What hapens after an IP conflict ?

From: Saskia (welton_saskia_at_hotmail.com)
Date: 07/29/03 

Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2003 22:21:16 +0100

My Redhat linux server is located in a Datacentre. A Win2K box was set up
with the same IP address and the Win box took precedence on the IP. My
server seems to have backed off. The win box has been taken down but the RH
linux server is no longer responding.

Is this the normal way that a RedHat Linux box reacts to the situation ?
How do I get it back, will re resettle and eventually start responding, if
so how long will it take ?
Do I need to reboot the server to get it to respond again ?

Many thanks for your help.