This guide was written to help those who cant quite get Network Manager up and running for one reason or another.
(NOTE: This is only tested in gnome but in theory it should work the same in KDE but substitute the package 'network-manager-gnome' for 'knetworkmanger')
(NOTE2: Network Manager doesnt support Static IP's at this time, you will have to either use DHCP or not use NM until static ip's are supported. This includes your ethernet configuration as well..)
My first advice is to check if your wireless card is actually supported by Network Manager by looking here.
Once you have figured out if your card is supported, next we need to install the packages required:
Code:
sudo apt-get install network-manager-gnome network-manager wpasupplicant
(wpasupplicant is only required if you are planning on using WPA encryption)
The easiest way to get NM to start controlling your network interfaces (plural because it will also control your wired connection) is to open up (in gnome, not sure on kde) System > Admin > Networking (the default networking tool) open the properties for all the devices there, whether wired or wireless and in the properties dialog box clear the box that says 'enable this connection'
This should change the output of your /etc/network/interfaces file to read:
Code:
auto lo
iface lo inet loopback
(In theory KDE users could just comment out all the lines in /etc/network/interfaces except for those listed above)
You may need to exit NetworkManager and restart your networking for these changes to take effect by running
Code:
sudo killall NetworkManager
then
Code:
sudo /etc/init.d/networking restart
To bring Network manger back type
Code:
sudo NetworkManager
Now make sure (by right clicking the NM icon) that wireless is enabled, if so, simply left-click the icon to select a nearby network or specify by selecting 'connect to other wireless network' and fill out the information required (encryption type, SSID, TKIP key, etc)
*EDIT* According to snowboard975 and this post an error can occur with the icons preventing NetworkManager from loading display the error:
Code:
The NetworkManager applet could not find some required resources. It cannot continue.
this is fixed by running:
Code:
sudo gtk-update-icon-cache -f /usr/share/icons/hicolor/
Everything should work now.. once you get it going it is pretty reliable, at least for me. Good luck!
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