Re: wireless on an old Thinkpad 600

[Paolo <oopla@users.sf.net>]

On Sat, Nov 01, 2008 at 01:44:19PM +0800, Clayton wrote:
> On 31 Oct 2008 12:06:40 GMT
> bernard <bdebreil@teaser.fr> wrote:
> 
> > the /etc/network/interfaces file, which I made as follows :
> > 
> > # The loopback network interface
> > auto lo
> > iface lo inet loopback
> > 
> > # The primary network interface
> > allow-hotplug eth0
> > iface eth0 inet static
> >         address 169.254.255.1
> >         netmask 255.255.0.0
> >         gateway 169.254.255.1

you should use 169.254.1.0 to 169.254.254.255 for 'address' and 'gateway',
as 169.254.0.x and 169.254.255.x are reserved - see 
http://www.ietf.org/rfc/rfc3927.txt
Anyway, you shouldn't use static 169.254/16 at all:

[from RFC above]
...

1.6.  Alternate Use Prohibition

   Note that addresses in the 169.254/16 prefix SHOULD NOT be configured
   manually or by a DHCP server.  Manual or DHCP configuration may cause
   a host to use an address in the 169.254/16 prefix without following
   the special rules regarding duplicate detection and automatic
   configuration that pertain to addresses in this prefix. 
   ...
   Administrators wishing to configure their own local addresses (using
   manual configuration, a DHCP server, or any other mechanism not
   described in this document) should use one of the existing private
   address prefixes [RFC1918], not the 169.254/16 prefix.
...

Instead you should use an address from any of the private ranges:

Class Networks
A     10.0.0.0 through 10.255.255.255
B     172.16.0.0 through 172.31.0.0
C     192.168.0.0 through 192.168.255.0

-- 
paolo