I usually start up my Internet service by typing ./rc.inet1 , While its connecting I usually see my routers ip address then I connect and I start browsing and everything is fine.
A few times I noticed that instead of seeing the routers address it showed some other address and I could not get online. I try ./rc.inet1 stop and renew but still cannot connect, I reboot and I then see the router and I can connect.
Anyone have any idea whey this happens, its really frustrating to have to reboot .

I am using slackware13, and opera10 browser.

Thanks.

Is it something like 169.254.xxx.xxx? If so then your computer is unable to acquire an IP address from your router. Is this a wired or wireless?

It is wired, the same one I have had for a long time. Could this be a security issue?

Is that a confirmation that the address you see is 169.254.xxx.xxx?
If so then it isn't a security issue. For some reason your computer can not acquire an IP address from the router. Basically if the client fails to talk to the DHCP server it will assign a random address in that range that is not in use. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Link-local_address

Probably caused by auto negotiation not working. Could be marginal cable, the computer network adapter going bad, the connected port on the router going bad etc.

The only times I have seen the IP as 169.254.xxx.xxx is when I could not get online (approx 4 times recently), Usually I see the router IP (something like 192.168.2.1) when the internet service is starting up and everything is fine. I am worried that this is a security issue.

Not a security issue. At first glance as stated I would suspect a hardware problem.

That makes sense, my router and modem are over 10 years old but have been working fine, My KVM switch just went dead and I had to replace it, it was just as old.
Thanks.