Synchronization of physical functions and virtual functions within a fabric

A system comprising:

• a first partition implemented on a computing system including a plurality of processors, memory, and at least one I/O device having an associated physical function, the physical function having a plurality of operational states including a ready state;
• a second partition implemented on the computing system, the second partition capable of having at least one of the plurality of processors associated therewith to initiate execution of the second partition and having a virtual function associated with the physical function;
• wherein the system is configured to determine, prior to associating the at least one of the plurality of processors therewith, whether the physical function is in at least the ready state;
• wherein, if the physical function is not in at least the ready state, the system prevents association of any of the plurality of processors with the second partition.

A computer readable storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a computing system, cause the computing system to perform a method of instantiating a virtual function in a partition of a multi-partition virtualization system implemented at least in part on a computing device, the method comprising:

• initializing a partition on the computing device, including determining a virtual function to be associated with the partition, the virtual function associated with a physical function of an I/O device of the computing system;
• prior to attaching a processor to the partition, determining if the physical function is in at least a ready state;
• while the physical function is not in at least the ready state, maintaining the partition in a processors attached state, thereby preventing instantiation of an operating system within the partition;
• upon determining that the physical function is in at least the ready state, attaching the processor to the partition, thereby allowing the partition to begin execution.