DOSEMU, stylized as dosemu, is a compatibility layer software package that enables DOS operating systems (e.g., MS-DOS, DR-DOS, FreeDOS) and application software to run atop Linux on x86-based PCs (IBM PC compatible computers).

It uses a combination of hardware-assisted virtualization features and high-level emulation.

DOSEMU includes an 8086 processor emulator for use with real-mode applications in x86-64 long mode.

[2] DOSEMU is an option for people who need or want to continue to use legacy DOS software; in some cases virtualisation is good enough to drive external hardware such as device programmers connected to the parallel port.

The DOS box, relying on a combination of hardware and software, has these abilities: