OK- I finally got my network configuration up and running. My network failed with this error:

eth0:unknown hardware address type 24

Then there were several DHCP failures, with what look like several tries, then it gave up.

There was also a reference in one of the log files to "eth0" and "ethernet over firewire".

The way I fixed it (finally!) was to use dpkg-reconfigure etherconf. This detected eth0 (which used to be my NIC), and then detected eth1, which I never used to have. Turns out, eth1 is now my NIC, and I am GUESSING that, for some odd reason, Debian Linux Firewire decided to usurp my eth0, which I now have disabled.

There are a bunch of posts here (I've been looking all day;-) that seem to be from people with similar problems, but no one posted a solution. Does anyone know what's going on here? And, if you are one of those with this kind of problem, maybe this will help.

TIA,
anw

Let me guess, you installed etch using the net install cd? I had the same problem. I searched and searched and there does not seem to be a solution. It's a known bug. For some reason my wireless worked fine on the install but after reboot it was hosed. The problem is detailed here: http://www.debian.org/devel/debian-installer/errata
If someone finds a solution please post! I tried messing with /etc/network/interfaces like they suggest but nothing worked. I ended up putting on a different distro.

Funny thing is, I ran for a long time before it happened. I've been out of town for several weeks, and I'm trying to remember what the last thing is I did before shutting down my system and leaving, but don't remember anything unusual, like an upgrade or anything.

As I said, I worked around it by using dpkg-reconfigure etherconf. I just don't have eth0, only eth1. At least it automatically starts (well, at least I think it does) and I have my network.

Anyway, hope this helps someone who may still be having this problem.