers who have an active maintenance subscription for VisualSVN Server Enterprise Edition licenses.