Method to manage coprocessor in a virtual memory virtual machine data processing system

A method to manage the operation of a coprocessor in a virtual memory type data processing system in which an Input/Output channel and an Input/output channel controller interconnect the coprocessor to the main processor and system memory. A Virtual Resource Manager (VRM) comprising a group of interrelated software programs function in the system to establish virtual machines that execute application programs concurrently. A Coprocessor Manager component of the VRM establishes a Virtual Machine in which the compressor executes application programs that cannot be executed on the main processor. The coprocessor is mounted on an integrated circuit card which is inserted into a 'mother board' socket which contains the main processor and related components.