[Pkg-utopia-maintainers] Bug#658919: NetworkManager install destroys access

[Teunis Peters]

Package: network-manager
Version: 0.9.2.0-1
Severity: critical

While updating the package 'network-manager' it cut off access to my network card, removing the static IP configuration in /etc/network/interfaces
This is for a static IP based server.
Server is no longer accessible until I can go onsite.   No log information.

Preference: I want to blacklist this package, but if it must be installed, and almost any of the 'desktop' packages require it, there must be a way to disable its activity.
network-manager is not needed on a static IP server, even when some of - say - the gnome desktop tools, are.