Comment 15 for bug 181258

I was able to fix the bug on lucid by running the ipconfig inside a for-loop following Anna Jonna Armannsdottir suggestion above.

I've attached an updated file that goes in /usr/share/initramfs-tools/scripts/functions
You may want to merge it with vimdiff or create proper diff patch.

After adding you file you must rebuild your ramdisk
dpkg-reconfigure linux-image-2.6.32-23-generic

Details about how/why the error occurs:
* All our schools run diskless clients.
* Some of our schools have HP switches with spanning-tree turned on in order to stop network loopbacks.
* Spanning Tree adds additional delay for network re-initialization.
* Kernel loading network driver resets the nic - causing spanning tree delay.
* initramfs' ipconfig fails because network link light is off at the time of execution.
* putting the initramfs' ipconfig inside a for loop resoves the issue.