I have a debian/sarge box configured to run as a static IP. When I boot it works fine -- I can access the network, surf the web, update my system, and even ssh into my box from within the network.

After a while though, my network access disappears. I can't even ping the box!

--- 192.168.1.237 ping statistics ---
899 packets transmitted, 0 packets received, 100% packet loss

However, if I walk over the computer and type a few keys in suddenly the network is back -- no reboot required.
PING 192.168.1.237 (192.168.1.237): 56 data bytes
64 bytes from 192.168.1.237: icmp_seq=0 ttl=254 time=2.568 ms
64 bytes from 192.168.1.237: icmp_seq=1 ttl=254 time=2.123 ms

This is really confusing me.. is there some sort of time-out on the network that I don't know about? How can I fix this?!?

well, the obvious answer is that your debian box falls asleep and stops allowing packets through.... disable any power management daemons, etc?

other that that, I can't help you!

Well, turns out it was the BIOS. Should've known..