Users and permission problems

[Roddie]

I'm using CVS to control development of websites. I have basic knowledge of
Linux.

Set up:
- Repository on Linux co-lo, with sandbox there too (where the files should
run as a publicly accessible website).
- Development sandbox on my Mac laptop.
- User 'root' of course
- User 'roddie' (eventually to be joined by Tom, Dick, and Harry)
- User 'cvs'

A couple of weeks ago I got import, update and commit more-or-less working,
but had permission problems on the co-lo.

Now, after a break, I can't get commit to work from the Mac sandbox. If I
use "cvs -d :ext:address@hidden:/var/lib/cvsroot...", I get
> cvs server: failed to create lock directory for
> `/var/lib/cvsroot/www.mw4.co.uk/site/content'
> (/var/lib/cvsroot/www.mw4.co.uk/site/content/#cvs.lock): Permission denied
> cvs server: failed to remove lock
> /var/lib/cvsroot/www.mw4.co.uk/site/content/#cvs.wfl.c4.anu.net.24392:
> Permission denied
> cvs server: failed to remove lock
> /var/lib/cvsroot/www.mw4.co.uk/site/data/#cvs.wfl.c4.anu.net.24392: Permission
> denied
> cvs server: lock failed - giving up

but if I use "cvs -d :ext:address@hidden:/var/lib/cvsroot..." (ie change
the user to root) I get "cvs [server aborted]: 'root' is not allowed to
commit files". I thought "root" could do anything!

I assume I've messed up the repository permissions, and now I'm completely
lost. I need "roddie", and eventually other users, to be able to use
sandboxes on their own local machines, and update sandbox(es) on the co-lo.

I have a group cvsgrp of which "roddie" and user "cvs" are members. All the
files below cvsroot are set to "-rw-rw-r-- roddie cvsgroup"

Can anyone tell me what the permission/user/group ought to be.

Thanks

Roddie Grant
address@hidden