best stable kernel for multicore

Sir,
Hi,
I would like to use linux kernel for bandwidth control of gigabit network traffic(2gb/sec) on multicore(8 core) machine. I would like to know which is the best stable linux kernel i can use.
If it can be latest 2.6.18/2.6.19/2.6.20 then porting will be easy
for me.
regards
rajesh