> Hello all,
> 
> I would like to 'build' an extremely minimal (i386-)NetBSD-System. (Not 
> for use, just as an exercise.) What do I need if I just want to get a shell?
> 
> I assume:
> 
> - a medium (cd, usb-stick, harddisk, etc.)
> - a ms-dos partition-table with (at least) one primary partition (p.p.)
> - a disklabel on the p.p. with a root-(disklabel-)partition (i.e. wd0a)
> - a root-fs (ffs on wd0a)
> - a primary boot block (/usr/mdec/bootxx_ffsv1) in the MBR or at the
>   beginning of the p.p.
> 
> - a kernel: /netbsd
> - /bin/init
> - /etc/fstab
> - /bin/sh

I think you can use a statically compiled sh and put it in /etc/rc, it
will be run by init at startup.

That would do the job imho.