10.4 Using KNetworkManager

In KDE, NetworkManager can be controlled with one or more KNetworkManager applets. If the network is set up for NetworkManager control, the applets usually start automatically with the desktop environment and are shown as icons in the system tray.

If your system tray does not show any icons for network connections, KNetworkManager is probably not started. Press Alt+F2 and enter knetworkmanager to start it manually.

10.4.1 Overview

The globe icon is the main KNetworkManager icon. Use it to configure new network connections, to disable the use of wireless networks, or to switch to offline mode altogether, if needed. The current network status is shown by the additional icons in the system tray. Hold the mouse cursor over the icons to see details about the connection. Depending on the state of the network connection, the panel icons change appearance:

A wired connection has been established.

Currently there is no connection to the Internet.

A wireless connection has been established. Blue bars show the strength of the signal. More blue bars means better signal strength.

A connection is being established or terminated.

NetworkManager distinguishes two types of connections: trusted and untrusted. A trusted connection is any network that you explicitly selected. All others are untrusted. Right-click the connection icons to show a list of connections that you have already used at least once in the past. The currently used connection is marked in the menu.

Left-click any of the connection applets to choose another network connection at any time. Such a choice takes priority over automatically selected networks. The chosen network is used as long as it is available, meaning that plugging a network cable in does not switch to a wired network connection automatically.

Figure 10-1 Available Wireless Networks in the KNetworkManager Applet

NetworkManager also supports connections to 802.1X protected networks, the use of VPN connections, and UMTS/3G connections. Apart from using NetworkManager, you can also use UMTSmon to control UMTS connections as described at http://en.opensuse.org/Umtsmon.

10.4.2 Configuring Network Connections with KNetworkManager

  1. Right-click the globe icon in the system tray and select Edit Connections.

  2. In the dialog that opens, click New Connections and select the type of connection to configure. If you choose a wireless connection, KNetworkManager shows a list of available wireless networks.

    NOTE: Hidden Networks

    To connect to a hidden network (a network that does not broadcast its service) you have to know the Extended Service Set Identifier (ESSID) of the network because it cannot be detected automatically. In this case, enter the ESSID and click Next to enter the encryption parameters, if necessary.

  3. Enter your connection details and click Next.

  4. Click Save to save the connection or Save and Connect if you want to connect to the network at once.

The newly configured network connection now appears in the list of available networks you get by left-clicking the KNetworkManager icon.