rancid-cvs reads rancid.conf(5) to configure itself, then proceeds with the initialization. First of the CVS or Subversion repository, if necessary, and then for each of the rancid groups listed on the command-line or those in the variable LIST_OF_GROUPS from rancid.conf(5) , if the argument is omitted.
Running rancid-cvs for groups which already exist will not cause problems. If the group’s directory already exists, the import into the revision control system will be skipped, and if it’s router.db(5) already exists, it will not be altered.
The best method for adding groups is add the group name to LIST_OF_GROUPS in rancid.conf(5) , then run rancid-cvs. Do not create the directories manually, allow rancid-cvs to do it.