Number of users and firewalls.

[George]

Two brief Windows XP questions, please pardon their elementary nature.



Win XP Pro says it handles only up to 5 users. What's this mean? Does this
mean there can only be up to 5 login names on the screen when I power
up.like Bill, Jane, Mary, Joe, Sam?



I understand that WIN XP-Home DOESN'T HAVE A firewall, is that right? But
Win XP-PRO does have a (software) firewall, is that right? Would it really
matter as long as both are behind a VPN router with a hardware firewall?
Would I use BOTH the WinXP-pro software firewall and the router firewall at
same time?

 

[Guest]

Window XP home has a firewall. Control panel, network connections, properties, advanced.

 

[Alex Nichol]

Win XP Pro says it handles only up to 5 users. What's this mean? Does this
mean there can only be up to 5 login names on the screen when I power
up.like Bill, Jane, Mary, Joe, Sam?

There is the question of the number of connections to a machine when it
is in a network - that is limited to 10 in Pro, 5 in Home. There is no
such limit on the number of user accounts. There might be on the number
of users who can be simultaneously logged on using Fast User Switching,
though I find no reference - in any case having more than two or three
is not really sensible if the 'active' one is going to see good
performance. It is more a facility to allow someone to log on briefly
for an urgent job, and then revert to the previous user.

I understand that WIN XP-Home DOESN'T HAVE A firewall, is that right? But
Win XP-PRO does have a (software) firewall, is that right? Would it really
matter as long as both are behind a VPN router with a hardware firewall?
Would I use BOTH the WinXP-pro software firewall and the router firewall at
same time?

XP Home has the same firewall as does Pro. Set it up in Control Panel -
Network Connections, r-click on the connection that you use for the
Internet and take Properties.. Check the top box on the Advanced page
But with the router in action it is a second line defence