- apply the latest VM patches (if not yet done)

yes, be sure to have these files:

/*      $NetBSD: vm_object.c,v 1.45 1997/02/25 23:28:09 thorpej Exp $   */
/*      $NetBSD: vnode_pager.c,v 1.31 1997/02/27 17:49:05 mycroft Exp $ */
/*      $NetBSD: vm_map.c,v 1.26 1997/02/25 23:27:08 thorpej Exp $      */

   	- remove the limit of 128 `nbuf's in machdep.c

yes.  this should be done anyway, due to problems with different nbuf vs.
bufpages that have been reported.

   	- re-compile with a reduced MAXBSIZE value (say 32K)

i've sent mine back to 16K for now.  i was having lossage with
32K also.  :-(
   
   Can you get back to me on what the results of these changes (applied in
   that order) are?

i think all of the above should be done.  the MAXBSIZE stuff needs to be
reworked somehow.  *sigh*