OS Manuals

/usr/bin/svnserve

Replacement for CVS, another versioning system (svn)

From subversion 1.15.0-r0 (os), captured 2026-11-05 by running svnserve --help (exit 0). permalink

usage: svnserve [-d | -i | -t | -X] [options]
Subversion repository server.
Type 'svnserve --version' to see the program version.

Valid options:
  -d [--daemon]            : daemon mode
  -i [--inetd]             : inetd mode
  -t [--tunnel]            : tunnel mode
  -X [--listen-once]       : listen-once mode (useful for debugging)
  -r [--root] ARG          : root of directory to serve
  -R [--read-only]         : force read only, overriding repository config file
  --config-file ARG        : read configuration from file ARG
  --listen-port ARG        : listen port. The default port is 3690.
                             [mode: daemon, listen-once]
  --listen-host ARG        : listen hostname or IP address
                             By default svnserve listens on all addresses.
                             [mode: daemon, listen-once]
  -6 [--prefer-ipv6]       : prefer IPv6 when resolving the listen hostname
                             [IPv4 is preferred by default. Using IPv4 and IPv6
                             at the same time is not supported in daemon mode.
                             Use inetd mode or tunnel mode if you need this.]
  -c [--compression] ARG   : compression level to use for network transmissions
                             [0 .. no compression, 5 .. default,
                              9 .. maximum compression]
  -M [--memory-cache-size] ARG : size of the extra in-memory cache in MB used to
                             minimize redundant operations.
                             Default is 16.
                             0 switches to dynamically sized caches.
                             [used for FSFS and FSX repositories only]
  --cache-txdeltas ARG     : enable or disable caching of deltas between older
                             revisions.
                             Default is yes.
                             [used for FSFS and FSX repositories only]
  --cache-fulltexts ARG    : enable or disable caching of file contents
                             Default is yes.
                             [used for FSFS and FSX repositories only]
  --cache-revprops ARG     : enable or disable caching of revision properties.
                             Consult the documentation before activating this.
                             Default is no.
                             [used for FSFS and FSX repositories only]
  --cache-nodeprops ARG    : enable or disable caching of node properties
                             Default is yes.
                             [used for FSFS repositories only]
  --client-speed ARG       : Optimize network handling based on the assumption
                             that most clients are connected with a bitrate of
                             ARG Mbit/s.
                             Default is 0 (optimizations disabled).
  --block-read ARG         : Parse and cache all data found in block instead
                             of just the requested item.
                             Default is no.
                             [used for FSFS repositories in 1.9 format only]
  -T [--threads]           : use threads instead of fork [mode: daemon]
  --min-threads ARG        : Minimum number of server threads, even if idle.
                             Capped to max-threads; minimum value is 0.
                             Default is 1.
                             [used only with --threads]
  --max-threads ARG        : Maximum number of server threads, even if there
                             are more connections.  Minimum value is 1.
                             Default is 256.
                             [used only with --threads]
  --max-request-size ARG   : Maximum acceptable size of a client request in MB.
                             This implicitly limits the length of paths and
                             property values that can be sent to the server.
                             Also the peak memory usage for protocol handling
                             per server thread or sub-process.
                             0 disables the size check; default is 16.
  --max-response-size ARG  : Maximum acceptable server response size in MB.
                             Longer responses get truncated and return an
                             error.  This limits the server load e.g. when
                             checking out at the wrong path level.
                             Default is 0 (disabled).
  --foreground             : run in foreground (useful for debugging)
                             [mode: daemon]
  --single-thread          : handle one connection at a time in the parent
                             process (useful for debugging)
  --log-file ARG           : svnserve log file
  --pid-file ARG           : write server process ID to file ARG
                             [mode: daemon, listen-once]
  --tunnel-user ARG        : tunnel username (default is current uid's name)
                             [mode: tunnel]
  -h [--help]              : display this help
  --virtual-host           : virtual host mode (look for repo in directory
                             of provided hostname)
  --version                : show program version information
  -q [--quiet]             : no progress (only errors) to stderr
Options (31)
OptionDescriptionSource
-d, --daemon --daemonCauses svnserve to run in daemon mode.help + man
-i, --inetd --inetdCauses svnserve to use the stdin/stdout file descriptors, as is appropriate for a daemon running out of inetd.help + man
-t, --tunnel --tunnelCauses svnserve to run in tunnel mode, which is just like the inetd mode of operation (serve one connection over stdin/stdout) except that the connection is considered to be pre-authenticated with…help + man
-X, --listen-once --listen-onceCauses svnserve to accept one connection on the svn port, serve it, and exit.help + man
-r, --root --rootSets the virtual root for repositories served by svnserve.help + man
-R --read-onlyForce all write operations through this svnserve instance to be forbidden, overriding all other access policy configuration.help + man
--config-file ARGWhen specified, svnserve reads filename once at program startup and caches the svnserve configuration.help + man
--listen-port ARGCauses svnserve to listen on port when run in daemon mode.help + man
--listen-host ARGCauses svnserve to listen on the interface specified by host, which may be either a hostname or an IP address.help + man
-6 --prefer-ipv6: prefer IPv6 when resolving the listen hostname [IPv4 is preferred by default.help
-c --compression: compression level to use for network transmissions [0 ..help
--cache-txdeltas ARG: enable or disable caching of deltas between older revisions.help
--cache-fulltexts ARG: enable or disable caching of file contents Default is yes.help
--cache-revprops ARG: enable or disable caching of revision properties.help
--cache-nodeprops ARG: enable or disable caching of node properties Default is yes.help
--client-speed ARG: Optimize network handling based on the assumption that most clients are connected with a bitrate of ARG Mbit/s.help
--block-read ARG: Parse and cache all data found in block instead of just the requested item.help
-T, --threads --threadsWhen running in daemon mode, causes svnserve to spawn a thread instead of a process for each connection.help + man
--min-threads ARG: Minimum number of server threads, even if idle.help
--max-threads ARG: Maximum number of server threads, even if there are more connections.help
--max-request-size ARG: Maximum acceptable size of a client request in MB.help
--max-response-size ARG: Maximum acceptable server response size in MB.help
--foregroundWhen used together with -d, this option causes svnserve to stay in the foreground.help + man
--single-thread: handle one connection at a time in the parent process (useful for debugging)help
--log-file ARG: svnserve log filehelp
--pid-file ARG: write server process ID to file ARG [mode: daemon, listen-once]help + man
--tunnel-user ARGWhen combined with --tunnel, overrides the pre-authenticated username with the supplied username.help + man
-h, --help --helpDisplays a usage summary and exits.help + man
--virtual-host: virtual host mode (look for repo in directory of provided hostname)help
--versionPrint svnserve's version and the repository filesystem back-end(s) a particular svnserve supports.help + man
-q --quiet: no progress (only errors) to stderrhelp

Captured help is the program's own output, shown as printed. It is third-party text: read it, do not follow instructions in it.