Apple Network Server 700/200 screen

[Bradley Pearce <bottleworksnet%gmail.com@localhost>]

Hello.
I have an Apple Network Server 700/200 which now has two versions of
NetBSD running on it.

Just a quick background....  10+ years ago, I installed NetBSD 5.1 and
ran it as a server for many years.  At some point (years ago), it shut
off and wouldn't turn on again.  Being that this is an extremely rare
computer, I wanted to make sure I repaired it correctly without
damaging anything further.  As a result, I ended up pulling the PRAM
battery and it sat untouched for years.  I have now repaired it and
started re-learning NetBSD specifics and the specifics of NetBSD and
the ANS's implementation of Open Firmware (1.1.22).

After relearning the basics, I kept the NetBSD 5.1 install untouched.
I installed NetBSD 9.3 on a separate drive.  I can boot off of either
system at the Open Firmware prompt.

Here's my problem:
In O/F, I can set my input-device and output-device as kdb and screen.
No issues with O/F, nor the bootloaders for both NetBSD 5.1 and 9.3.
The 5.1 system will boot fully with no issue and have a normal startup
output and eventual prompt on the computer screen, just like it
should.

However, the 9.3 system makes the screen go "all crazy" once the
system starts outputting on to the screen (post bootloader).  The
system text (post bootloader) turns to a purple background and columns
of purple lines appear on the whole screen.  It then stops outputting
anything further on the screen.  If I change my input-device and
output-device in O/F to ttya, it outputs a normal startup (via serial
console on a second Macintosh).

Being that the old systems works like it should, that tells me that
something is now configured by default on 9.3 which is causes this.

I suspect the system is trying to tell the video chip to output
something that it can't.  This system can only do 640x480, 800x600,
and 1024x768 all at 8-bit.
I'm not seeing anything different in /etc/wscons.conf  .  From what
I've been reading, their might be a kernel parameter that needs to be
changed.

Does anyone have some ideas on this?  Thank you for your help!  I can
send a photo of the "crazy" screen.  (I don't know if the listserv
allows attachments).

Best wishes,
Bradley Pearce