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

[Bob Adams]

In message <h1dc84-gvc.ln1 at pointerstop.ca>, Derek Broughton
<news at pointerstop.ca> writes
>Bob Adams wrote:
>
>> In message <1169336168.5122.37.camel at chronic>, Mario Vukelic
>> <mario.vukelic at dantian.org> writes
>>>On Sat, 2007-01-20 at 23:26 +0000, Bob Adams wrote:
>>>> No, no DHCP server present so I'm using (or trying to) static
>>>> addresses.
>>>
>>>Adding machines to a network without DHCP is _always a pain :) Is there
>>>a special reason why you use static addresses?
>>>
>> Because I do not have a DHCP server and also because I want to use the
>> same addresses as my Windows PC's.
>>
>What are you using as a router?  Almost all routers these days have a DHCP
>server built in.

A dual-homed PC. First NIC connects to a cable modem which receives a
DHCP address from my ISP. Second NIC connects to a switch which all the
other LAN PC's connect to.

        Bob