Running 16-bit COFF binaries on Solaris 8

Question

I've got some old 16-bit COFF binaries that are currently running on a UnixWare SVR4 2.03
system. I want to get these programs running on Solaris 8. Can it be done?
I've tried basic stuff like simply running them, and using gobjcopy to convert them to ELF,
with no luck.
If it can be done, what does it take?
Thanks!
Ruf

Answer 1

I see the same problem on Solaris Nevada build 55 - /usr/sfw/bin/gdb
cannot debug 64-bit programs. Here is a log file (I use GDB/MI interface,
but the same problem exists in CLI as well):
fasolt% g++ -m64 -g -o e1170905-gnu-solaris-x64-m64-gdb6.3.50 E1170905.cc
fasolt% gdb nw interpreter=mi
~"GNU gdb 6.3.50_2004-11-23-cvs\n"
~"Copyright 2004 Free Software Foundation, Inc.\n"
~"GDB is free software, covered by the GNU General Public License, and you are\n"
~"welcome to change it and/or distribute copies of it under certain conditions.\n"
~"Type \"show copying\" to see the conditions.\n"
~"There is absolutely no warranty for GDB. Type \"show warranty\" for details.\n"
~"This GDB was configured as \"i386-pc-solaris2.11\"."
~"\n"
(gdb)
212-file-exec-and-symbols e1170905-gnu-solaris-x64-m64-gdb6.3.50
212^done
(gdb)
0-break-insert -t main
0^done,bkpt={number="1",type="breakpoint",disp="del",enabled="y",addr="0x0000000000401109",func="main",file="E1170905.cc",line="43",times="0"}
(gdb)
-exec-run
^running
(gdb)
~"procfs:4284 -- process not stopped.\n"
&"procfs: ...giving up...\n"
^error,msg="procfs: ...giving up..."
(gdb)
I tried GNU compiler ("/usr/sfw/bin/g++ -m64") and Sun Studio 12
compiler ("CC -m64") - in both cases the behavior is the same.
What is the proper category/subcategory to file this bug?
Thanks,
Nik