RHEL5 virtualization
 

Hallo,

We're about to get some workstations and a server based on RHEL5. I'm not yet sure whether we need virtualization (maybe for the workstations to run some special WinXP programs). I'm worried that virtualization will cost too much performance (especially with IO).

I'm new to "modern" linux sys administration, and I was wondering if I can install RHEL5 server and workstation without virtualization and if needed install and enable the virtualization afterwards?

As I understand RHEL5 virtualization is based on Xen hypervisor, which is the actual OS, so is it possible to sneek Xen under an existing RHEL5 installation without destroying the exiting installation?

I'm happy for hints and corrections.

kind regards,

Arne