Network configuration

[Jason Curl]

Hello,

Besides the documentation in the busybox tarball (1.5.0 is what I'm 
currently using), where can I find an overview of how busybox's zcip, 
udhcp and mdev work? Even better would be examples. The 
scripts/command-line info/source code all seem a little terse.

I need to connect to a control device that can be connected directly to 
my box or over a DHCP controlled network. I'd like to startup and have 
an IP address as soon as possible. The other device appears to use ZCIP 
from Windows CE.

Do I need to use both tools (udhcpc, zcip), or will zcip manage 
everything? How are other people using zcip/udhcpc in their embedded 
applications?

Is mdev capable of notifying on when a cable is connected/disconnected 
from ethernet that can then be used also to control the network 
interface? I'm using the e100.o driver in kernel 2.6.21.1 and it prints 
stuff on the console when the link status changes, so at least the 
driver itself knows.

How does zcip obtain an IP address? Is it based off the MAC or something 
similar, so it's pretty much the same for each device, or is it trying 
to be as random as possible?

And my device doesn't have a writable partition to save info across 
powercycles (I can't guarantee how the system shuts down and I'm just 
using ext2fs, hence I make it readonly).

Thanks in advance for any advice.
Jason.