> > I assume this is due to some kernel tuning parameter
> > re how much memory a single process can allocate, or perhaps it is due
> > to a wired in 32bit memory allocation limit that cannot be worked
> > around.
> 
> Which version of NetBSD you try to use?
> 
3.0, last updated about half a year ago

I'm finding some VM tuning references on the internet
that talk about per process memory limits.  I haven't
read/digested that info yet.  I'll post to this list
what comes of that.