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Dosemu




DOSEMU, alternatively rendered '''dosemu''', is a Compatibility Layer software package that enables MS-DOS Software to run under Linux on X86 -based PCs ( IBM PC Compatible computers).

It uses a combination of hardware Virtualization features and strategic emulation. It is thus able to achieve nearly native speed for 8086-compatible DOS operating systems and applications on IA-32 compatible processors, and for 32-bit DPMI applications on IA-32 compatible processors as well as on 64-bit IA-32e processors. ( 8086 Virtualization is not available in IA-32e's 64-bit mode, so DOSEMU includes an 8086 processor emulator for use with 16-bit applications.)

From the dosemu HOWTO:

DOSEMU is an option for people who need or want to continue to use their old DOS software. To quote the manual, "dosemu" is a user-level program which uses certain special features of the Linux kernel and the 80386 processor to run MS-DOS/FreeDOS/DR-DOS in what people in the biz call a `DOS box.' The DOS box, a combination of hardware and software trickery, has these capabilities:
  • the ability to virtualize all input/output and processor control instructions

  • the ability to support the word size and addressing modes of the iAPX86 processor family's "real mode," while still running within the full protected mode environment

  • the ability to trap all DOS and BIOS system calls and emulate such calls as are necessary for proper operation and good performance

  • the ability to simulate a hardware environment over which DOS programs are accustomed to having control.

  • the ability to provide DOS services through native Linux services; for example, dosemu can provide a virtual hard disk drive which is actually a Linux directory hierarchy.



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