Abstract: A method for suspending and later resuming operation or processing of a program running in a virtual machine is described. The method involves creating and running a special program in the virtual machine which is to be accorded suspend and resume control functions. The suspend/resume control function program is run first before a user's task is run. The special suspend/resume program seizes control over the virtual machine's external interrupt controls and modifies them to direct all incoming interrupts to the program itself rather than allowing CMS of the virtual machine to handle interrupts as is normally done. With incoming interrupts being sent to the suspend/resume program for analysis and response, incoming commands that generate such interrupts may be responded to and sub-routines contained within the suspend/resume task program may be employed to save all of these addressing registers and general register contents.