NetworkManager

NetworkManager attempts to keep an active network connection available at all times.

The point of NetworkManager is to make networking configuration and setup as painless and automatic as possible. If using DHCP, NetworkManager is intended to replace default routes, obtain IP addresses from a DHCP server and change nameservers whenever it sees fit. In effect, the goal of NetworkManager is to make networking Just Work.

If you have special needs, The upstream's developers would like to hear about them, but understand that NetworkManager is not intended to serve the needs of all users.

http://www.gnome.org/projects/NetworkManager/images/wireless-at-tealuxe.png


NetworkManager is composed of two parts:

  1. A daemon running as root (network-manager).

  2. A front-end (network-manager-gnome or network-manager-kde).

NetworkManager will only handle interfaces not declared in /etc/network/interfaces (see README file).

Features

The features of NetworkManager are described on its homepage.

Documentation

Make sure you read the fine manual:

NetworkManager in Squeeze

Wired Networks are Unmanaged

Unmanaged devices means NetworkManager doesn't handle those devices. This occurs when two conditions are met:

  1. The file /etc/network/interfaces contains anything about the interface, even:

    allow-hotplug eth0
    iface eth0 inet dhcp
  2. And /etc/NetworkManager/nm-system-settings.conf contains:

    [main]
    plugins=ifupdown,keyfile
    
    [ifupdown]
    managed=false

To allow NetworkManager to manage wired interfaces, either:

Restart network-manager or X is not enough. It seems you must reboot your computer in order to apply your changes.

(Click on the Comments to show Syslog error's error message related to this problem):

"Auto Ethernet" and "Auto eth0"

FAQ

Q. How do I configure a static IP address (for a server, etc) ?

A) Configure /etc/network/interfaces.

Q. Why can't I see NetworkManager with my new user account ?

A) Make sure human users are in the netdev group (see /usr/share/doc/network-manager-gnome/README.Debian).

See Also


CategoryNetwork