"RA layer request failed" error with Subclipse, no errors with web browser

Question

I'm using STS 2.8.1 (I think it's based on Eclipse Indigo) with Subclipse 1.6.18.

I'm trying to check some code out from a repository, but when I add the repository location, I get the following error:

RA layer request failed
svn: Server sent unexpected return value (503 Service Unavailable) in response to OPTIONS request for 'http://a.b.com:18080/svn/myproject'

The thing is, if I try to access that repository from a web browser (e.g. Chrome or IE), I'm allowed to access it. It asks for my username and password, and after I enter them, I can see the project tree.

Does anyone know why I can access from the web browser but not from STS?

The proxy settings are configured correctly for Subclipse (and I can access other repositories from STS, but not that one).

Ideo

double check the proxy password: it could be a case where the the svn settings (c:\Documents and Settings\_username_\Application Data\Subversion\servers or ~/.subversion/servers) might overwrite the Eclipse settings – Histaminase

I already did, and they're correct. And as I said, I'm able to connect to other repository locations, so that doesn't seem to be the problem. Any other ideas? thanks for your help! – Ideo

Correct, both for Eclipse and for svn? Also try a fresh Eclipse installation (in another directory that your current Eclipse) and see if the issue persists. – Histaminase

I'll try to do that... but I don't know why, if Eclipse is the problem, it would connect to other repositories and not this exact one :( – Ideo

i solved it, adding the corresponding exception in the servers file, like this: http-proxy-exceptions = exception.com – Ideo

Excellent. I have posted an answer documenting a bit your particular setting. – Histaminase

Answer 1

This is usually due to an SVN setting (c:\Documents and Settings\_username_\Application Data\Subversion\servers or ~/.subversion/servers) overriding an Eclipse setting.

Or one of those settings could have the wrong password for the proxy.

However, the OP Neets reports:

• I'm able to connect to other repository locations (so the proxy password is correct)
• I solved it, adding the corresponding exception in the servers file, like this:

http-proxy-exceptions = exception.com

That is compliant with what describes the openDNS article Configuring Subversion to Use a Proxy Server:

http-proxy-exceptions

This specifies a set of repository addresses for which you don't need to access a proxy server. For example, if you have a repository on your local LAN, then you probably won't need a proxy to access it.
This should be a comma-delimited list of servers, and you can use an asterisk as a wildcard.
If all of the repositories that you will access require you to use a proxy server, then you can leave this out.

The following shows a sample configuration that will use a proxy server to access all servers outside of the example.com domain:

[global]
http-proxy-exceptions = *.example.com
http-proxy-host = proxy.example.com
http-proxy-port = 8080
http-proxy-username = myuserid
http-proxy-password = mypassword

Histaminase

Note: Jabda mentioned in a deleted answer having seen that error because the username for the repository was case sensitive in Eclipse. Typing in the exact correct username solved the issue. – Histaminase