Symbol not found _pth_init when running an executable

Problem:

Programs compiled on an AIX 5.2 system and then deployed on a production system running AIX 5.3 fail with the dynamic linker error:

0712-001 Symbol not found _pth_init

Resolution:

The thread model used on AIX systems has changed in AIX 5.3. AIX uses the thread model M:N. This makes programs compiled with earlier versions of the operating system incompatible. In order to deploy executables to an AIX 5.3 system the application must be compiled on AIX 5.3.