"Static" wireless interface and runlevel 3

[Geoffrey Leach]

I have a system whose network interface is via a USB wireless to a 
router.

>From what I've read, NetworkManager is deemed unsuitable for this task. 
Correct?

My efforts so far to configure wlan0 for startup on runlevel 3 have met 
with no success. It's configured ONBOOT=yes, and the interface comes up 
correctly (iwconfig wlan0 is the same at both ends) but probing for the 
IP address fails.

Any suggestions?

Thanks.