Tools/NetworkManager

NetworkManager

NetworkManager provides automatic network detection and configuration for the system. Once enabled, the NetworkManager service also monitors the network interfaces, and may automatically switch to the best connection at any given time. Applications that include NetworkManager support may automatically switch between on-line and off-line modes when the system gains or loses network connectivity.

These facilities are most useful for modern laptops, where the user may move between wireless networks, and plug in to a variety of wired networks, but NetworkManager also provides features that are relevant to workstations. Current versions of NetworkManager support modem connections, and certain types of VPN. Development of these features is ongoing.

NetworkManager requires Fedora to have drivers for the wired and wireless interfaces on the computer. Many manufacturers of modems and wireless devices provide limited support for Linux. You may need to install additional drivers or firmware on your Fedora system in order to activate these interfaces.

Drivers first
NetworkManager may only work with network interfaces once the relevant drivers are correctly installed on your system. Reboot your system after installing a new firmware or a new driver in order to ensure that the changes take effect.

Enabling NetworkManager on Fedora

Command line way

The installation process for Fedora automatically provides NetworkManager. To enable it, enter the following commands in a terminal window:

1. Set the main service to automatically start on boot: su -c '/sbin/chkconfig --level 345 NetworkManager on' 1. Start the service: su -c '/sbin/service NetworkManager start

For each su command, enter the root password at the prompt.

Graphical Way

Start the system-config-services program, enter your root password and activate the NetworkManager service for runlevel 5.

Gnome-specific information

The NetworkManager tray icon automatically appears on your desktop once the services are started. If the NetworkManager service is active, then the tray icon appears each time that you log in to your desktop.

NetworkManager also stores any encryption keys in the gnome-keyring manager. If your are prompted to enter the keyring password after login, then keep reading. If your login password & the keyring password are the same, then there is a tool built to open the keyring for you on login. The package is called pam_keyring. To configure your system first install pam_keyring with yum:

su -c 'yum -y install pam_keyring'

Second you'll need to modify your /etc/pam.d/gdm file.

su -c 'gedit /etc/pam.d/gdm'

Add the following lines

auth    optional    pam_keyring.so try_first_pass
session optional    pam_keyring.so

The order in which this lines are placed in this file are important, here is a copy from a working system

#%PAM-1.0
auth       required    pam_env.so
auth       optional    pam_keyring.so try_first_pass <---
auth       include     system-auth
account    required    pam_nologin.so
account    include     system-auth
password   include     system-auth
session    optional    pam_keyinit.so force revoke
session    include     system-auth
session    required    pam_loginuid.so
session    optional    pam_console.so
session    optional    pam_keyring.so <---

Now reboot your computer. After login the keyring will be unlocked for you.

Changing keyring password

If your keyring password is different from your login password, you will be prompted to enter it every time you login to your computer. To 'fix' this, see below:

Fedora 10 or older

If you are running Fedora 10 or older, you should first install the following tools:

su -c 'yum -y install gnome-keyring-manager gnome-keyring pam_keyring'

Once you have installed pam_keyring and gnome-keyring, you will need to log out and back on. Then you can run

/usr/libexec/pam-keyring-tool -c

to change the default password. Alternatively you can now change a password through gnome-keyring-manager. Download and install gnome-keyring-manager. Then highlight the keyring and select Change Keyring Password from the Keyring menu of gnome-keyring-manager.

Fedora 11 and newer

The Seahorse Encryption Key Manager has replaced gnome-keyring-manager in Fedora 11 onwards. You can install Seahorse via Add/Remove Software or from the command line:

su -c 'yum -y install seahorse'

Once you have installed Seahorse, you will find its program icon titled 'Passwords and Encryption Keys' in the Applications...Accessories menu folder. To change the default keyring password, start Seahorse then right click Passwords:login at the top of the Passwords tab and select Change Password.

KDE specific information

To control NetworkManager by a system tray applet you need to install and start the program knetworkmanager of the same named package. The keys to the different networks are stored automatically in KDE's password storage system kwalletmanager.

Further Information

• Red Hat Magazine article on NetworkManager : Good summary of the technology
• The NetworkManager Website
• The NetworkManager mailing list
• Local Caching Nameserver

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