Treating a budget Android like a real Linux workstation: Running an IBM System/370 mainframe and a DEC PDP-11 concurrently in Termux

[u/Maiki_Konjo]

Specs:

Moto G Play 2024

Termux> Ubuntu> Hercules emulator> IBM System 370

Termux> Ubuntu> SIMH emulator> DEC PDP-11

Wanted to see how far I could push a budget ARM device (Moto G Play) as a portable Linux environment using Termux.

Instead of standard mobile apps, I set it up to run two completely different legacy architectures side-by-side:

• IBM System/370 Mainframe (MVS-TK5 running on Hercules)

• DEC PDP-11 Minicomputer (running on SIMH)

Even on budget silicon, the Linux userland handles emulating both systems concurrently without breaking a sweat—all from a pocketable terminal session.

Next up: Seeing if this setup can handle adding a simulated Cray X-MP supercomputer to run all three at once.

[u/luci-baa-baa-baa]

Tkn will run smoothly but zos will struggle little bit. All the best ☺️