Why is adding a new Ubuntu PC to an existing LAN such a pain?

[Bob Adams]

In message <1169328232.15221.95.camel at development>, John R Cichy
<john at greengator.com> writes
>On Sat, 2007-01-20 at 20:54 +0000, Bob Adams wrote:
>> Why is adding a new Ubuntu PC to an existing LAN such a pain?
>>
>> I've done this several times now and the result is always the same.
>> Running a mixed LAN of Windows XP and Ubuntu 6.10 machines always causes
>> the latest Ubuntu addition to just freeze after the initial install and
>> reboot. Any attempt to bring up a terminal, configure the proxy, insert
>> a network address or just about anything just results in the mouse
>> pointer going 'busy' for about ten seconds and then nothing happens.
>> Most annoying.
>>
>> The first Ubuntu machine is configured easily but add any additions
>> after that and something gets very screwed.
>>
>
>How are you getting your IP address initially? Do you have a DHCP server
>running?
>
No, no DHCP server present so I'm using (or trying to) static addresses.
This is quite likely the reason for the hangs (Ubuntu assumes a server
will be present which is not a really good idea.)

        Bob