> Bring up machine in single user mode
> run : dd if=miniroot-13A.fs of=/dev/rsd0b bs=20b conv=sync && halt
> boot /sbus/esp/sd@1,0:b netbsd -s
> 
> eventually I see:
> no file system for sd1 (dev 0x709)
> cannot mount root error 79

I have never seen this error.  Is `sd1' correctly identified in the
configuration output?

I don't know if the IPX has a complete set of PROM aliases set up, but
if so, you might try `boot disk1:b'. `disk1' will expand to the fully
qualified boot path.

-pk