Virtual machine peripheral fast-switch

A method implemented in a virtual machine (VM) host computer system (VM host) that includes a processor system and a memory, comprising:

• determining, during shutdown of a VM at the VM host, the VM has a physical peripheral device assigned to it and the physical peripheral device is operating a confidential mode of operation;
• instructing the physical peripheral device to switch to a non-confidential mode of operation;
• unassigning the physical peripheral device from the VM after the physical peripheral device has switched to the non-confidential mode of operation;
• and
• assigning the physical peripheral device to an idle pool after unassigning the physical peripheral device from the VM.

A virtual machine (VM) host computer system (VM host), comprising:

• a processor system;
• a memory;
• and
• a computer storage medium that stores computer-executable instructions that are executable by the processor system to at least:
• determine, during provisioning of a VM at the VM host, the VM is to have a physical peripheral device assigned to it, the physical peripheral device having a confidential mode of operation and a non-confidential mode of operation;
• identify an attribute associated with the VM;
• instruct the physical peripheral device to switch to the confidential mode of operation based on the attribute;
• assign the physical peripheral device to the VM after the physical peripheral device has switched to the confidential mode of operation;
• determine, during shutdown of the VM at the VM host, the VM has the physical peripheral device assigned to it and the physical peripheral device is operating in the confidential mode of operation;
• instruct the physical peripheral device to switch to the non-confidential mode of operation;
• and
• unassign the physical peripheral device from the VM.