cvs-nserver

cvs-nserver is the almost complete rewrite of network-related parts of CVS.

The server-side is fully rewritten, offering a wide range of various authentication choices, as well as improved security. Complete compatibility with existing clients is fully maintained.

Recently the rewriting of client-side was started, with a goal of more clean and modular code and (amongst other) SSL support. Also the ACL (access control lists) support is in the works.

Features

Server-side:

• security-critical code splitted into separate executables. This allows for easy security audits;
• authentication layer is separated from other parts of CVS subsystem. This allows very flexible authentication setups:
  • virtual repositories: entire repository runs under only two system accounts, and is completely manageable over the network. You also can have several repositories with their very own list of users on single machine;
  • PAM (Pluggable Authentication Modules) authentication;
  • simplest authentication module can authenticate against /etc/passwd, or /etc/shadow;
• all changes are fully documented in the CVS Manual: big single file; splitted by chapters; splitted by nodes;

Download

Current stable version of cvs-nserver is available for download here.

Mailing list

Subscribe to cvs-nserver-users@lists.sourceforge.net if you have questions or comments.

Development

All the information regarding the development of cvs-nserver is available at the project page. Several features are currently being implemented:

Server-side:

• SSL support [stunnel-based wrapping done]; client certificates are planned;
• ACL (Access Control Lists) [mostly done]; here is the RFC of what is being implemented; here is the RFC of command-line interface to ACL management;
• Rewritten checkpassword-pam is soon to be available from its own project page.

Client-side:

• code reorganization (ncli project). This will allow for easier modification of code; here is the description of new architecture;
• SSL support [simple SSL support done].

Documentation

All features of cvs-nserver are fully documented. You can either download the distribution that contains the documentation in standard GNU Texinfo format, or browse it online:

• CVS Manual for the unstable release: big single file; splitted by chapters; splitted by nodes;
• CVS Administrator's Guide for the unstable release: big single file; splitted by chapters; splitted by nodes;

Download

Current development version of cvs-nserver is available from the anonymous CVS (using the NCLI-1-11-1 branch), from here. You should subscribe to a cvs-nserver-devel@lists.sourceforge.net mailing list if you want to track the development.

Acknowledgements

Novosoft

The cvs-nserver project is being hosted on SourceForge.net.