NIC problem

[Collins Richey]

Here's the background. We run a lot of RHEL4 desktops with two extra
NICs - one for a Vmplayer Win/XP image, and one for an extra private
network to connect to test equipment. Most of the existing cards we
have are 10/100, but we've gotten some newer cards that are
10/100/1000 since our newer Cisco switches have gigabit capability.

Using the older cards (identical ones), there is never a problem with
Ethn ordering. The card in the slot nearest the NIC connector on the
MB (used for the Linux host) is always ETH1 and the other card is
always ETH2. Now with the gigabit cards it's a crapshoot to determine
which card will be detected as ETH1/2. The order varies with each
reboot!

Anyone have a clue about the cause and/or a workaround for this?

In case that matters, the boxes are mostly HP 5750 towers.

-- 
Collins Richey
 If you fill your heart with regrets of yesterday and the worries
 of tomorrow, you have no today to be thankful for.