Uh ... I guess I didn't find the problem. it's still freezing (besides the fact that an mii-tool startup script is an unecessary kludge).

When I boot my original kernel, installed from the Knoppix CD, eth0 auto-negotiates its speed just fine, with no hangs. As it is the same (2.4.22) kernel, the problem must be in something I didn't compile in. I looked thru my config, but nothing jumps out as obviously wrong. Can I get a suggestion or two from you more enlightened types??