cvs2svn tool : can we run cvs2svn on live repository. I mean actual repository?

Question

I need to migrate CVS repo to SVN repo. I have cvs2svn installed on CVS server. Can I run cvs2svn tool directly on the CVS repo path which is in live. The FAQ in URL " http://cvs2svn.tigris.org/faq.html#oneatatime " says that I need to run on a work on copy of my repositry. Is that I have copy the cvsroot directory path to some/backup_dir and run on backup_dir or I have to run on checkout copy?

What if I don't want to convert all of my projects at once? "Remember to make a backup before starting. Never run cvs2svn on a live CVS repository--always work on a copy of your repository."

Please suggest, i am working on a migration.

Answer 1

You definitely shouldn't run cvs2svn against a "live" repository (ie, one that might be modified via CVS during the transition). This would utterly confuse cvs2svn .

The recommendation is to make a backup and run the conversion against the backup. This recommendation is there (1) so that users don't accidentally run cvs2svn against a live repo; (2) to guard against accidents or cvs2svn bugs; (3) because sometimes before the conversion it is convenient to move directories around, and this way the user doesn't accidentally mangle his/her main copy; (4) because, this is really valuable data; shouldn't you have a backup anyway?

If you sure that you are too lucky and/or clever to be impacted by any of these issues, feel free to convert from your original copy.