EventWaitHandle Class

using System;
using System.Threading;

public class Example
{
    // The EventWaitHandle used to demonstrate the difference
    // between AutoReset and ManualReset synchronization events.
    //
    private static EventWaitHandle ewh;

    // A counter to make sure all threads are started and
    // blocked before any are released. A Long is used to show
    // the use of the 64-bit Interlocked methods.
    //
    private static long threadCount = 0;

    // An AutoReset event that allows the main thread to block
    // until an exiting thread has decremented the count.
    //
    private static EventWaitHandle clearCount = 
        new EventWaitHandle(false, EventResetMode.AutoReset);

    [MTAThread]
    public static void Main()
    {
        // Create an AutoReset EventWaitHandle.
        //
        ewh = new EventWaitHandle(false, EventResetMode.AutoReset);

        // Create and start five numbered threads. Use the
        // ParameterizedThreadStart delegate, so the thread
        // number can be passed as an argument to the Start 
        // method.
        for (int i = 0; i <= 4; i++)
        {
            Thread t = new Thread(
                new ParameterizedThreadStart(ThreadProc)
            );
            t.Start(i);
        }

        // Wait until all the threads have started and blocked.
        // When multiple threads use a 64-bit value on a 32-bit
        // system, you must access the value through the
        // Interlocked class to guarantee thread safety.
        //
        while (Interlocked.Read(ref threadCount) < 5)
        {
            Thread.Sleep(500);
        }

        // Release one thread each time the user presses ENTER,
        // until all threads have been released.
        //
        while (Interlocked.Read(ref threadCount) > 0)
        {
            Console.WriteLine("Press ENTER to release a waiting thread.");
            Console.ReadLine();

            // SignalAndWait signals the EventWaitHandle, which
            // releases exactly one thread before resetting, 
            // because it was created with AutoReset mode. 
            // SignalAndWait then blocks on clearCount, to 
            // allow the signaled thread to decrement the count
            // before looping again.
            //
            WaitHandle.SignalAndWait(ewh, clearCount);
        }
        Console.WriteLine();

        // Create a ManualReset EventWaitHandle.
        //
        ewh = new EventWaitHandle(false, EventResetMode.ManualReset);

        // Create and start five more numbered threads.
        //
        for(int i=0; i<=4; i++)
        {
            Thread t = new Thread(
                new ParameterizedThreadStart(ThreadProc)
            );
            t.Start(i);
        }

        // Wait until all the threads have started and blocked.
        //
        while (Interlocked.Read(ref threadCount) < 5)
        {
            Thread.Sleep(500);
        }

        // Because the EventWaitHandle was created with
        // ManualReset mode, signaling it releases all the
        // waiting threads.
        //
        Console.WriteLine("Press ENTER to release the waiting threads.");
        Console.ReadLine();
        ewh.Set();

    }

    public static void ThreadProc(object data)
    {
        int index = (int) data;

        Console.WriteLine("Thread {0} blocks.", data);
        // Increment the count of blocked threads.
        Interlocked.Increment(ref threadCount);

        // Wait on the EventWaitHandle.
        ewh.WaitOne();

        Console.WriteLine("Thread {0} exits.", data);
        // Decrement the count of blocked threads.
        Interlocked.Decrement(ref threadCount);

        // After signaling ewh, the main thread blocks on
        // clearCount until the signaled thread has 
        // decremented the count. Signal it now.
        //
        clearCount.Set();
    }
}