[Techtalk] Basic connection questions

[mgmonza at sdf.lonestar.org]

I know this isn't a really good place to ask this, but this time sponge 
has gotten out of hand.

I know I shouldn't be using Windows-lite aka Ubuntu, but I haven't the $$ 
to spend on an upgraded laptop and Ubuntu is what's on this one.

On all my Debian desktops, I hacked, slashed and configured my way through 
getting inernet connections working using /etc/network/interfaces, mainly, 
plus a variety of utilities depending on the connection device.  All I did 
thereafter was ifup, ifdown, and ifconfig.

Now with nm-applet, aka networking-manager, none of this works.  I gave in 
to the point of only asking that I be allowed to bring up the wired 
connection myself, eth0, and even that works only randomly and usually not 
at all.

I've put the eth0 stanza in the interfaces file, and the network manager 
ignores it as requested but eth0 still won't connect to anything. I get 
the infuriating repetetive dhcpdiscover then sleep, with no other 
diagnostics, and no connection.  Then an untterly random connection -will- 
happen, work for a time, then drop.  I'd do without network manager 
altogether if wpa-supplicant didn't add a whole other layer of incoherent 
complexity.  I live in a too low a rent and too prone to hacking area to 
risk wep.

I'm putting this question out on this list because I hate the 
Windowsesques, Simon Says, do this random illogical sequence of events and 
it -might- work nature of this problem.  Does anyone know or can anyone 
point me to an explanation of what's going on?

MG