[Ethernet]

    I have, in addition to a PCMCIA Xircom Ethernet/Modem card,
    a 3Com built-in Ethernet card in my Port Replicator (the
    laptop's docking station).  But, when I installed Linux, the
    laptop was docked, with the Ethernet cable plugged into the
    Port Replicator's Ethernet port.  As a result, I couldn't
    make the Xircom Ethernet port work.  My solution was the
    following:

         *  Use /usr/bin/netcfg to create a second Ethernet
            device, eth1.  (eth0 is automatically generated
            during install.)  You need to be running X to
            use this tool.  You'll want to go into "Interfaces"
            (3rd button at the top of the Network Configurator
            window).  From there, if "eth1" doesn't already
            exist, create it by "Add"-ing it, and entering the
            appropriate parameters in the dialog boxes that
            pop up.  You'll have to decide whether to make
            it activated on boot-up, and whether to activate
            it now.

            Note that I create eth1 because the cardmgr (the
            Linux PCMCIA device manager) seems to look for
            that if eth0 is already assigned to another card.

         *  It's easier to activate and deactivate by editing
            the "ONBOOT" field in the appropriate
            /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth* file,
            then executing

                 /etc/rc.d/init.d/network restart

            So, for example, if I want switch between my 3Com
            card (eth0) and my Xircom card (eth1), I set the
            "ONBOOT" field in ifcfg-eth0 to "NO" and in
            ifcfg-eth1 to "yes" and execute the above command.
            Linux will shut down eth0 and bring up eth1.

    Using the Xircom Ethernet port when the laptop is not
    docked is straightforward, although you should probably
    disable eth0 (set its "ONBOOT" field to "no").  The
    setting for eth1 can be either "yes" or "no."  If it's
    "yes," then initialization will be deferred on boot up
    (you can see this in the boot output).  When the PCMCIA
    card manager is started, you should hear two high-tone
    beeps.  The first recognizes the card, and the second
    indicates that the card was properly configured (i.e.
    it connected to your network).  If the second was a low
    tone, then you're not connected and will need to fix it.
    (If the first tone was low, you're in deep doo-doo.)

    A problem can occur if you're connected to the network
    through your PCMCIA card's Ethernet port, and you "lose"
    that connection.  For example, there is a nice "suspend"
    feature which saves battery power and has other uses.
    But if your connection is dynamic (e.g. through a DHCP
    server), then you will lose your IP address assignment.
    The only guaranteed way I know of for reacquiring it,
    short of rebooting the system, is by ejecting the PCMCIA
    card (it is hot-swappable) and re-inserting it.  This
    causes cardmgr to reinitialize itself and your network
    connection.  This method is also fairly fast and easy.

    If someone knows of a "better" way, I'd appreciate it
    if they could inform me!