In article <19990506033902.EFCEA1E0C@mabelode.imrryr.org> "R. C. Dowdeswell" <elric@imrryr.org> writes:

>	The cards (tried two, same results) are recognised, and get configured
>	but ping to another host on the wire fails.
>
>	Interestingly, if one unplugs the card from the net, the kernel does
>	notice, and report the problem.

Do ping -n your-own-ip-addresses
that should work.
Do ping -n your-broadcast-address
if you see only yourself that might be a problem.
Do ping -n another-live-machine
if that does not work, could be an interrupt problem.

Can you post your boot messages?

christos