I get quite consistent results here. Downloading http://downloads.kergis.com/kertex/kertex_bundle.tar to /dev/null:
linux over rtl8169 & ASDL : 5.4 seconds plan 9 native over rtl8169 & ASDL : 12.4 seconds as above, but latest sources tcp.c : 12.4 seconds linux on server : 1.2 seconds plan9 in lguest on the same server : 2.2 seconds Oldish labs kernels in both cases. -rod