2.6 kernel network interface assignment order

[Eric Sproul <esproul@ntelos.net>]

All,
I am having a weird problem and I don't know if it's my config or
something about the 2.6 kernel.  In a machine with two integrated NICs
(Penguin Relion 125), the 2.6 kernel reverses the assignment order of
the physical interfaces to eth0 & eth1.  Such that my
/etc/network/interfaces configs end up on the wrong device.

Has anyone else seen this, know why it happens?  Is there a fix, other
than physically swapping the cables (which isn't always practical when
working on machines in remote datacenters)?

Thanks,
Eric