Implementing capacity and user-based resource allocation for a shared adapter in a virtualized system

A system for implementing capacity and user-based resource allocation for an input/output (I/O) adapter in a virtualized computer system comprising:

• a processor;
• a hypervisor uses an adapter driver managing functions associated with the hardware I/O adapter;
• said processor using said hypervisor to perform the steps of:
• configuring a virtual function (VF) using a capacity value of a port;
• said capacity value representing a percentage of the available performance of the port;
• providing an adapter driver for configuring multiple adapter parameters to provide the available performance for the port;
• and
• enabling a user to specify a level of performance assigned to each protocol of the port.