Some functionality is available on RHEL-5.4+ only with gcc44 and gfortran44 as
the default gcc and gfortran binaries are from gcc-4.1.

Index: gdb-7.4.50.20111218/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/vla.exp
===================================================================
--- gdb-7.4.50.20111218.orig/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/vla.exp	2011-12-18 23:35:23.000000000 +0100
+++ gdb-7.4.50.20111218/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/vla.exp	2011-12-19 02:27:16.745327844 +0100
@@ -16,7 +16,25 @@
 set testfile vla
 set srcfile ${testfile}.c
 set binfile ${objdir}/${subdir}/${testfile}
-if  { [gdb_compile "${srcdir}/${subdir}/${srcfile}" "${binfile}" executable {debug}] != "" } {
+# Temporarily provide compiler=gcc44 saving the original value around.
+
+set board [target_info name]
+if [board_info $board exists compiler] {
+    set old_compiler [board_info $board compiler]
+    unset_board_info compiler
+} elseif [info exists old_compiler] {
+    unset old_compiler
+}
+set_board_info compiler gcc44
+
+set err [gdb_compile "${srcdir}/${subdir}/${srcfile}" "${binfile}" executable {debug quiet}]
+
+unset_board_info compiler
+if [info exists old_compiler] {
+    set_board_info compiler $old_compiler
+}
+
+if  { $err != "" } {
     untested "Couldn't compile test program"
     return -1
 }
Index: gdb-7.4.50.20111218/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/break-interp.exp
===================================================================
--- gdb-7.4.50.20111218.orig/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/break-interp.exp	2011-12-19 02:21:56.000000000 +0100
+++ gdb-7.4.50.20111218/gdb/testsuite/gdb.base/break-interp.exp	2011-12-19 02:27:16.745327844 +0100
@@ -34,9 +34,29 @@ if [get_compiler_info ${binfile_lib}] {
     return -1
 }
 
+# Temporarily provide compiler=gcc44 saving the original value around.
+# RHEL-5 workaround of its:
+#   gcc: -soname: linker input file unused because linking not done
+
+set board [target_info name]
+if [board_info $board exists compiler] {
+    set old_compiler [board_info $board compiler]
+    unset_board_info compiler
+} elseif [info exists old_compiler] {
+    unset old_compiler
+}
+set_board_info compiler gcc44
+
 # Use -soname so that the new library gets copied by build_executable_own_libs.
 
-if {[gdb_compile_shlib ${srcdir}/${subdir}/${srcfile_lib} ${binfile_lib} [list debug ldflags=-Wl,-soname,${test}.so]] != ""} {
+set err [gdb_compile_shlib ${srcdir}/${subdir}/${srcfile_lib} ${binfile_lib} [list debug ldflags=-Wl,-soname,${test}.so]]
+
+unset_board_info compiler
+if [info exists old_compiler] {
+    set_board_info compiler $old_compiler
+}
+
+if { $err != "" } {
     return -1
 }
 
Index: gdb-7.4.50.20111218/gdb/testsuite/gdb.fortran/common-block.exp
===================================================================
--- gdb-7.4.50.20111218.orig/gdb/testsuite/gdb.fortran/common-block.exp	2011-12-19 01:31:24.000000000 +0100
+++ gdb-7.4.50.20111218/gdb/testsuite/gdb.fortran/common-block.exp	2011-12-19 02:27:16.746327840 +0100
@@ -20,7 +20,25 @@ set testfile "common-block"
 set srcfile ${testfile}.f90
 set binfile ${objdir}/${subdir}/${testfile}
 
