ELKS, the Embeddable Linux Kernel Subset
----------------------------------------
What is this ?
--------------
This is a project to write a Linux-like OS for systems based on the Intel
IA16 architecture (16 bits processors: 8088, 8086, 80188, 80186, 80286,
Nec V20, V30 and compatibles).
Such systems are ancient computers (IBM-PC XT / AT and clones), or more
recent SBC / SoC / FPGA that reuse the huge hardware & software legacy
from that popular platform.
How to build ?
--------------
To build ELKS, you need a cross build tool chain, mainly based on the latest
GCC-IA16 (DEV86 including BCC was used for previous versions, but has been
dropped because it was obsolete and no more actively maintained).
A script is provided to automatically download and build that tool chain:
'tools/build.sh'
Note: all the scripts must be executed within the top folder 'elks/' as the
current one.
A script is provided to automate the whole build process (configuration,
kernel, user land and target image) and make it easier for ELKS newbies:
'./build.sh'
If you want to clean everything up afterwards, run './build.sh clean'
and it will run 'make clean' in the build directories for you.
The general build procedure for ELKS is as follows:
* Set up your environment (PATH, TOPDIR and CROSSDIR):
'. tools/env.sh' (note the '.' before the script)
* Build the cross chain in 'cross/' (see above)
* Configure the build chain, the kernel, the user land and the target image
format:
'make menuconfig'
* Build the kernel, the user land and the target image:
'make all'
The target root folder is built in 'target/', and depending on your
configuration, that folder is packed as either a floppy disk image (fd1440,
fd1680, fd1200, fd720, fd360, without MBR), a hard-disk image (hd, with MBR),
or a file image (ROM, TAR), into the '/image' folder.
Before writting the image on the real device, you can test it first on QEMU
with './qemu.sh' (will configure QEMU as an ISA system).
More information
----------------
Questions? Problems? Patches? Open an issue in this project! You can also join
and email the 'Linux-8086' list at linux-8086@vger.kernel.org.
More information in the Documentation folder: Documentation/index.html