# Debian : edit the following file (mac to eth association)
/etc/udev/rules.d/z25_persistent-net.rules

# The long way : change the name when loading the module for the NIC
cat /etc/sysconfig/hwconf | grep -A 16 NETWORK
class: NETWORK
bus: PCI
detached: 0
device: eth0
driver: 8139t
# Then change the device name in the ifcfg script: /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-ethX