Manually Starting and Stopping Your Network
Sometimes, the Network Configuration Utility configures your network stuff but cannot activate it. Why does that happen? Who knows? It may be because the Network Configuration Utility is still relatively young and should become better with age. In the meantime, you can start your networking systems another way, by following these steps:
Click the GNOME Menu button, choose System SettingsServer SettingsServices, and then enter your root password, if you’re prompted.
The Service Configuration Utility appears. Scroll down until you find the Network option.
Select the Network option and then click the Restart button.
The Information window opens and confirms that your network has been restarted. Your new network settings take effect.
If you’re using a wireless NIC that doesn’t communicate, you may have to restart your PCMCIA system. Here’s how:
Locate and click the PCMCIA service in the Service Configuration Utility.
Click the Restart button.
Repeat Step 3 to restart your network.
All networking is stopped and then started again.Alternatively, you can log in as root in a terminal emulator and run this command: /etc/init.d/network restart. (Or to stop your network, run /etc/init.d/network stop.)