In our Red machine,
to initilize cvs
use : cvs -d /cs/home/... init
(if -d option is not added, then command: cvs import -m .... does not execute correctly
The problem maybe: without -d option, CVS doesn't know the administrative subdirectory of a repository. so import failed.
So It seems here is the later use of CVSROOT)
Note.
Don't confuse the CVSROOT environment variable with CVSROOT subdirectory in repository. They are UNRELATED;
The former is a way for users to avoid having to type -d <reporisory-location> every time they use CVS;
The later is the administrative subdirectory of a repository.