ELKS 0.9 for 8086: Linux kernel on 16-bit

ELKS 0.9: Linux-Like Kernel for 16-Bit Intel 8086 and Compatibles

ELKS 0.9 was released on March 21, 2026 — Embeddable Linux Kernel Subset. This is a subset of the Linux kernel adapted for 16-bit processors Intel 8086, 8088, 80186, 80188, 80286, and NEC V20/V30. The code is available on GitHub under GPLv2. The system runs on IBM PC XT/AT, MK-88, Monotech NuXT 2.0, and FPGA implementations of IA16. Disk images are suitable for floppy disks or emulators like QEMU.

The project has evolved since 1995 from a Linux branch without MMU. It includes ported utilities: ps, bc, tar, du, diff, netstat, mount, sed, xargs, grep, find, telnet, meminfo. There's a bash-compatible shell, the screen window manager, editors Kilo and vi, and the Nano-X graphics subsystem.

Network Stack and File Systems

ELKS offers two network stacks:

• TCP/IP from the Linux kernel.
• ktcp in user space.

Ethernet support: NE2K, SMC. Serial communication: SLIP, CSLIP. File systems: Minix v1, FAT12/16/32. Boot configuration via /etc/rc.d/rc.sys. Executables in Minix format.

An online emulator is available for testing (login root, no password). The previous release 0.8 (September 2024) added Doom.

Key New Features in 0.9

This version focuses on graphics, tooling, and compatibility:

• Integration with Microwindows (Nano-X): client-server architecture for desktops, terminals, and games.
• NXDSKTOP: Nano-X desktop for IBM 5150/5160 (8 MHz), Amstrad 1640, 286/386/486 with VGA. Includes nxselect (launcher), dialogs, menus, nxjpeg (viewer), text editor.
• ELKS 8086 Toolchain: C86 compiler, assembler, make, linker for 8086.
• Support for DeSmet C (DCC, 1989).

Enhanced Emulation and Peripherals

Added emulator support: Bochs, PCem, copy.sh/v86, MartyPC, EMU86, Swan (plus DOSBox-X, QEMU). Direct ATA driver, XT-IDE. v86 includes PS/2 mouse.

Ports to NEC V25, Solo/86, WonderSwan.

Games and Applications

Supported:

• Doom.
• Paint.
• Elksmoria.
• ttypong.
• tetris.
• invaders.
• advent.
• nxtetris.
• nxmine.
• nxworld.
• matrix.
• sl.

What's Important

• Nano-X and NXDSKTOP provide a GUI on an 8-MHz 8086 without MMU.
• C86/DCC toolchain enables cross-compilation for IA16.
• Full support for emulators and retro hardware, including ATA and PS/2.
• Network stacks + FS for standalone or networked systems.
• Game ports demonstrate the maturity of the ecosystem.

ELKS is relevant for embedded development on FPGA/SoC, retro computing, and learning low-level systems. Development has continued since 1995, with a focus on minimalism and compatibility.

— Editorial Team