OK - got indepenent confirmation from the 'linux guys' (who typically know their hardware) - the lan drivers install from the nVidia chipset stuff; my guess - unlike nearly every NIC since the transition to GLAN, this one doesn't simply 'attach' to the chipset's PCIe bus. What normally happens is you install the chipset drivers, they activate the PCIe bus, which then 'exposes' the NIC to be discovered to 'want' drivers; obviously (and inscrutably, as nVidia does not release documentation), the nForce is doing something else, that is effectively 'hiding' the LAN chip's interface...