eth interface with no IP

[Kostas Magkos <kmag@lab.epmhs.gr>]

Hey guys,

I have sarge w/ 2 NICs, which I'd like to set up as an IDS. I want to 
start eth1 without an IP address and with no ARP running, so as to use 
it just for sniffing.

Nothing I tried putting in /etc/network/interfaces works. The net 
startup script always complains about missing configuration and of 
course eth1 isn't started. As a temporary solution I added a 'ifconfig 
eth1 up' line in /etc/init.d/networking but I really don't like this 
approach. I don't think that it's even the right thing to do cause of 
upgrade issues.

Is there a more elegant solution? What is the debian way?

thanx in advance,

~
kmag

PS: I'm subscribed, don't CC me.