Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM) is a virtualization solution that turns a Linux kernel into a hypervisor. This is achieved by exploiting the hardware virtualization extensions provided by newer processors, currently Intel's VMX (VT) extensions and AMD's SVM extensions.
  
Intel VMX extensions don't offer support for real-mode guest systems, making it difficult for KVM to run real-mode guest operating systems such as FreeDOS and also causes problems booting some guests.

The project aims to improve and stabilize KVM's support for real-mode guests.