Heck Tech

What is Perforce?

Perforce is a commercial, proprietary revision control [an aspect of SCM] system developed by Perforce Software, Inc.

A typical Perforce employment includes the Perforce Server along with the Client [may be a Git Client or the Client that uses Perforce's own Protocols]

Note: Git clients communicate with the Perforce server over SSH or HTTPS, and other Perforce clients communicate with the server via TCP/IP using a proprietary RPC and streaming protocol.

Perforce Architechture

Perforce Server

The Perforce server manages a central database and a master repository [Depot] of file versions.

Perforce Database

1. Database is proprietary, preconfigured, and self-installed.

2. MD5 hashes of file content are stored in the Database instead of the actual File Contents.

3. System-related metadata (file state, file attributes, branching and merging history, changelists, change descriptions, users, groups, labels, etc.) are stored as well.

Perforce Depot

1. Versioned file content is stored in a master directory hierarchy whose top levels are called "depots".

2. All revisions are preserved by default; limits can be set on the number of revisions preserved.

Perforce Architechture

Perforce Client

Client Workstation requires the Perforce Client to connect to the Server and fall into roughly five categories: Git, Command, GUI, Web, Plugin.
Perforce Client provides the access to the Versioned files.

Perforce Server and Client SetUp:

Perforce Server Setup

Step 1: Navigate to the Perforce Site - http://www.perforce.com/downloads/Perforce/20-User and download P4D Server

Perforce P4D Server at Perforce Site

Step 2: Double Click the Downloaded executable and double Click it. You will provided with the below Screen. Select Next.

Perforce Server Components

Step 3: We'll be asked to provide the Port for other Client Machines to connect to this Perforce Server. Let's make it to default 1666.

Perforce Port Number

Step 4: Once given Next, it's time to chose the Default Text Editing Application for Perforce. Let's make it to be the Legacy Application Notepad. Click Next. The Setup would initialize the Perforce Database and finally provide us the connection details which needs to be shared with the Client.

Text Editing Application Selection

Step 5: Finally the Setup would just provide us the the hostname along with the port number that needs to be shared to the Client Applications as in the below Screen. Make a note of it. Click Finish

Perforce Client SetUp:

Step1 : Navigate to the Site http://www.perforce.com/downloads/Perforce/20-User and download P4V Client.

Step 2: Once P4V Client is downloaded, double click the executable to instantiate the installation procedure. We''ll be provided with all the components [p4Admin for UserManagement, p4V Visual Client for Workspace, Depot Access , p4 Command Line Perforce Tool] that can be installed per need. Once the Components are Selected, Click Next.

Step 3: Next we need to provide the details of the Server for the client to connect to. Here it is Ananda-VAIO:1666 [ Refer Step 5 metioned few snapshots above under Perforce Server SetUp] . Click Next.