In the 80386 microprocessor and later, virtual 8086 mode (also called virtual real mode, V86mode or VM86)

allows the execution of real mode applications that are incapable of running directly in protected mode while the processor is running a protected mode operating system. VM86 mode uses a segmentation scheme identical to that of real mode (for compatibility reasons) which creates 20-bit linear addresses in the same manner as 20-bit physical addresses are created in real mode, but are subject to protected mode's memory paging mechanism. x86 processor modes Mode First supported Real mode, also called real address Real mode mode, is an operating mode of 80286 Intel 8086 and later x86-compatible CPUs. Real Protected mode mode is characterized by a 20 bit Intel 80286 segmented memory address space (giving exactly 1 MB of addressable Virtual 8086 mode Intel 80386 memory) and unlimited direct software access to all memory and Unreal mode Intel 80386 I/O addresses and peripheral hardware. Real mode provides no System Management Mode support for memory protection, Intel 386SL multitasking, or code privilege levels. Long mode 80186 CPUs and earlier, back to the AMD Opteron original 8086, have only one operational mode, which is equivalent to real mode in later chips. All x86 CPUs in the 80286 series and later start in real mode when reset.
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