autoconf / compiler issue?

[tmo]

If I try to install some software I got errors / warnings like

checking arpa/inet.h presence... yes
configure: WARNING: arpa/inet.h: present but cannot be compiled
configure: WARNING: arpa/inet.h:     check for missing prerequisite headers?
configure: WARNING: arpa/inet.h: see the Autoconf documentation
configure: WARNING: arpa/inet.h:     section "Present But Cannot Be Compiled"
configure: WARNING: arpa/inet.h: proceeding with the preprocessor's result
configure: WARNING: arpa/inet.h: in the future, the compiler will take precedence

or

configure: WARNING: pthread.h: present but cannot be compiled
configure: WARNING: pthread.h:     check for missing prerequisite headers?
configure: WARNING: pthread.h: see the Autoconf documentation
configure: WARNING: pthread.h:     section "Present But Cannot Be Compiled"
configure: WARNING: pthread.h: proceeding with the preprocessor's result
configure: WARNING: pthread.h: in the future, the compiler will take precedence
checking for pthread.h... yes
checking for pthread_create in -lpthread... no
configure: error: pthread is missing

on my sarge machine. Install it on my other sid machine works like a charm. How can I fix this? Is this an issue of the installed autoconf tools or a compiler issue? Any help much appreciated.

[markharding557]

your software probably wants newer versions of librarys than whats in sarge.
have you considered upgrading to etch as sarge is now obsolete