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.
Features
- keyfile configuration, ifcfg-rh plugin Tools/NetworkManager/Configuration
- Good IPv4 support Tools/NetworkManager/IPv4
- Moderate IPv6 support Tools/NetworkManager/IPv6
- Integration with other tools Tools/NetworkManager/Integration
- GUI frontends Tools/NetworkManager/GUI
Possible future features
Known problems
- NetworkManager gets automaticaly respawned
- List of unmanaged devices (by MAC) is sometimes ignored
- Manually assigned IPv4 addresses get lost quickly
- dhclient spawned duplicately
- Serious IPv6 problems (most of them to be fixed in 0.9.6)
- Malfunctioning connection 'assume' functionality for IPv4 (removed for IPv6)
- Doesn't work well with dnssec-trigger/unbound (DNS is not conveyed)
- Too many open bug reports, many probably obsolete
Further Information
- Refer to the System Administrator's Guide here: Fedora Documentation
- Red Hat Magazine article on NetworkManager : Good summary of the technology
- The NetworkManager Website
- The NetworkManager mailing list
- Local Caching Nameserver