Hi.

	[ Jason failed to boot 1.2G kernel with 5000/125] 
> 
> NetBSD 1.2G (GENERIC) #19: Sat Aug 30 01:09:13 PDT 1997
>     jonathan@Reno.DSG.Stanford.EDU:/reno/compile/GENERIC
> real mem = 50331648
> avail mem = 42295296
> ...
> boot device: rz3
> root on rz3a dumps on rz3b
> WARNING: clock gained 70 days -- CHECK AND RESET THE DATE!
> root file system type: ffs
> Nov 18 00:37:07 init: fatal signal: Segmentation fault
> Nov 18 00:37:40 init: /bin/sh on /etc/rc terminated abnormally, going to
> single user mode
> Nov 18 00:37:42 init: fatal signal: Segmentation fault
> Nov 18 00:38:15 init: /bin/sh on /etc/rc terminated abnormally, going to
> single user mode
> Nov 18 00:38:17 init: fatal signal: Segmentation fault
> 
> PRESSED the Break key at this point......
> 
> Stopped at      0x801204ac:     jr      ra
> db> 

It's confusing and interesting.  init(8) failed to run /etc/rc script.
It's likely missing or broken file, not kernel issue.  The message
should be printed next is;

	Enter pathname of shell or RETURN for sh:

I've examined 32M-diskimage.gz (size 11300054 byte dated _Jun 15 07:12_
found in NetBSD/arch/pmax directory of our mirror site) just now, and
it worked well with my DS5000/25 & RZ25 combo. 

>> What I also tried:
>> =============
>> 
>> boot 3/rz3/netbsd n and answering the questions manually.
>> 
>> disklabel -B with rzboot and bootrz, then unpacked base.tar.gz and
>> etc.tar.gz as per "instructions" but it never got past 
>> 
>> Boot: 3/rz3/netbsd
>> Size: 1230656+55536      <==== what happened to the "+102600" here.
>> 
>> then it hung.

More interesting.  It seems a corrupted kernel image, but given
inconsistent results, I'm wandering something wrong is in RZ23 disk
hardware itself. 

I recommend you to start from 1.3_ALPHA/pmax distribution set, not
anything in arch/pmax directory.  It's unlikely people can suggest you
solution with getting-obsoluted snapshots, because people's focuses is
now completing 1.3 distribution kit as soon as possible.  Your feedback
will help many.

Tohru Nishimura
Nara Institute of Science and Technology