Re: [PATCH v2] x86/vm86: Remove deprecated VM86 support

[Brian Gerst]

On Sat, May 30, 2026 at 1:49 AM Jari Ruusu <jariruusu@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> Brian Gerst <brgerst@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > Jari Ruusu <jariruusu@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > > My current setup uses virtualization:
> > >
> > > 64-bit x86 host + 64-bit Linux kernel/distro + Qemu/KVM
> > >   --> boots 32-bit Linux kernel/distro ( X86_LEGACY_VM86=y )
> > >     --> boots dosemu + FreeDOS
> > >       --> runs DOS version of WordPerfect
> >
> > Can you run FreeDOS on Qemu/KVM directly,
> > without the 32-bit Linux guest in between?
>
> Currently it is not possible to install dosemu or FreeDOS to
> that 64-bit x86 host, at least not from Debian pre-compiled
> packages, because Debian dropped dosemu and FreeDOS from
> installable pre-compiled packages long time ago.

You can install FreeDOS from an ISO image[1] into a new virtual
machine, just like you would install a Linux guest.  You don't need
Dosemu.  Performance should be no worse than your current setup, since
KVM can execute real mode code in hardware similar to VM86 mode.


[1] https://www.freedos.org/download/