If your Subversion (SVN) client is behind an Internet proxy, you may experience connection issues when trying to checkout, update, or commit changes. This guide explains how to configure SVN to work through a proxy server on both Windows and Linux systems.

---

1. Identify Your Proxy Server Details

Before configuring SVN, gather the following information from your network administrator:
Proxy Server Address (e.g., proxy.company.com)
Proxy Port (e.g., 8080)
Username & Password (if authentication is required)

---

2. Configure SVN Proxy Settings

Method 1: Edit SVN Configuration File

SVN uses a configuration file (servers) where you can set proxy details.

Windows

Locate the SVN config file:

• Open C:\Users\YourUserName\AppData\Roaming\Subversion\servers in Notepad or any text editor.
• (For older Windows versions: C:\Documents and Settings\YourUserName\Application Data\Subversion\servers)

Edit the [global] section:

[global]
http-proxy-host = proxy.company.com
http-proxy-port = 8080
http-proxy-username = your_username
http-proxy-password = your_password

(Replace proxy.company.com, 8080, your_username, and your_password with actual values.)

Save and close the file.

Linux/macOS

Open the SVN config file:

nano ~/.subversion/servers

Edit the [global] section:

[global]
http-proxy-host = proxy.company.com
http-proxy-port = 8080
http-proxy-username = your_username
http-proxy-password = your_password

Save the file (Ctrl + X, then Y, then Enter).

Now, your SVN client should work through the proxy!

---

3. Configure SVN to Use an Environment Proxy (Alternative Method)

If your proxy settings change frequently, use environment variables instead of modifying the SVN configuration file.

Windows (CMD/Powershell)

Open Command Prompt (Win + R → type cmd)
Set environment variables:

set http_proxy=http://proxy.company.com:8080
set https_proxy=https://proxy.company.com:8080

If authentication is required:

set http_proxy=http://your_username:your_password@proxy.company.com:8080

Now, run your SVN commands:

svn checkout http://svn.example.com/repo

For persistent settings, add these lines to System Properties → Environment Variables in Windows.

Linux/macOS (Bash Terminal)

Open a terminal
Set the proxy variables:

export http_proxy=http://proxy.company.com:8080
export https_proxy=https://proxy.company.com:8080

If authentication is required:

export http_proxy=http://your_username:your_password@proxy.company.com:8080

Run your SVN commands:

svn update

For persistent settings, add these lines to your ~/.bashrc or ~/.bash_profile file.

---

4. Troubleshooting Common Issues

“Could not connect to server” Error

Check if the proxy settings are correct (ping proxy.company.com).
Verify if your network allows HTTP/HTTPS traffic over SVN ports (80, 443).
Use telnet to check connectivity:

telnet proxy.company.com 8080

SVN Command Fails with Authentication Errors

Ensure your username & password are correct.
If special characters (@, :, etc.) are in the password, encode them in URL format:

• Example: p@ssword → p%40ssword

---

5. Conclusion

By configuring the SVN proxy settings, you can successfully access Subversion repositories from behind an internet proxy.

Would you like help with SVN automation, troubleshooting, or setting up a batch script for SVN sync? Let me know!