The problem

My computer is connected to a network where dhcp is required. So my network configuration in /etc/rc.conf looks like

interface=eth0
address=
netmask=
broadcast=
gateway=

My deamons are

DAEMONS=(!hwclock syslog-ng network netfs crond ntpd)

With this configuration, Arch hangs at boot a long time at "Network" (Still it says "[done]", but after boot I have no connection). I found out two workaround:

Workaround 1

• remove network from deamons
• run mii-tool --reset eth0 and dhcpcd eth0 after boot (somehow it does not work when placing these commands in /etc/rc.local.

Then dhcp work very quickly (because of the reset!). Before executing the first command, ip link show eth0 has "NO CARRIER" in output. Afterwards, it doesn´t. (Also, mii-tool first shows "no link", afterwards eth0: 10 Mbit, half duplex, link ok.

Workaround 2

• Change network configuration to

  interface=eth0
  address=x.y.z.21
  netmask=255.255.255.0
  broadcast=xxx.y.z.255
  gateway=x.y.z.254
  

  whereas x, y, z build the specific adresses of the network (Though dhcp is used, I get a static ip).

• Add the commands mii-tool --reset eth0 and dhcpcd eth0 to /etc/rc.local

Now network starts quickly at boot (though I don´t know if successfully), the commands in /etc/rc.local are executed and the connection is fine after login.

What to do?

So the problem seems to be that dhcpcd stucks at "wating for carrier" or sth.

I do not like the workaround, because some deamons need network (though they seem to start). What can I do to have eth0 ready for dhcp at boot? Or is there another problem?