Trying to install NetBSD 1.3.2

I've aquired an old alpha 3000/800, currently running OSF1 1.3A or
something I seem to remember from the motd.  First alpha I've ever had my
hands on so not too experienced in the boot sequences

Have setup bootpd, nfs and tftpd to run from inetd on one machine 'purple',
when alpha is booted in OSF1 it's possible to tftp the netboot file across,
mount the directory.
booting using:
boot EZ0
have also tried EZ0A, the -FI "netboot.alpha" flag, etc.
Seems to not be requesting the file correctly from the tftp server.
server machine is a netbsd/i386 machine,  (10.0.0.3)
Have also tried using a windows based machine for the tftp/bootp/nfs server
with same results
alpha is a DEC 3000/800 (10.0.0.2)

TcpDump on the wire shows:

10:05:09.811346 0.0.0.0.bootpc > 255.255.255.255.bootps: xid:0x20a20000
[|bootp]
10:05:09.812819 8:0:2b:ba:72:4 > ab:0:0:2:0:0 sap aa ui/C len=35
                         0001 0003 0400 0002 0002 4100 0700 0608
                         002b ba72 0464 0001 aa90 0101 0191 0102
                         ee05 00
10:05:09.814530 8:0:2b:ba:72:4 ab:0:0:2:0:0 moprc 60: 
                         2500 0700 0000 0100 0304 0000 0200 0241
                         0007 0006 0800 2bba 7204 6400 01aa 9001
                         0101 9101 02ee 0500 0000 0000 0000
10:05:09.979521 purple.bootps > alpha.bootpc: xid:0x20a20000 Y:alpha
S:purple [|bootp]
10:05:09.980789 arp who-has 0.0.0.0 (11:0:0:0:0:0) tell alpha
10:05:17.718230 arp who-has 0.0.0.0 (11:0:0:0:0:0) tell alpha
10:05:20.763246 0:a0:24:42:a9:bc > 3:0:0:0:0:1 sap f0 ui/C len=170
                         2c00 ffef 0800 0000 0000 0000 0102 5f5f
                         4d53 4252 4f57 5345 5f5f 0201 5a45 4245
                         4445 4520 2020 2020 2020 2000 ff53 4d42
                         2500 00
10:05:25.456555 arp who-has 0.0.0.0 (11:0:0:0:0:0) tell alpha
tcpdump: pcap_loop 
10:05:33.274510 arp who-has purple (11:0:0:0:0:0) tell alpha
10:05:33.274693 arp reply purple is-at 0:4f:4c:1:49:3f
10:05:33.276281 alpha.41505 > purple.tftp: 31 tftp-#0 [tos 0x1]

Alpha console shows this:

AUDIT_BOOT_START ...
AUDIT_BOOT_REQ
Server IP address is 10.0.0.3
AUDIT_BSERVER_FOUND

84 FAIL

>>


There is a 1 minute or so time delay between the BOOT_REQ and the ip
address coming back
Then there is another delay after the server has been found before the fail.
I have also tried requesting other files such as a firmware upgrade without
success as I'm quite sure this alpha is the same as it was when it was
first used, no software upgrades or anything.

I have a cd writer also so I guess it would be possible to burn a cd with
netbsd on and tell it to boot from that as an alternative?

Is there a way to get the tftpd to log at all so I can see what's happening?
Any suggestions?