-if  { [gdb_compile "${srcdir}/${subdir}/${srcfile}" "${binfile}" executable {debug f90 quiet}] != "" } {
+# Temporarily provide f90compiler=gfortran44 saving the original value around.
+
+set board [target_info name]
+if [board_info $board exists f90compiler] {
+    set old_f90compiler [board_info $board f90compiler]
+    unset_board_info f90compiler
+} elseif [info exists old_f90compiler] {
+    unset old_f90compiler
+}
+set_board_info f90compiler gfortran44
+
+set err [gdb_compile "${srcdir}/${subdir}/${srcfile}" "${binfile}" executable {debug f90 quiet}]
+
+unset_board_info f90compiler
+if [info exists old_f90compiler] {
+    set_board_info f90compiler $old_f90compiler
+}
+
+if  { $err != "" } {
     untested "Couldn't compile ${srcfile}"
     return -1
 }
Index: gdb-7.4.50.20111218/gdb/testsuite/gdb.fortran/dwarf-stride.exp
===================================================================
--- gdb-7.4.50.20111218.orig/gdb/testsuite/gdb.fortran/dwarf-stride.exp	2011-12-18 23:35:23.000000000 +0100
+++ gdb-7.4.50.20111218/gdb/testsuite/gdb.fortran/dwarf-stride.exp	2011-12-19 02:27:16.746327840 +0100
@@ -27,7 +27,25 @@
 set testfile dwarf-stride
 set srcfile ${testfile}.f90
 
-if { [prepare_for_testing ${testfile}.exp ${testfile} ${srcfile} {debug f90}] } {
+# Temporarily provide f90compiler=gfortran44 saving the original value around.
+
+set board [target_info name]
+if [board_info $board exists f90compiler] {
+    set old_f90compiler [board_info $board f90compiler]
+    unset_board_info f90compiler 
+} elseif [info exists old_f90compiler] {
+    unset old_f90compiler
+} 
+set_board_info f90compiler gfortran44
+
+set err [prepare_for_testing ${testfile}.exp ${testfile} ${srcfile} {debug f90}]
+
+unset_board_info f90compiler
+if [info exists old_f90compiler] {
+    set_board_info f90compiler $old_f90compiler
+}
+
+if $err {
     return -1
 }
 
Index: gdb-7.4.50.20111218/gdb/testsuite/gdb.fortran/dynamic.exp
===================================================================
--- gdb-7.4.50.20111218.orig/gdb/testsuite/gdb.fortran/dynamic.exp	2011-12-18 23:35:23.000000000 +0100
+++ gdb-7.4.50.20111218/gdb/testsuite/gdb.fortran/dynamic.exp	2011-12-19 02:27:16.746327840 +0100
@@ -25,7 +25,25 @@ set testfile "dynamic"
 set srcfile ${testfile}.f90
 set binfile ${objdir}/${subdir}/${testfile}
 
-if  { [gdb_compile "${srcdir}/${subdir}/${srcfile}" "${binfile}" executable {debug f90 quiet}] != "" } {
+# Temporarily provide f90compiler=gfortran44 saving the original value around.
+
+set board [target_info name]
+if [board_info $board exists f90compiler] {
+    set old_f90compiler [board_info $board f90compiler]
+    unset_board_info f90compiler
+} elseif [info exists old_f90compiler] {
+    unset old_f90compiler
+}
+set_board_info f90compiler gfortran44
+
+set err [gdb_compile "${srcdir}/${subdir}/${srcfile}" "${binfile}" executable {debug f90 quiet}]
+
+unset_board_info f90compiler
+if [info exists old_f90compiler] {
+    set_board_info f90compiler $old_f90compiler
+}
+
+if  { $err != "" } {
     untested "Couldn't compile ${srcfile}"
     return -1
 }
Index: gdb-7.4.50.20111218/gdb/testsuite/gdb.fortran/library-module.exp
===================================================================
--- gdb-7.4.50.20111218.orig/gdb/testsuite/gdb.fortran/library-module.exp	2011-11-30 09:24:32.000000000 +0100
+++ gdb-7.4.50.20111218/gdb/testsuite/gdb.fortran/library-module.exp	2011-12-19 02:31:10.991318026 +0100
@@ -25,16 +25,34 @@ if [get_compiler_info not-used] {
    return -1
 }
 
