Do;
export CVSROOT=:pserver:<username/login>@<server/host-name>:/<directory-name>
make sure “CVSROOT” has been set in the environment by;
echo $CVSROOT
where, CVSROOT is set to mention the <repository-folder> from which we are going to check-out/check-in
Now, continue doing your checkout by;
cvs checkout <dir-name>