> $ ifconfig > eth0:avah Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:1B:24:2A:1E:C5 > inet addr:169.254.5.51 Bcast:169.254.255.255 Mask:255.255.0.0 What kind of network are you trying to put this host on? That 169.254.x.x IP address is in the local link address range, used by Zeroconf devices. Are your other hosts in this same IP range? -Nick