-if  { [gdb_compile_shlib "${srcdir}/${subdir}/${srclibfile}" $objdir/$subdir/$libfile {debug f90}] != "" } {
-    untested "Couldn't compile ${srclibfile}"
-    return -1
+# Temporarily provide f90compiler=gfortran44 saving the original value around.
+
+set board [target_info name]
+if [board_info $board exists f90compiler] {
+    set old_f90compiler [board_info $board f90compiler]
+    unset_board_info f90compiler
+} elseif [info exists old_f90compiler] {
+    unset old_f90compiler
 }
+set_board_info f90compiler gfortran44
 
 # prepare_for_testing cannot be used as linking with $libfile cannot be passed
 # just for the linking phase (and not the source compilation phase).  And any
 # warnings on ignored $libfile abort the process.
 
-if  { [gdb_compile $srcdir/$subdir/$srcfile $objdir/$subdir/$binfile executable [list debug f90 shlib=$objdir/$subdir/$libfile]] != "" } {
+set err1 [gdb_compile_shlib "${srcdir}/${subdir}/${srclibfile}" $objdir/$subdir/$libfile {debug f90}]
+set err2 [gdb_compile $srcdir/$subdir/$srcfile $objdir/$subdir/$binfile executable [list debug f90 shlib=$objdir/$subdir/$libfile]]
+
+unset_board_info f90compiler
+if [info exists old_f90compiler] {
+    set_board_info f90compiler $old_f90compiler
+}
+
+if  { $err1 != "" } {
+    untested "Couldn't compile ${srclibfile}"
+    return -1
+}
+if  { $err2 != "" } {
     untested "Couldn't compile ${srcfile}"
     return -1
 }
Index: gdb-7.4.50.20111218/gdb/testsuite/gdb.fortran/module.exp
===================================================================
--- gdb-7.4.50.20111218.orig/gdb/testsuite/gdb.fortran/module.exp	2011-06-30 00:05:16.000000000 +0200
+++ gdb-7.4.50.20111218/gdb/testsuite/gdb.fortran/module.exp	2011-12-19 02:27:16.747327836 +0100
@@ -16,7 +16,25 @@
 set testfile "module"
 set srcfile ${testfile}.f90
 
-if { [prepare_for_testing $testfile.exp $testfile $srcfile {debug f90}] } {
+# Temporarily provide f90compiler=gfortran44 saving the original value around.
+
+set board [target_info name]
+if [board_info $board exists f90compiler] {
+    set old_f90compiler [board_info $board f90compiler]
+    unset_board_info f90compiler
+} elseif [info exists old_f90compiler] {
+    unset old_f90compiler
+}
+set_board_info f90compiler gfortran44
+
+set err [prepare_for_testing $testfile.exp $testfile $srcfile {debug f90}]
+
+unset_board_info f90compiler
+if [info exists old_f90compiler] {
+    set_board_info f90compiler $old_f90compiler
+}
+
+if $err {
     return -1
 }
 
Index: gdb-7.4.50.20111218/gdb/testsuite/gdb.fortran/string.exp
===================================================================
--- gdb-7.4.50.20111218.orig/gdb/testsuite/gdb.fortran/string.exp	2011-12-18 23:35:23.000000000 +0100
+++ gdb-7.4.50.20111218/gdb/testsuite/gdb.fortran/string.exp	2011-12-19 02:27:16.747327836 +0100
@@ -23,7 +23,25 @@ set testfile "string"
 set srcfile ${testfile}.f90
 set binfile ${objdir}/${subdir}/${testfile}
 
