that too didn't work. the "Edit connection" takes to the same window as "Configure VPN".

This seems to be the problem I wanted him to stick to one program. Like I pointed out and Smokey points out. just edit your network manager as in my second post.

now you all are talking wicd. and networkmanager. and rc.inet1 just pic one and stay with one.

left click the Network manager icon and uncheck enable networking.

then right click the icon then click network management settings select >> wired >> hi lite wired connection by clicking it once>> then select edit. then select >>
ethernet there you will see clone Mac.

I stuck to networkmanager only, made others non executable, still it doesn't work. I also reinstalled slackware and tried it, without success.

Now I have reverted to ubuntu, where I used the networkmanager applet. It worked in seconds. All I did was set the clone MAC to match the other one. No issues there. I don't know why this simple step did not work on slackware. I was hoping to use slackware because it gives choice as to what to install so that I can have a lean installation for my old laptop.

Thanks anyways, guys. Will try some other time.

It's weird since it should work without problems since it's not exactly the kind of situation that is OS dependent.. Unfortunetly I can't replicate your exact situation so I can't be of anymore help and there are slim chances that someone here was in your situation and found the problem

Is it because of some architectural difference or maybe something related to network confguration is disabled by default in slackware whereas is enabled in other distros (say ubuntu) by default?

Does it have to do with my ethernet card and slackware?

I just made a search for problems for my ethernet card

found a link -
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php...2F_WOL_problem

Do note that my ethernet card shows "up" which is correct.
Do you guys think that could be the issue?

Now that I have installed another distro it might take another week to find time to work on this issue.

Thats becuase they only give you one choice ok. Slackware gives you three. What I see is a lan device not configured.

I really think something has happened to your install for some reason.
My first answer is what I have been doing for several years.
I have tested everything on my system and it works perfect. I set up a router to test networkmanager clone.
set my router up so only my desktop mac id was used turned it off used my old laptop with a realtek card. and it worked perfect.

I am sorry at this point I am unable to reproduce your problem with the same chip.
Slackware64 14.1 and 14.0 .
as for the WOL problem I have no clue never had that problem but it is a valid point. Yes this may be your hardware.
Please test it let us know.
first i would just do a ifconfig eth0 up
then dhcpcd at that point it will use every device to try and connect.
then run demesg and look at the read out.