Automatically connect to ethernet

[Jan Pannecoeck <jpa@mgb-tech.com>]

Hello all,

I'm using OpenEmbedded for an Taskit PanelCard. I've been able to get 
everything I needed working properly except for one thing now. And I 
assume that it is a problem in the OE linux kernel, or me missing some 
packages.

So my problem is that linux does not connect to the DHCP server 
automatically when I plug in the ethernetcable. When I plug-in the cable 
before I launch the linux, this is working fine because at start-up the 
DHCP-server is asked for a new IP-lease. But when I don't plug-in the 
cable, and I plug it in when linux is already booted, the DHCP-server 
isn't contacted for a new IP-lease and I can't connect to the Internet. 
I can use the "/etc/init.d/networking restart" command but this isn't a 
solution of course because it should work all the time, also if I'm not 
there to enter that command...

So, do I  have to change some settings in the kernel, or do I have to 
install some extra packages to get this working properly?

Thanks in advance,
Jan Pannecoeck