PVCS to Bitbucket

[SK]

We are planning to convert our PVCS repository to Bitbucket. Is there any direct path to convert PVCS database to Bitbucket? I searched and found out that it may be done by muti-step processes  like PVCS --> SVN --> Bitbucket. There are multiple constraints in that process.

• Is there a size limitation for the database?
• It is always hard to procure another software and install it on an U.S. Govt. infrastructure just to accomplish the conversion etc.  

Can you help me finding a optimum and feasible path for this conversion preferably avoiding additional softwares?

[Mikael Sandberg · Accepted solution]

Hi @SK,

Welcome to the Atlassian Community.

As you have found out, there is no direct path to convert PVCS to a Git/Bitbucket repository, so your best option is to go to SVN and then convert it to a Git repository. Here is a good blog post about converting from PVCS to Git manually without an additional tool. Migrations I have done in the past has all been manual and we only imported a few releases into the new repository or started with just the latest code base.

Are you planning on migrating to Bitbucket Cloud or Server? Bitbucket Cloud does have limitations on the repository size, the soft limit is 1Gb and the hard limit is 2Gb per repository. On Bitbucket Server you do not have this limitation. But you do need to consider what you are storing in your Git repository. Git is known to not work very well if the repository size gets to big, so if you have large files in the repository you need to consider using Git LFS.

[SK]

Thanks a lot MIkael. We are planning to migrate PVCS to Bitbucket server. I do not know the PVCS database size and other information yet. I will keep it posted.

[SK]

Do I need to install PVCS Software? Ot it just needs to be exported into the SVN format and import the same SVN data into Bitbucket?

Also, as I am using Bitbucket server (not cloud) can I import large files? WHat do I need to do to use Git LFS? I thought it is by default a part of the installation.

[Mikael Sandberg]

You need to have PVCS on the client where you are doing the export/import to SVN format.

Yes, you can import large files, and yes, Git LFS is part of the installation on the Bitbucket side, but on each client that will access the repository you have to install the Git LFS command-line client. Please see Git LFS for more information.

[SK]

Mikael,

I mean to say "Do I need to install SVN Software?" I believe the answer is no.

Another related question:

If we don't want to convert the latest code only and not the history, can I do it by physically copying the files from PVCS server to Bitbucket server? Please let me know the Pros and Cons on this approach.

[Mikael Sandberg]

Yes, if you only convert the latest code it is really simple to do. All you need to do is create the repository, clone it to a client, copy/paste your code into the Git repository and then commit and push everything back to Bitbucket. The pros is that you get up and running right away, and if needed you could also do a cleanup at the same time. The cons is that you still need to keep PVCS around, so you can go back and look at the history if needed.

[SK]

Excellent! Excellent! I think they are planning to keep the PVCS around anyway.