Most development in CVS is done on the Controls Network. Make sure you select your profile at login.
Most of the time, we are checking out a package or folder, for example some EDM displays. First, make working directory (mine is called 'blah'). Then:
[fphysics@facet-srv01 ~/sgess/blah ]$ cvs co tools/edm/display/facet sgess@mcclogin's password: cvs checkout: Updating tools/edm/display/facet U tools/edm/display/facet/all_all_main.edl U tools/edm/display/facet/all_all_main_help.edl U tools/edm/display/facet/all_eplus_main.edl U tools/edm/display/facet/all_eplus_main_help.edl U tools/edm/display/facet/all_in10_all.edl ...