Ubuntu network issues

[Spoiler]

I've installed ubuntu 7.10 desktop on a Dell box. The issue I've got is that I have to log in in order to get the network card(s) up & running. I could do with the network stuff starting at boot.

The box has 2 nic's, a wireless & a wired.

Any easy fix to get networking running on boot? I want to stick the box in the garage & use it to ssh through to some cisco kit. It won't have a monitor on it.

Perhaps the easy way to get round it is to start it up, login (blind, hopefully) & then connect using vnc to lock it.

I also tried installing wicd, but I could only get one NIC connected at a time, it would disconnect the other one.

Failing that, anyone suggest another distro?

[Badger]

Not sure but the new Ubuntu v8.04 (Hardy Heron) is released on Thursday.

[lilelvis2000]

have you tried the ubuntu forums. loads of experts on there who can sort this out for you.

www.ubuntuforums.org

I've tried Ubuntu myself and it is quite unstable. If its just a server you could just try Debian which is what Ubuntu is based on.

[administrator]

This server and a few others I run are all on Ubuntu. Have it on a laptop at home and a couple of dev machines. All solid (touch wood) and all have network on boot.

So you have a wired and wireless adaptor in the machine? How are these configured?

Have a look at your /etc/network/interfaces file. Are you using any custom apps to manage network interfaces?

[Spoiler]

So you have a wired and wireless adaptor in the machine? How are these configured?

Have a look at your /etc/network/interfaces file. Are you using any custom apps to manage network interfaces?

Correct, it is a multi-homed system with a wireless NIC & a wired NIC.
The wireless is for connecting to my home LAN & the wired is for connecting to some Cicso kit.
I want to be able to ssh into the ubuntu box from my home lan (or externally) & then from the ubuntu box, ssh into the cisco swithes\routers.

I can't (easily) run a cable from my house to where the ubuntu box\cisco kit is, hence the wireless card in the ubuntu box.

I am now using the default network-manager app to manage network interfaces (this was installed during the original ubuntu install). Once i had the problem of the networks not coming up until logging in, i tried installing wicd, but I found I could only have one NIC connected at a time.

[Spoiler]

Well, I've decided to bin ubuntu & try something else. Currently downloading openSUSE & Debian.

I could accept having to login to get the network up & running in ubuntu, but the wireless is just not stable enough. It keeps dropping the connection, despite the fact that it's still in range.

Will see how the other distros get on.