Build a readahead profile and make Ubuntu boot faster
Ubuntu includes a software called readahead that, according to the official blurb, "allows the user to specify a set of files to be read into the page cache to accelerate first time loading of programs".
In other words, it allows Ubuntu to cache frequently accessed files to avoid searching around for them at startup. A default readahead profile is included with Ubuntu but you can create your own, tailored to your system.
Reboot Ubuntu and, at the boot menu, ensure the usual Ubuntu entry is highlighted. Then hit "e". This will let you temporarily edit the boot menu entry.
Use the cursor keys to move the highlight down to the second line that beings kernel and hit "e" again. Use the right arrow key to move to the end of the line and, after the words quiet and splash, add the word profile.
Then hit Enter and then "b" to boot your computer. Note that the first boot will be slow because the readahead cache will have to be rebuilt. In subsequent boots, however, you should see speed improvements.
I experienced a couple of seconds improvement by building a new readahead profile. This isn't a dramatic increase but it was certainly worth doing.
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