We are removing 32 bit support from the Linux kernel because nobody uses that hardware anymore. Yet, this 16 bit version has commits from today.
Tons of embedded stuff use 32-bit Linux.
But that stuff is usually not x86.
ELKS: Linux for 16-bit Intel Processors
61–70 of 119 posts
Re: ELKS: Linux for 16-bit Intel Processors
#62Sounds optimal for microservices.
Re: ELKS: Linux for 16-bit Intel Processors
#63Could somebody with a good understanding of microchip production economics explain what the price difference would be if all 8-bit chips (such as the Atmega328) were replaced by otherwise equivalent 32-bit or 64-bit chops tomorrow (that is, same production capacity and unit counts sold)? How much would it cost, in cents, to just have those extra bits?
Even without special knowledgeon production economics, I dare say there would be a race to produce replacement compatible 8-bit microcontrollers to get people's stuff working again.
Re: ELKS: Linux for 16-bit Intel Processors
#64The memories. I had it run ("installed" would be a big word ona 2 flopppy and no hard drive system) on a super cute Carry-1 8088 computer ages ago, which I stupidly sold on Ebay shortly after as I had no use for it.
Here's one of the very rare photos online.
http://vintagescan.blogspot.com/2015/12/flytech-carry-i-1990...
Re: ELKS: Linux for 16-bit Intel Processors
#65My oldest working systems are now a 386/DX40 and 486/DX2-66, but I never had a chance to run Linux on them back then. Did anybody here have a favorite distro for such early 90s hardware? When I find a 286 or earlier I'd love to give ELKS a try.
Slackware was the distro I started on, back around then.
This
Re: ELKS: Linux for 16-bit Intel Processors
#66Thanks for the comments! ELKS will run on an 8088, but also runs on any x86 PC using the legacy "real mode" which runs in 16-bit segmented architecture without an MMU or any hardware protection. It can be fun to boot a PC and see a close resemblance to Linux, but run the way things used to be, using only 16-bits. It'll also run in ROM, e.g. using a 8018x CPU w/onboard PIT and PIC. The point of ELKS today is about "sm…
This is what I've been looking for! Can you fit a workable version on a 1.44 floppy?
Around 1996/97 timeframe, you could fit a kernel and userspace. I remember building a 1.44 setup that booted a compressed kernel and had enough user space tooling to bring up telnet, ftp, and the radio stack to drive the long haul radio cards (we were replacing JNOS [0] IIRC at an ISP ). Even had writable space at the end of the floppy (the kernel etc were readonly) to write overrides of the config; poor man's overlay I think, but it is rather a long time ago.
Given we were working with 286 era hardware (maybe 386?), I'd be surprised if ELKS doesn't fit on a 1.44. Indeed, simply looking at the downloads page linked from the original link would have answered your question.. [1]
Re: ELKS: Linux for 16-bit Intel Processors
#67Does anybody have the archive of the original ELKS site with the quote from Linus that Linux is not suitable for anything but 486 or higher or something like that?
Couldnt find that quote on the 2001 version of the site.
https://web.archive.org/web/20010626233912/http://www.elks.e...
Not sure if you are confusing that with the original Linux/Linus announcement post:
https://groups.google.com/g/comp.os.minix/c/dlNtH7RRrGA/m/Sw...
Re: ELKS: Linux for 16-bit Intel Processors
#68Earlier quoted context omitted.
This is what I've been looking for! Can you fit a workable version on a 1.44 floppy?
Around 1996/97 timeframe, you could fit a kernel and userspace. I remember building a 1.44 setup that booted a compressed kernel and had enough user space tooling to bring up telnet, ftp, and the radio stack to drive the long haul radio cards (we were replacing JNOS [0] IIRC at an ISP ). Even had writable space at the end of the floppy (the kernel etc were readonly) to write overrides of the config; poor man's overla…
I'm totally going to run it on an Amstrad PPC640 soon :)))
Re: ELKS: Linux for 16-bit Intel Processors
#69Another operating system that deserves mention for 286 class machines is Coherent. This was an Unix like OS you could buy for $99, and it had all of the various Unix utilities and came with a HUGE manual to help you learn it.
They had a 386 version as well, but went all in on getting X-windows and graphics working, and ignored TCP/networking just as the Internet started to gain a lot of traction. Still an interesting OS to look at!
Re: ELKS: Linux for 16-bit Intel Processors
#70We are removing 32 bit support from the Linux kernel because nobody uses that hardware anymore. Yet, this 16 bit version has commits from today.
Nobody is removing 32 bit support from the kernel.