Configuring Network Connections

After having enabled NetworkManager in YaST, configure your network connections in a dialog available from the GNOME Control Center or from the Personal Settings in KDE 4. If you use GNOME, start the GNOME Control Center from the main menu, then select System+Network Configurations to open the Network Configuration dialog. If you use KDE, start the Personal Settings from the main menu by clicking Configure Desktop, then select Advanced+Network Settings to open the Network Settings dialog.

Figure 10.1. GNOME Network Configuration Dialog

Alternatively, you can start the configuration dialogs from the NetworkManager applet/widget in the system tray by clicking Configure (KDE) or by right-clicking the GNOME applet and selecting Edit Connections.

The GNOME and KDE 4 configuration dialog shows tabs for all types of network connections, such as wired, wireless, Mobile Broadband, DSL, and VPN connections. NetworkManager also supports connections to 802.1X protected networks.

To add a new connection, click the tab for the connection type you want to use and click Add. Enter a Connection Name and your connection details. If more than one physical device per connection type is available (for example, your machine is equipped with two ethernet cards, or two wireless cards), specify the MAC address (the Hardware Address) of the device in order to tie the connection to this device. Click OK or Apply to confirm your settings. The newly configured network connection now appears in the list of available networks you get by left-clicking the NetworkManager applet or widget.

	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 the encryption parameters, if necessary.

When editing each connection, you can also define if NetworkManager should automatically use this connection (activate Connect Automatically) or should use this connection systemwide (activate Available to all users). Such system connections can be shared by all users and are made available right after NetworkManager is started—before any users log in. To create and edit system connections, root permission is required.