-if  { [gdb_compile "${srcdir}/${subdir}/${srcfile}" "${binfile}" executable {debug f90 quiet}] != "" } {
+# Temporarily provide f90compiler=gfortran44 saving the original value around.
+
+set board [target_info name]
+if [board_info $board exists f90compiler] {
+    set old_f90compiler [board_info $board f90compiler]
+    unset_board_info f90compiler
+} elseif [info exists old_f90compiler] {
+    unset old_f90compiler
+}
+set_board_info f90compiler gfortran44
+
+set err [gdb_compile "${srcdir}/${subdir}/${srcfile}" "${binfile}" executable {debug f90 quiet}]
+
+unset_board_info f90compiler
+if [info exists old_f90compiler] {
+    set_board_info f90compiler $old_f90compiler
+}
+
+if { $err != "" } {
     untested "Couldn't compile ${srcfile}"
     return -1
 }
Index: gdb-7.4.50.20111218/gdb/testsuite/gdb.fortran/omp-step.exp
===================================================================
--- gdb-7.4.50.20111218.orig/gdb/testsuite/gdb.fortran/omp-step.exp	2011-12-19 01:31:24.000000000 +0100
+++ gdb-7.4.50.20111218/gdb/testsuite/gdb.fortran/omp-step.exp	2011-12-19 02:27:16.748327832 +0100
@@ -15,7 +15,26 @@
 
 set testfile "omp-step"
 set srcfile ${testfile}.f90
-if { [prepare_for_testing $testfile.exp $testfile $srcfile {debug f90 additional_flags=-fopenmp}] } {
+
+# Temporarily provide f90compiler=gfortran44 saving the original value around.
+
+set board [target_info name]
+if [board_info $board exists f90compiler] {
+    set old_f90compiler [board_info $board f90compiler]
+    unset_board_info f90compiler 
+} elseif [info exists old_f90compiler] {
+    unset old_f90compiler
+} 
+set_board_info f90compiler gfortran44
+
+set err [prepare_for_testing ${testfile}.exp ${testfile} ${srcfile} {debug f90 additional_flags=-fopenmp}]
+
+unset_board_info f90compiler
+if [info exists old_f90compiler] {
+    set_board_info f90compiler $old_f90compiler
+}
+
+if $err {
     return -1
 }
 
Index: gdb-7.4.50.20111218/gdb/testsuite/gdb.fortran/derived-type.exp
===================================================================
--- gdb-7.4.50.20111218.orig/gdb/testsuite/gdb.fortran/derived-type.exp	2011-06-29 19:50:47.000000000 +0200
+++ gdb-7.4.50.20111218/gdb/testsuite/gdb.fortran/derived-type.exp	2011-12-19 02:27:16.748327832 +0100
@@ -28,8 +28,26 @@ set testfile "derived-type"
 set srcfile ${testfile}.f90
 set binfile ${objdir}/${subdir}/${testfile}
 
-if {[gdb_compile "${srcdir}/${subdir}/${srcfile}" "${binfile}" \
-	 executable {debug f90}] != ""} {
+# Temporarily provide f90compiler=gfortran44 saving the original value around.
+
+set board [target_info name]
+if [board_info $board exists f90compiler] {
+    set old_f90compiler [board_info $board f90compiler]
+    unset_board_info f90compiler
+} elseif [info exists old_f90compiler] {
+    unset old_f90compiler
+}
+set_board_info f90compiler gfortran44
+
+set err [gdb_compile "${srcdir}/${subdir}/${srcfile}" "${binfile}" \
+	 executable {debug f90}]
+
+unset_board_info f90compiler
+if [info exists old_f90compiler] {
+    set_board_info f90compiler $old_f90compiler
+}
+
+if { $err != "" } {
     return -1
 }
 
Index: gdb-7.4.50.20111218/gdb/testsuite/gdb.fortran/subarray.exp
===================================================================
--- gdb-7.4.50.20111218.orig/gdb/testsuite/gdb.fortran/subarray.exp	2011-06-29 19:50:47.000000000 +0200
+++ gdb-7.4.50.20111218/gdb/testsuite/gdb.fortran/subarray.exp	2011-12-19 02:27:16.748327832 +0100
@@ -28,8 +28,26 @@ set testfile "subarray"
 set srcfile ${testfile}.f
 set binfile ${objdir}/${subdir}/${testfile}
 
