in reply to OT: Locking and syncing mechanisms available on *nix.

Whew!   I’m losing track of this thread, trying to read through all the nesting.   Would it be possible to start another “level-one” response to this thread that re-states the problem as its definition has become refined so-far?   It is clear that a refinement of the question has taken place, but not quite so clear just what it has refined into.   Many thanks in advance.