Try a different version of ifconfig. I think it may be found at
ftp.cs-ipv6.lancs.ac.uk:/private/www/ftp-archive/Code/Linux/Net_Tools .
Mine says:
% ifconfig --version
Linux NET-3 Base Utilities
Source: net-tools 1.41 Philip.Blundell@pobox.com
Kernelsource: 2.1.37
ifconfig 1.25 (1997-05-11)
> You might have mail
You've got spam. ;)
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Trevor Johnson