cvs update -C question

[hughjonesd]

Hi

I seem to have problems using the cvs update -C command to ignore 
any local copies of files, rather than merging them. This command is 
specified in all my local man pages, but when I try to run it, I get:

(Locally modified file.txt moved to .#file.txt.1.20)
cvs server: invalid option -- C
Usage: cvs server [-APdflRp] [-k kopt] [-r rev|-D date] [-j rev]

The local file is not moved but stays in place, because the 
operation is aborted.

1. Is this a new option? Can I find out if the server is running an 
old version of CVS?

2. Is there another way I can do the same thing?

Thanks

David