Sometimes Linux really $%(^))(*&)@^%

[James Pifer <jamesredhatlist tnjinfl com>]

My goal was to upgrade my Linux server(Redhat 7.0) to new hardware. In 
preperation for this I installed a copy onto a different machine(Redhat 
7.1) and then transfered the hard drive to the new hardware. Essentially 
the same thing I want to do with my existing server.

After going a few rounds with the NIC, a DLink DFE-530TX+, I was able to 
get it working using the rtl8139 driver. Only weird thing was that it would 
fail on boot, but I could load it manually with "/etc/rc3.d/S10network 
reload." So as a workaround I added it into rc.local. This seemed to work 
fine.

Feeling somewhat confident, last night at 10PM I started the conversion. It 
didn't go well. No matter what I tried I could not get the NIC to work, nor 
could I get the other two NICs I have to work. Thinking the version of 
Redhat might have something to do with it, I upgraded the system to Redhat 
7.1. Went through that whole process and still the NIC's would not work.

At this point I'm totally pissed and fustrated.....

I have three NICs, DLink DFE-530TX+, Compaq CPQNF3, and an Intel 
EtherExpress Pro 100. I can't get any of these cards to work when I 
transfered the hard drive.

DLink DFE-530TX+
Linux did automatically see this card, although it said it was a generic 
card using rtl8139too or something
Used the rtl8139 driver, just like I had on the test system
Comes up with Delay eth0 initialization!!!!! Won't load! What does this 
mean??????

Compaq CPQNF3
Linux recognizes the card and sets it up using the TLAN driver
ifconfig shows the card correctly with no errors
can't do crap. destination network unreachable
I've never been able to get this card working on Linux

Intel EtherExpress Pro 100
Linux doesn't see this card at all during the hardware check
tried both eepro and eepro100 with no luck

All three of the cards work perfectly with DOS and all the flavors of 
Windows. Why is this so damn hard to do?

It's now about 4:15AM and I just finished restoring from my backup, because 
I need this server alive. If anyone has any helpful suggestions for my next 
attempt at this I would appreciate it.

James