How to fix "no such user" problem

[H Brydon]

Howdy - I have used cvs for several years, and have it set up on an Ubuntu 
linux box (ie. the linux box is the cvs server with the repository, via 
pserver) that has mostly worked fine for the interval.  I use cvs (ie. 
client) mostly from my Windows machine, but also from the server and several 
other linux machines (Mint, Raspberry Pi/Debian wheezy).  I periodically 
have had problems with the cvs server where connections to it will 
sporadically give "no such user" errors.  I have found that a reboot fixed 
the problem, and when this happens, it happens 'forever' until I reboot the 
machine.  I am now in a situation where I am getting the "no such user" 
problem permanently, and reboots are not fixing it.  I believe I have the 
config details correct since it has worked 'mostly' properly for several 
years.  Any ideas?

I have rebooted several times today, without the reboot resurrecting cvs.  I 
also tried "sudo /etc/init.d/xinetd restart" but it has never worked (even 
when the reboot did).

Details:
[logged into the Ubuntu machine (the cvs server) as user 'harvey']

address@hidden:~$ sudo netstat -tap | grep cvs
[sudo] password for harvey:
tcp        0      0 *:cvspserver            *:*                     LISTEN 
1073/cvsd

address@hidden:~$ printenv
...
CVSROOT=:pserver:address@hidden:/cvs

address@hidden:~$ cvs version
Client: Concurrent Versions System (CVS) 1.12.13-MirDebian-8 (client/server)
Fatal error, aborting.
harvey: no such user
Server:

address@hidden:~$ cvs -d :pserver:address@hidden:/cvs version
Client: Concurrent Versions System (CVS) 1.12.13-MirDebian-8 (client/server)
Fatal error, aborting.
harvey: no such user
Server:

address@hidden:~$ cvs -d :local:/cvs version
Concurrent Versions System (CVS) 1.12.13-MirDebian-8 (client/server)


--
Harvey