As with all optimizations, you won't be able to tell whether you are really getting better results without doing some simple benchmarking. Many processes run on a normal Linux PC, and they can affect performance measurements. To minimize their impact, we will work at init 1 level -- single-user mode, in which only minimal processes run.

The biggest news in this release of Virtual PC 2007 is its support for Windows Vista, both as host as well as guest OS. VPC 2007 only runs on Windows XP Professional and later versions of Windows.

Most current Linux distributions, including Slackware 11, have Samba already installed and running after the system boots. This article assumes that Samba has been installed. The commands work for Slackware version 11 and 10.2, and likely many other Linux distros.

Frankly, I'm glad that the default install doesn't set up a firewall. Most of my computers live behind a firewall at all times anyway, and I've always been annoyed by installers that demand I deal with firewall questions when I've already got the situation well in hand. If I want a firewall on a machine, I can set one up on my own. Since Ubuntu is, in part, aimed at corporate desktops, a firewall is unnecessary for many installations.