Configuring pcmcia cards at boot-up

[Udo Klein <udo-michael.klein@kcl.ac.uk>]

Hi,

I'm trying to use an old Toshiba Satellite laptop as a gateway. To do 
this I use two ethernet pcmcia cards (both 3c589), one connected to the 
cable modem (external interface), one connected to a switch (internal 
interface).

What I want is (1) to have both cards permanently plugged in ("cold 
plugged") and (2) to have both interfaces configured during boot-up.

I worded out how to configure the file /etc/network/interfaces to allow 
for the two cards to be hotplugged, so I can FIRST boot up, THEN insert 
both cards into the slots, and they get automatically configured. I also 
worked out how to configure the same file to allow for the external 
interface card to be plugged in before boot-up, and to be configured 
during boot-up, but this only works if the second card is not yet 
plugged in! As soon as both cards are plugged in at boot up, the 
external interface card doesn't get configured properly, resulting in no 
connectivity.

Can somebody please tell me which files need to be configured and how?


The ethernet howto has a section discussing the configuration of two 
ethernet interfaces, but I remember having read somewhere that this only 
applies to PCI cards, not PCMCIA cards.

Specifications: Debian Sarge, kernel 2.4.27-2-386, on a Toshiba 
Satellite Pro 430CDS. The ethernet cards are both 3c589.

Thanks, Udo K.