I have a wireless network setup and working using a linksys wap54g
access point. To extend my network range, I purchased another wap54g,
and planned to set it up in repeater mode. Here is the problem. The
second I plug the second unit into my switch (to configure it), my
entire network goes crazy. All the lights on the switch start
blinking, and users start loosing their connetions. Note: the default
ip address of the new A/P is unique from any device already on the
network. Any ideas?

Since it is the same device, configure the router channel on a PC,
then connect it to the network to ensure it's not on the same
channel... interference from cross-talk will cause this problem,
especially if they the WAP's are in proximity of one another