> I bet you're using bash then, or zsh, or any other bourne shell. Try
> 
> export CVSROOT=':pserver:anoncvs@anoncvs.netbsd.org:/cvsroot'
> cd /usr
> cvs checkout -P pkgsrc
> 
> for checkout 
> 
> and
> 
> cd /usr/pkgsrc
> cvs update -dAP
> 
> for update (No need to set CVSROOT)
> 
> You might want to use a different mirror though; it's considered good
> practice to find a local one. See http://www.netbsd.org/mirrors/#anoncvs
> 
> 
> 

Ok. New problem:

bash-3.00# ./checkoutpkgsrc
./checkoutpkgsrc: line 2: export: 
`:pserver:anoncvs@anoncvs.be.NetBSD.org:/cvsroot': not a valid identifier
cvs checkout: No CVSROOT specified!  Please use the `-d' option
cvs [checkout aborted]: or set the CVSROOT environment variable.

When looking at the anoncvs link, I suspect :pserver isn't quite correct?