Over the past couple of weeks I have the need to unplug the network cable from my debain testing box (been moving the room around), in the past this has not posed a problem just plugging it back in again and away it would go. But lately when I plugged it back in again even after as little as 10 seconds the network is not accessible (my debian server does not have this problem). Now I have tried ifdown eth0 and ifup eth0, that just tells me that the

"interface eth0 already configured"

What other commands should I try?

I have tried another cable and different sockets on the network switch but that made no difference

Tim

From a root terminal do /etc/init.d/networking restart

Hint as you type /e use the tab key to autocomplete the instruction and therefore eliminate errors

I know the answer above it directed at debian, but I have to wonder ..... I use Red Hat and it has a 'service' command. To restart networking simply type:
service network restart (or stop or start or status are other options).
Is the service command only on Red Hat? I thought I had seen it on another linux distro someone else had running at work ....but I might be imagining things.

tab key command completion is also on RH. A very useful feature.

I was able (apparently) to restart networking using /etc/init.d/network restart, however, I can't get back to KDE now. When I ctrl-alt-F7 I get a blank screen and everything seems hung. Any help?

/etc/init.d/network restart is a Debian specific command and since Fedora is RH related you should use service network restart command. Networking should not affect the Xserver but the system could hang because the ip address is not set correctly. If you are on the KDE desktop you don't need to exit KDE as you can open a terminal and su to to root to enter the command.