interface alias strangeness RH8.0 2.4.18-14smp

[Andrew Williams <andrew williams sourcefire com>]

I have 6 interface aliases on my box.  Each of them configured as such

cat /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth0:ftp
DEVICE=eth0:ftp
BOOTPROTO=none
DNS1=10.x.x.x
IPADDR=10.x.x.x
NETMASK=255.255.255.0
ONBOOT=yes


ifconfig -a shows all of them fine.

I went to add a seventh alias, same as above (different IP, DEVICE, and
filename) and the IP comes up, but I can't down the interface nor can I
see any evidence that the alias exists, other than the fact I can bind
to it with apache, ssh, and other protocols I've tried.  dug through
/proc/sys and /proc/net.   Any ideas on why I can't down the interface,
or see it with ifconfig?

- andrew