Under W2K, I install some products that really require a static IP address to work correctly, but since I might want to move the system around on a laptop, I don't have a static IP address. The solution in W2K is to install the loopback adapter, give it address 10.0.0.1, disable the real ethernet adapater and install all of the software. After the software is installed, I can enable the ethernet adapter and everything works.

However, although I do seem the term loopback used in Linux, it is in conjunction with 127.0.0.1 and not really a separate (although phoney) piece of hardware. Can I accomplish the same thing in Linux?

thanks

Well before trying windows hacks why not find a problem first and then
fix it. The loopback in linux you are referring to is the loopback address
and is part of the tcp/ip standard. that address refers to the local
machine at whatever computer you are at. So to ping 127.0.0.1 is to
ping yourself. It works on windows too and is really very useful.

Has some utils that seem to do what you want.
http://www.linux-on-laptops.com/comp...nts_networking

especially MobileIP