VisualSVN Server 5.1 Release Notes

This version adds support for uploading files in the web interface and several other enhancements.

Highlights of this release

Uploading files in the web interface

VisualSVN Server 5.1 adds support for uploading files into Subversion repositories right from the web interface.

Web upload

The new feature enables quick and simple file additions and modifications. New files and modified versions of existing files can be uploaded directly into a repository without having to use a working copy and a Subversion client.

Being able to upload and modify files from a web browser introduces new usage scenarios for VisualSVN Server and should be useful for less technical users.

Learn more about web upload

Native HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) support

The HTTP Strict Transport Security (HSTS) policy enforces the use of the secure HTTPS protocol when accessing the server. When the policy is enabled on a server, all HSTS-capable clients will contact the server only through a secure connection (HTTPS). Thus, this policy helps to protect against man-in-the-middle attacks and does not allow users to ignore certificate warnings.

Note
Although all modern web browsers support HSTS, current Subversion client versions do not. If you enable this option, it will be recognized by web browsers but ignored by clients such as svn.exe and TortoiseSVN. However, enabling HSTS does not have any negative effects on Subversion clients.

Learn more about HSTS

Generating a new private key for TLS/SSL

A new private key can be generated when creating a new Certificate Signing Request (CSR). This feature can help users whose Certificate Authority (CA) requires CSR to be always generated with a new private key.

Generating a new private key is also supported when creating a new self-signed certificate or obtaining a certificate from Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS).

Server-wide access rules for Subversion authentication

VisualSVN Server 5.1 supports server-wide (global) access rules for the Subversion authentication mode. These access rules can be configured on the server-wide level and propagate to all repositories hosted on the server, therefore simplifying administration.

Server-wide access rules for Subversion authentication were removed in VisualSVN Server 2.6, and are reintroduced in version 5.1. This also simplifies upgrade procedures for those upgrading from very old server installations.

More enhancements

Other notable improvements in this version are listed below:

  • New Get-SvnRepositoryItemLock and Remove-SvnRepositoryItemLock PowerShell cmdlets to list and remove locks from a repository.
  • New installations now enable 'Implicit list folder permission' in the default repository security settings.
  • Configure access to the certificate directory using Service SID instead of the Service Logon account.
  • Configure access to the repositories root directory using Service SID instead of the Service Logon account.

View detailed changelog

Upgrading to new version

Upgrade to VisualSVN Server 5.1 is recommended for all users. Please read the KB204: Upgrading to VisualSVN Server 5.1 article before upgrading.

The upgrade is free for all customers who have an active maintenance subscription for Enterprise or Essential licenses. The upgrade is also free for all customers who use VisualSVN Server under the Community license.