Executing virtual functions using memory-based data in a PCI express SR-IOV and MR-IOV environment

An apparatus, comprising:

• multiple physical functions positioned on a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) configuration space;
• a memory coupled to the PCIe configuration space;
• and
• an extended virtual function shell positioned on the PCIe configuration space and configured to receive a virtual function call comprising an identification of a called virtual function and a request to perform a specific computation associated with the called virtual function, to identify one of the physical functions associated with the specific virtual function, to retrieve, from a function instance associated with the specific virtual function and stored in the memory, one or more first data values, to retrieve, from a physical function unit of the identified physical function, separate from the virtual function memory, one or more second data values, and to perform the specific computation using the first data values and the second data values, thereby calculating a result,
• wherein the extended virtual function shell is configured to identify one or more additional virtual functions associated with the identified physical function, and to convey, back to the extended virtual function shell, respective virtual function calls for each of the additional virtual functions.