I installed ghc 4.08.2 binaries for sparc solaris (and those for intel linux, too), then tried compiling a sample program (the fibonacci one in the user guide) with ghc -parallel. The compiler complained:

Could not find interface file for `Prelude' in the directories ./*.hi /u/trebla/lib/ghc-4.08.2/imports/lang/*.mp_hi

/u/trebla/lib/ghc-4.08.2/imports/concurrent/*.mp_hi /u/trebla/lib/ghc-4.08.2/imports/lang/*.mp_hi

/u/trebla/lib/ghc-4.08.2/imports/concurrent/*.mp_hi /u/trebla/lib/ghc-4.08.2/imports/std/*.mp_hi

(and similarly for Parallel.)

Does it mean I must build ghc myself from source?

The user guide promises a lot of binary bundles such as par. Ever since 4.0x, the ghc download page ceases to mention them. Where are they?

This just means that Parallel support isn't included in the binary bundle you have. In fact, parallel support is developed and distributed separately. Contact the GPH (Glasgow Parallel Haskell) folks for more information: http://www.cee.hw.ac.uk/~dsg/gph/ Cheers, Simon