NetworkManager — GUI/TUI Network Management

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tags:

• network
• sysadmin

• linux

  NetworkManager — GUI & TUI Network Management

NetworkManager provides graphical and text-based user interfaces for network configuration. It's the default on most desktop Linux distributions and offers excellent WiFi, VPN, and mobile broadband support.

Installation & Configuration

Install NetworkManager GUI Tools

# Debian / Ubuntu
sudo apt install -y network-manager network-manager-gnome  # Install NM + applet / Установить NM + апплет
sudo apt install -y network-manager-openvpn-gnome  # OpenVPN plugin / Плагин OpenVPN

# RHEL / Fedora
sudo dnf install -y NetworkManager NetworkManager-wifi NetworkManager-tui  # Install NM / Установить NM
sudo dnf install -y network-manager-applet  # GNOME applet / GNOME апплет

Enable NetworkManager

sudo systemctl enable --now NetworkManager  # Enable and start / Включить и запустить
sudo systemctl status NetworkManager          # Check status / Проверить статус

Configuration Paths

• Main config: /etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf
• Connection files: /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/
• Dispatcher scripts: /etc/NetworkManager/dispatcher.d/

GUI Tools

nm-connection-editor

nm-connection-editor  # Launch connection editor / Запустить редактор соединений

Use Cases:

• Create/edit/delete connections
• Configure advanced settings (IPv6, MTU, DNS)
• Set up WiFi, VPN, mobile broadband
• Configure firewall zones

GNOME Network Settings

gnome-control-center network  # Launch GNOME network settings / Запустить настройки сети

Network Manager Applet

nm-applet  # Start system tray applet / Запустить апплет в трее

Features:

• Click icon in system tray to connect/disconnect
• View available WiFi networks
• Connect to VPN
• View connection info

Text UI (nmtui)

Launch nmtui

nmtui  # Launch text UI / Запустить текстовый интерфейс

Menu Options:

1. Edit a connection — Create/modify connections
2. Activate a connection — Connect/disconnect
3. Set system hostname — Change hostname

Common Workflows

Create Ethernet Connection (nmtui)

1. Select "Edit a connection"
2. Choose "Add"
3. Select "Ethernet"
4. Configure IP (DHCP or Manual)
5. Select "OK" then "Back"
6. Select "Activate a connection" to connect

Create WiFi Connection (nmtui)

1. Select "Edit a connection"
2. Choose "Add"
3. Select "Wi-Fi"
4. Enter SSID and password
5. Select "OK" then "Back"
6. Select "Activate a connection" to connect

Dispatcher Scripts

Create Dispatcher Script

/etc/NetworkManager/dispatcher.d/99-custom-script

#!/bin/bash
# Dispatcher script example

INTERFACE=$1  # Interface name / Имя интерфейса
ACTION=$2     # Action (up, down, vpn-up, vpn-down) / Действие

case "$ACTION" in
  up)
    echo "Interface $INTERFACE is up" >> /var/log/nm-dispatcher.log
    # Run commands when interface comes up / Команды при поднятии интерфейса
    ;;
  down)
    echo "Interface $INTERFACE is down" >> /var/log/nm-dispatcher.log
    # Run commands when interface goes down / Команды при опускании интерфейса
    ;;
  vpn-up)
    echo "VPN connection established" >> /var/log/nm-dispatcher.log
    # Run commands when VPN connects / Команды при подключении VPN
    ;;
esac

sudo chmod +x /etc/NetworkManager/dispatcher.d/99-custom-script  # Make executable / Сделать исполняемым

[!NOTE] Dispatcher scripts run as root and receive the interface name and action as arguments.

Common Dispatcher Use Cases

• Update DNS settings when VPN connects
• Mount network shares when connected to specific network
• Adjust firewall rules based on network location
• Sync time servers

Connection Management

NetworkManager Configuration File

/etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf

[main]
plugins=keyfile  # Connection storage format / Формат хранения соединений
dns=systemd-resolved  # DNS backend / Бэкенд DNS

[logging]
level=INFO  # Log level / Уровень логирования

[connection]
wifi.powersave=2  # WiFi powersave (2=enabled) / Энергосбережение WiFi

sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager  # Apply config / Применить конфигурацию

Connection File Example

/etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/office-wifi.nmconnection

[connection]
id=office-wifi
uuid=<UUID>
type=wifi
autoconnect=true

[wifi]
ssid=Office_Network
mode=infrastructure

[wifi-security]
key-mgmt=wpa-psk
psk=<PASSWORD>

[ipv4]
method=auto

[ipv6]
method=auto

[!CAUTION] Connection files contain passwords in plain text. Ensure permissions are 600 (read/write for root only).

sudo chmod 600 /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/*  # Secure permissions / Безопасные права

Troubleshooting & Tools

Common Issues

# WiFi not working / WiFi
sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager  # Restart NetworkManager / Перезапустить NM
sudo rfkill unblock wifi                # Unblock WiFi / Разблокировать WiFi

# Connection managed by other service
sudo nmcli device set <DEVICE> managed yes  # Force NM management / Принудительное управление

# No network icon in tray
nm-applet &  # Start applet / Запустить апплет

Debug Logging

sudo nmcli general logging level DEBUG  # Enable debug logging / Включить отладку
journalctl -u NetworkManager -f          # Follow logs / Смотреть логи
sudo nmcli general logging level INFO    # Restore normal logging / Восстановить обычное логирование

View Connection Secrets

nmcli -s connection show <CONN>  # Show with secrets / Показать с секретами (требует sudo)

Comparison Tables

NetworkManager Tools Comparison

📚 Documentation Links

• NetworkManager API Docs
• NetworkManager Wiki