Enabling efficient input/output (I/O) virtualization

A method for virtualizing input/output whereby a back-end driver component running back-end in a privileged operating system address space configures an input/output adapter through a setup/control path is disclosed. The back-end driver component is used to register with the input/output adapter to allow for the receipt of information concerning a catastrophic event. Catastrophic event data is transmitted to an active front-end driver component running in a guest operating system address space, where a communication path was established between the active front-end driver component and the back-end driver component. The back-end driver component listens for requests from the active front-end driver component. Upon receipt, an input/output context association is established between an input/output context in the input/output adapter and the active front-end driver component. The association enables the guest operating system to perform an isolated input/output operation directly with the input/output adapter through a respective data input/output path.