diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index ae0dfc82..cd58f8e5 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 2006-03-04  Doug MacEachern  <dougm@hyperic.net>
 
+        * Add net_interface_config.description
+
         * Use IFMIB (GetIfEntry) rather netbios to get hwaddr on Win32
 
         * Add net_interface_config.mtu for Win32
diff --git a/bindings/java/src/jni/generate.pl b/bindings/java/src/jni/generate.pl
index 1491b234..6214dd11 100644
--- a/bindings/java/src/jni/generate.pl
+++ b/bindings/java/src/jni/generate.pl
@@ -680,6 +680,11 @@ my %classes = (
          desc => '',
          plat => '*'
       },
+      {
+         name => 'description', type => 'String',
+         desc => '',
+         plat => '*'
+      },
       {
          name => 'address', type => 'NetAddr',
          desc => '',
diff --git a/bindings/java/src/net/hyperic/sigar/cmd/Ifconfig.java b/bindings/java/src/net/hyperic/sigar/cmd/Ifconfig.java
index e7382602..696cf219 100644
--- a/bindings/java/src/net/hyperic/sigar/cmd/Ifconfig.java
+++ b/bindings/java/src/net/hyperic/sigar/cmd/Ifconfig.java
@@ -75,6 +75,10 @@ public class Ifconfig extends SigarCommandBase {
             hwaddr = " HWaddr " + ifconfig.getHwaddr();
         }
 
+        if (!ifconfig.getName().equals(ifconfig.getDescription())) {
+            println(ifconfig.getDescription());
+        }
+
         println(ifconfig.getName() + "\t" +
                 "Link encap:" + ifconfig.getType() +
                 hwaddr);
diff --git a/include/sigar.h b/include/sigar.h
index 98847012..065e3482 100644
--- a/include/sigar.h
+++ b/include/sigar.h
@@ -459,6 +459,7 @@ typedef struct {
     char name[16];
     char hwaddr[64];
     char type[64];
+    char description[256];
     sigar_uint64_t
         address,
         destination,
diff --git a/src/os/darwin/darwin_sigar.c b/src/os/darwin/darwin_sigar.c
index 166d9e32..76180013 100644
--- a/src/os/darwin/darwin_sigar.c
+++ b/src/os/darwin/darwin_sigar.c
@@ -1798,6 +1798,10 @@ int sigar_net_interface_config_get(sigar_t *sigar, const char *name,
 
     close(sock);
 
+    /* XXX can we get a better description like win32? */
+    SIGAR_SSTRCPY(ifconfig->description,
+                  ifconfig->name);
+
     return SIGAR_OK;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/os/win32/win32_sigar.c b/src/os/win32/win32_sigar.c
index 4dc5dd9f..050331a4 100644
--- a/src/os/win32/win32_sigar.c
+++ b/src/os/win32/win32_sigar.c
@@ -1985,6 +1985,9 @@ int sigar_get_ifentry_config(sigar_t *sigar,
     sigar_hwaddr_format(ifconfig->hwaddr,
                         ifr->bPhysAddr);
 
+    SIGAR_SSTRCPY(ifconfig->description,
+                  ifr->bDescr);
+
     return SIGAR_OK;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/sigar.c b/src/sigar.c
index 745c30f9..23cfbc4d 100644
--- a/src/sigar.c
+++ b/src/sigar.c
@@ -1306,6 +1306,10 @@ int sigar_net_interface_config_get(sigar_t *sigar, const char *name,
 
     close(sock);    
 
+    /* XXX can we get a better description like win32? */
+    SIGAR_SSTRCPY(ifconfig->description,
+                  ifconfig->name);
+
     return SIGAR_OK;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/sigar_win32ish.c b/src/sigar_win32ish.c
index fd1ea201..329170c5 100644
--- a/src/sigar_win32ish.c
+++ b/src/sigar_win32ish.c
@@ -250,6 +250,12 @@ sigar_net_interface_config_get(sigar_t *sigar,
                       SIGAR_NIC_ETHERNET);
     }
 
+    /* should be overridden w/ better description
+     * using MIB_IFROW.bDescr when hwaddr is lookedup
+     */
+    SIGAR_SSTRCPY(ifconfig->description,
+                  ifconfig->name);
+
     hwaddr_lookup(sigar, ifconfig, i);
 
     if (flags & IFF_POINTTOPOINT) {