I thought I'd use the default paritions from disktab and try again.  This 
time I switched the console faster and got all sortsa interesting messages.

---------------------------uVAX.boot2-------------------------
KA410-A V2.1           

F_..E...D...C...B...A...9...8...7?..6...5...4...3_..2_..1...
                                 ^
                                 |
 ?  E  0040  0000.0005           |
 ?  C  0080  0000.4001           |
??  7  0090  7720.7720  << These weren't here earlier...  what are these for
 ?  6  00A0  0000.4001     anyway?

>>> boot esa0

-ESA0

>> NetBSD/vax boot [980110 22:29] <<
: /netbsd
boot: client IP address: 10.0.0.2
boot: client name: chibiusa
root addr=10.0.0.1 path=/netbsd/distrib

[I switched cables soon as the count started]

Copyright (c) 1982, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1993
    The Regents of the University of California.  All rights reserved.

NetBSD 1.3 (GENERIC) #1: Fri Jan 16 16:09:22 CET 1998
    ragge@multivac:/usr/hej/src/sys/arch/vax/compile/GENERIC

realmem = 6160384
avail mem = 3558400
Using 300 buffers containing 307200 bytes of memory.
backplane0 (root)
cpu0 at backplane0: MicroVAX 2000
vsbus0 at backplane0
device dc at vsbus0 unsupported
device dc (xmit) at vsbus0 unsupported
le0 at vsbus0: address 08:00:2b:09:d3:db
le0: 32 receive buffers, 8 transmit buffers
probing for SCSI controller at 0x200c0080...
result: 0xffffffff (-1)
unexpected/strange result 0x0 during probe.
probing for SCSI controller at 0x200c0080...
result: 0xffffffff (-1)
unexpected/strange result 0x0 during probe.
device ncr at vsbus0 unsupported
hdc0 at vsbus0
command 0x24 completed with status 0x38
command 0x24 completed with status 0x38
rd0 at hdc0 drive 0
rd0: command 0x24 completed with status 0x38
command 0x24 completed with status 0x38
command 0x5d completed with status 0x28
  0, 0 MB, 524288 LBN, 0 cyl, 0 head, 0 sect/track
command 0x25 completed with status 0x38
command 0x25 completed with status 0x38
boot device: le0
nfs_boot: trying RARP (and RPC/bootparam)
nfs_boot: client_addr=0xa000002
nfs_boot: server_addr=0xa000001
nfs_boot: hostname=chibiusa
root on 10.0.0.1:/netbsd/distrib
Clock has lost 10254 day(s) - CHECK AND RESET THE DATE.
root file system type: nfs
fstab: /etc/fstab: No such file or directory
Automatic boot in progress: starting file system checks.
fstab: /etc/fstab: No such file or directory
fsck: Can't open checklist file: /etc/fstab

Automatic file system check failed; help!
Enter pathname of shell or RETURN for sh: 
Terminal type? vt100
Don't login as root, use the su command.
# disklabel /dev/rd0a

[I fudged here, I should have typed rrd0a]

command 0x24 completed with status 0x38
command 0x24 completed with status 0x38
command 0x5d completed with status 0x28
command 0x24 completed with status 0x38
command 0x24 completed with status 0x38
Trap: type 6, code 2, pc 800a3255, psl c00006
P0BR 80266000   P1BR 7fa67800   P0LR      460   P1LR   1fff00
KSP  85bbf81c   ISP  801b6400   USP  7fffdaa8
R0          0   R1         e0   R2          0   R3   80221400
R4          0   R5          0   R6   85073200   R7   85072800
R8        200   R9   8506862c   R10  85073200   R11  85068480
FP   85bbf8c0   AP   85bbf8d4   PC   800a3255   PSL    c00006
panic: trap: adr 2
Stopped at      0x800a4432:     bbs     $6, 60(r7), 0x800a443a
db> reboot
syncing disks... Trap: type 2, code 0, pc 8000050f, psl 4080000
P0BR 80266000   P1BR 7fa67800   P0LR      460   P1LR   1fff00
KSP  85bbf7e0   ISP  801b6128   USP  7fffdaa8
R0          f   R1         e0   R2   80028224   R3   80221400
R4   800ab8e4   R5   800c39b8   R6          0   R7          0
R8   800ab914   R9          0   R10  800c4ec4   R11  85068480
FP   801b61d0   AP   801b61f4   PC   8000050f   PSL   4080000
panic: trap: adr 0
Stopped at      0x800a4432: