You might consider posting a link to your guide. I was unable to find it without contacting you off line. It's a shame that it isn't easily found by checking this thread (or am I missing something that is staring me in the face?)

Here's what the file you mention has to say  (although it certainly is 'Greek to me'):

# This file was automatically generated by the /lib/udev/write_net_rules
# program, run by the persistent-net-generator.rules rules file.
#
# You can modify it, as long as you keep each rule on a single
# line, and change only the value of the NAME= key.

# Unknown net device (/devices/platform/mv643xx_eth_port.0/net/eth0) (mv643xx_et
h_port)
SUBSYSTEM=="net", ACTION=="add", DRIVERS=="?*", ATTR{address}=="00:50:43:82:32:1
c", ATTR{dev_id}=="0x0", ATTR{type}=="1", KERNEL=="eth*", NAME="eth0"

# Unknown net device (/devices/platform/mv643xx_eth_port.0/net/eth0) (mv643xx_et
h_port)
SUBSYSTEM=="net", ACTION=="add", DRIVERS=="?*", ATTR{address}=="00:50:43:26:20:1
9", ATTR{dev_id}=="0x0", ATTR{type}=="1", KERNEL=="eth*", NAME="eth1"

# Unknown net device (/devices/platform/mv643xx_eth_port.0/net/eth0) (mv643xx_et
h_port)
SUBSYSTEM=="net", ACTION=="add", DRIVERS=="?*", ATTR{address}=="00:50:43:ca:37:2
4", ATTR{dev_id}=="0x0", ATTR{type}=="1", KERNEL=="eth*", NAME="eth2"

Does this give you any clues?
As always, thanks,
alex

I have the information that you requested: it can be found at http://kleico.net:5180/Pages/sheevaplug.txt
I put it there rather than inline here because there are so many lines.
In the process I discovered that (for reasons I'd like to know) eth0 was reassigned to eth2.
Once I realize that, fixing the problem was easy.
The question now changes to why is eth0 reassigned and can that be avoided?

Again, thank you very much for helping.
cheers,
alex

I've successfully installed Debian on the SheevaPlug, and although the installer got what it needed via the internet, my current system doesn't recognize eth0. Is there a fix known, please.
cheers,
alex