Set Static IP

[JCMPine64]

I must be brain damaged in some way.  I loaded the 20160403-1 version of longsleep's xenial os and have spend 3 hours trying to set the static IP.  Every thing I've tried has bricked the board, requiring me to re-load the base os.

I've tried editing /etc/network/interfaces.

The default file looks like this:

Code:

# interfaces(5) file used by ifup(8) and ifdown(8)
# Include files from /etc/network/interfaces.d:
source-directory /etc/network/interfaces.d

# Disable wlan1 by default (8723bs has two intefaces)
iface wlan1 inet manual

I've added a static block to the end of the file:

Code:

# interfaces(5) file used by ifup(8) and ifdown(8)
# Include files from /etc/network/interfaces.d:
source-directory /etc/network/interfaces.d

# Disable wlan1 by default (8723bs has two intefaces)
iface wlan1 inet manual

Auto eth0
iface eth0 inet static
address 192.168.1.206
netmask 255.255.255.0
network 192.168.1.0
broadcast 192.168.1.255
gateway 192.168.1.1
dns-nameservers 4.2.2.1 4.2.2.2 8.8.8.8

I've removed the contents of the file and just tried this:

Code:

Auto eth0
iface eth0 inet static
address 192.168.1.206
netmask 255.255.255.0
network 192.168.1.0
broadcast 192.168.1.255
gateway 192.168.1.1
dns-nameservers 4.2.2.1 4.2.2.2 8.8.8.8

I've also left the interfaces file alone and gone into  /etc/network/interfaces.d/eth0 and changed it to read:

Code:

Auto eth0
iface eth0 inet static
address 192.168.1.206
netmask 255.255.255.0
network 192.168.1.0
broadcast 192.168.1.255
gateway 192.168.1.1
dns-nameservers 4.2.2.1 4.2.2.2 8.8.8.8

Nothing works, and everything bricks the Pine64.

I've also used nmtui to set the static IP, and it works for a bit, but then seeming-randomly it reverts back to dhcp mode.

What do I continue to do wrong?  I was able to make it work in the previous version of longsleep's xenial, but nothing seems to work in the latest version. 

Also, is there a non-destructive way to test setting the static IP, one where I don't have to reload the os everytime something doesn't work?

Thanks