A method, computer program product, and distributed data processing system that allows a single physical I/O adapter, such as a PCI, PCI-X, or PCI-E adapter, to use a PCI adapter identifier to associate its resources to a system image and isolate them from other system images thereby providing I/O virtualization is provided. Specifically, the present invention is directed to a mechanism for sharing among multiple system images a conventional PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) I/O adapters, PCI-X I/O adapters, PCI-Express I/O adapters, and, in general, any I/O adapter that uses a memory mapped I/O interface for communications. A mechanism is provided that allows a single physical I/O adapter, such as a PCI, PCI-X, or PCI-E adapter, to use a PCI adapter identifier to associate its resources to a system image and isolate them from other system images, thereby providing I/O virtualization.