[NTLUG:Discuss] Aberrations when connecting to Internet with Knoppix V5.0.1

[Russ]

Hi,

I need opinions and advice on something I noticed just a day or so ago.

I've been Googling for indications that others may have seen this, but
have found nothing.

I know very little about the Ethernet and networking in general and I
noticed something strange when I booted with a new copy of Knoppix
V5.0.1.

When I booted everything looked normal until it got to the process of
connecting to the Internet.  At that point I got:

Service eth0 detected, DHCP Broadcasting for IP (Backgrounding)
Service eth1 detected, DHCP Broadcasting for IP (Backgrounding)

Previously, when booting with version 4.02.0 I had seen only  the
first line involving "eth0".

So I booted the same PC with Knoppix V4.02.0, Knoppix V3.7, and Ubuntu
Live V5.1.  In these cases, I saw only

Service eth0 detected, DHCP Broadcasting for IP (Backgrounding).

So I took the experiment one step further and booting Knoppix V5.0.1
and Knoppix V4.02.0 on a neighbor's PC.  The neighbor is hooked to the
Internet via Comcast and has a router in line.  In both cases, on the
message involving eth0 was displayed.

I returned home, booted with Knoppix V5.0.1 and saw that my wife's PC
still displays "eth0" and "eth1" when booting.  Her PC has only one
NIC which is connected to a Comcast modem via a router as is my
neighbor's PC.

Is this "eth1" message something I should check out?  How best would I do that?

I should point out that I'm using Knoppix on my wife's PC because my
Linux PC (running Ubuntu) is completely unresponsive since I returned
from a six week vacation.  Not even a beep or a light.  I'm in the
process of investigating the problem.  It's been suggested that my HD
may have locked and I may have to give a bit of a knock.

-- 
Russ