Essential CVS

Accessing Remote Repositories

There are several ways to access a remote repository. This quickstart guide uses the ext method with the SSH protocol, but if your system administrator gives you different instructions, follow those. Chapter 8 explains the use of remote repositories in detail. The ext and SSH approach uses the ext repository access method, with an SSH client as the program that performs the connection. These are also explained in Chapter 8.

Your first step, at least the first step that I recommend, is to install SSH on the client machine. Make sure that the client-end SSH protocol matches the server’s SSH protocol. Set up SSH keys or passwords and test the connection. Using SSH enables you to create a secure connection to the remote repository.

Next, if you’re on a Unix or Linux system, set the CVS_RSH environment variable on your client machine to the name of your SSH program, usually ssh or ssh2. Graphical clients that support the ext and SSH approach may have ssh as an authentication type option in the dialog that requests the repository path. Check the documentation for your client.

Tip

In WinCVS and gCVS, call up the Preferences dialog under the Admin menu and select “ssh” as the Authentication method under the General tab. In MacCVSX (for OS X), ssh is available under the MacCVSX menu. MacCVS for OS 9 and earlier versions do not support SSH as a standard option. Instead, you can make use of SSH from MacCVS via port tunnelling, as described in Appendix A.

If the ...