<qandaentry>

        <question>

          <para>I get the error <literal>nlist failed</literal> when running,

            for example, <command>top</command> or

            <command>systat</command>.</para>

        </question>

        <answer>

          <para>The problem is that the application you are trying to run is

            looking for a specific kernel symbol, but, for whatever reason,

            cannot find it; this error stems from one of two problems:</para>

          <itemizedlist>

            <listitem>

              <para>Your kernel and userland are not synchronized (i.e., you

                built a new kernel but did not do an installworld, or vice

                versa), and thus the symbol table is different from what the

                user application thinks it is.  If this is the case, simply

                complete the upgrade process (see

                <filename>/usr/src/UPDATING</filename> for the correct

                sequence).</para>

            </listitem>

            <listitem>

              <para>You are not using <command>/boot/loader</command> to load

                your kernel, but doing it directly from boot0 (see

                &man.boot.8;).  While there is nothing wrong with bypassing

                <command>/boot/loader</command>, it generally does a better

                job of making the kernel symbols available to user

                applications.</para>

            </listitem>

          </itemizedlist>

        </answer>

      </qandaentry>