> the network card of my workstation stopped working after I updated the > kernel to 2.6.18-194.17.4.el5 . Just to follow up on this: I actually dual boot with Ubuntu on this workstation (mostly for digital processing, where recent FLOSS software are needed), and Ubuntu network access also broke at the same time. But I did not care as much as for CentOS since I don't absolutely need the network when I process pictures. At some point though, I tried to fix the problem on Ubuntu as well and used the same approach as on CentOS, that is starting the previous kernel version from GRUB. I must say that most of them were completely broken, not even starting the OS properly, and I had to come back to three kernel versions before in order to reach the OS (which I find really disturbing with regard to Ubuntu stability, especially when you consider that this is a completely pure untweaked installation that I barely use...) Anyhow, I finally could reach the network on Ubuntu, did an update (no new kernel was included inthis update), restarted Ubuntu and the network was working again on the latest kernel (where it was previously broken). Then I booted CentOS with 2.6.18-194.17.4.el5 (where the network was broken, see my OP), and the network was now working. So, it seems that Ubuntu and CentOS somehow conflicted in their management of the network card. I don't understand how it is possible though, since the machine is rebooted (I also did some tests, where I was cuttin all power supply, in order to be sure that the motherboard was completely shut off). Anyhow, my CentOS workstation is back to normal and I will now update to the kernel which has just been released.