-if {[gdb_compile "${srcdir}/${subdir}/${srcfile}" "${binfile}" \
-	executable {debug f90}] != ""} {
+# Temporarily provide f90compiler=gfortran44 saving the original value around.
+
+set board [target_info name]
+if [board_info $board exists f90compiler] {
+    set old_f90compiler [board_info $board f90compiler]
+    unset_board_info f90compiler
+} elseif [info exists old_f90compiler] {
+    unset old_f90compiler
+}
+set_board_info f90compiler gfortran44
+
+set err [gdb_compile "${srcdir}/${subdir}/${srcfile}" "${binfile}" \
+	executable {debug f90}]
+
+unset_board_info f90compiler
+if [info exists old_f90compiler] {
+    set_board_info f90compiler $old_f90compiler
+}
+
+if { $err != "" } {
     return -1
 }
 
Index: gdb-7.4.50.20111218/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/tls-sepdebug.exp
===================================================================
--- gdb-7.4.50.20111218.orig/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/tls-sepdebug.exp	2011-12-19 00:28:11.000000000 +0100
+++ gdb-7.4.50.20111218/gdb/testsuite/gdb.threads/tls-sepdebug.exp	2011-12-19 02:27:16.748327832 +0100
@@ -32,7 +32,25 @@ set binshareddebugfile ${objdir}/${subdi
 
 # FIXME: gcc dependency (-Wl,-soname).
 
-if  { [gdb_compile_shlib "${srcdir}/${subdir}/${srcsharedfile}" "${binsharedfile}" [list debug additional_flags=-Wl,-soname=${binsharedbase}]] != "" } {
+# Temporarily provide compiler=gcc44 saving the original value around.
+
+set board [target_info name]
+if [board_info $board exists compiler] {
+    set old_compiler [board_info $board compiler]
+    unset_board_info compiler
+} elseif [info exists old_compiler] {
+    unset old_compiler
+}
+set_board_info compiler gcc44
+
+set err [gdb_compile_shlib "${srcdir}/${subdir}/${srcsharedfile}" "${binsharedfile}" [list debug additional_flags=-Wl,-soname=${binsharedbase}]]
+
+unset_board_info compiler
+if [info exists old_compiler] {
+    set_board_info compiler $old_compiler
+}
+
+if { $err != "" } {
     untested "Couldn't compile test library"
     return -1
 }
Index: gdb-7.4.50.20111218/gdb/testsuite/lib/prelink-support.exp
===================================================================
--- gdb-7.4.50.20111218.orig/gdb/testsuite/lib/prelink-support.exp	2011-12-19 02:21:56.000000000 +0100
+++ gdb-7.4.50.20111218/gdb/testsuite/lib/prelink-support.exp	2011-12-19 02:27:16.749327828 +0100
@@ -119,9 +119,31 @@ proc file_copy {src dest} {
 proc build_executable_own_libs {testname executable sources options {interp ""} {dir ""}} {
     global objdir subdir
 
-    if {[build_executable $testname $executable $sources $options] == -1} {
-	return ""
+    # Temporarily provide compiler=gcc44 saving the original value around.
+    # RHEL-5 workaround of its:
+    #   gcc: -rpath: linker input file unused because linking not done
+    #   gcc: --dynamic-linker: linker input file unused because linking not done
+
+    set board [target_info name]
+    if [board_info $board exists compiler] {
+	set old_compiler [board_info $board compiler]
+	unset_board_info compiler
+    } elseif [info exists old_compiler] {
+	unset old_compiler
+    }
+    set_board_info compiler gcc44
+
+    set err [build_executable $testname $executable $sources $options]
+
+    unset_board_info compiler
+    if [info exists old_compiler] {
+	set_board_info compiler $old_compiler
     }
+
+    if { $err == -1 } {
+	return ""   
+    }
+
     set binfile ${objdir}/${subdir}/${executable}
 
     set command "ldd $binfile"