Abstract: A method for assigning a device to a first virtual machine includes connecting the device, directly or indirectly, to a computer through an interconnect. The first virtual machine and a second virtual machine are run on the computer. The device is assigned to the first virtual machine for exclusive use by the first virtual machine, and the assignment is enforced.

Abstract: A method for accessing a configuration data space for a device connected to a processor through an interconnect includes receiving a request from the processor to access the processor's addressable space. The request is generated in response to receiving an instruction intended to access the device's configuration data space. A map between the device's configuration data space and the processor's addressable space is accessed, the map having previously mapped the device's configuration data space to one or more pages of the processor's addressable space. Using the map, the request from the processor is translated into a configuration cycle on the interconnect to access the device's configuration data space.

Abstract: An enhanced general input/output communication architecture, protocol and related methods are presented.