[GD-Linux] Comparing thread implementations

[Brian H. <ho...@py...>]

I'm trying to do some basic research on the relative performance=
 of 
threading implementations of the various like-Unix operating=
 systems. 
 There's a lot of conventional wisdom out there that Linux's 
threading implementation sucks, and that both Solaris and Irix=
 have 
significantly superior implementations.

Unfortunately, there seem to be a lot of "ifs/ands/buts" on this=
 
(e.g. Solaris on x86 may or may not be good; Irix is dying; Linux=
 2.6 
kernel might address this; OS X's implementation is unknown but 
likely related to FreeBSD; FreeBSD 5.0 might address this; yadda=
 
yadda yadda), and some light Googling hasn't netted me any really=
 
comprehensive information that isn't woefully out of date or too=
 
forward thinking (the next version of [insert OS] will be=
 better!).

So, does anyone know the state of thread support on these=
 operating 
systems or can someone point to a decent analysis of the relative=
 
pros/cons.  An entry level 1U Sparc server is only $1000, and=
 used 
Irix boxes aren't too horribly expensive, so I think cost isn't=
 going 
to be that big a factor.

Thanks,

-Hook