If you do not use NetworkManager and do use KDE, manage your Internet connections
with KInternet, package kinternet.
The program checks whether an Internet connection can be
established. If this is possible, the application icon, a plug,
automatically appears in the right section of the KDE panel. Depending on
the state of the network connection, the panel icon changes appearance:
Currently there is no connection to the Internet.
The connection is being established or terminated.
The connection has been established.
Data is being transmitted to or from the Internet.
An error has occurred. If a connection has already been configured with YaST, use to identify the reason for the error. Access the menu by right-clicking the KInternet icon.
The connection is not yet active, but will be established as soon as a request is made.
![]() | Controlling the Connection from a Command Line |
|---|---|
If you work in the command line or in a desktop where it is not
possible to use KInternet,
you can use cinternet. cinternet is a simple command line application. For
detailed information, refer to the | |
KInternet does not provide any VPN configuration dialog. Configure a VPN connection manually or using a dedicated client program.
Right-click the KInternet panel icon to access its
configuration menu. Start the YaST configuration dialog with +. After entering the root password, YaST starts.
Depending on the access type, start the modem, ISDN, network, or DSL
configuration of YaST.
If you are using an ISDN connection and selected in YaST, add a second ISDN channel to an existing connection with . This doubles the transfer rate (although at a higher price). Activate channel bundling if you need to download large files. Activated channel bundling is displayed with a red plus symbol at the top left corner of the KInternet icon.
If your computer has more than one network device and you have configured all of them with YaST, you can use the KInternet option to switch between these interfaces. If you have multiple providers as well, choose them using in KInternet. Providers are also set in YaST.
To enable other network interfaces in the KInternet, you must have selected device activation in the appropriate YaST network dialog.
To establish Internet connections automatically, use dial on demand (DoD). If this mode is selected, KInternet automatically connects to your Internet service provider (ISP) as soon as a request is submitted. After a certain time-out, the connection is terminated. A DoD connection is shown with a blue D at the bottom right corner of the KInternet icon.
Note that DoD only makes sense if you have a flat rate Internet account. If that is not the case, connecting and disconnecting all the time can become very costly.
To access the WLAN functionality of KInternet, right-click the icon to open the menu. Select and a window showing two tabs opens. First, scan for suitable wireless networks to which to connect. Select the tab and start the scan with . For KInternet to continuously scan the network environment, also select . Activate acoustic feedback for each connection found with . Any connection found is displayed in the list window. Select one and click to connect to the selected network. If additional configuration efforts are needed to connect to the selected network, click to open the YaST network module for wireless network devices.
![]() | Hidden Networks |
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KInternet does not provide support of networks that do not broadcast their service set identifier (ESSID). | |
The tab allows you to monitor the state of your current wireless connection. The left-hand view of this tab offers a summary of all connection parameters for network address and ESSID, signal quality, signal and noise level, channel frequency and speed, and encryption parameters, such as type of encryption and key length. Select any of these parameters in the tree structure and see the details displayed in the right part of the window.