Alpine Linux - User contributions [en]

NetworkManager

2025-02-24T10:36:30Z

Gris:

[https://networkmanager.dev/ NetworkManager] is the standard Linux network configuration tool suite. For the list of all NetworkManager subpackages refer {{pkg|networkmanager-*}}

== Installation ==

Networkmanager needs to have [[eudev|udev]] to be setup properly. Otherwise your network devices can be listed as (strictly-)unmanaged.
{{:Include:Setup Device Manager}}

Install the basic Network Management daemon of NetworkManager suite:{{Cmd|# apk add {{Pkg|networkmanager}}}}

To be able to use NetworkManager with your current user (i.e. not root), you need to add your user to the <code>plugdev</code> group: {{Cmd|# adduser <YourUsername> plugdev}}
{{Note|you will need to log out for the new group to take effect}}

There are multiple user interfaces available in NetworkManager suite. Choose the appropriate subpackage:
* TUI: {{Pkg|networkmanager-tui}}, a curses-based interface (run <code>nmtui</code>)
* Command line: {{Pkg|networkmanager-cli}} (run <code>nmcli</code>)
* GUI: {{Pkg|plasma-nm}} for Plasma integration and applet
* GUI: {{Pkg|network-manager-applet}} for a GTK system tray applet

== Networkmanager service ==

Ensure that [[Configure Networking|network interfaces]] are configured and [[Configure_Networking#Connectivity_testing|tested]].

Start NetworkManager:{{Cmd|# rc-service networkmanager start}}
Set the service to autostart on boot:{{Cmd|# rc-update add networkmanager default}}

== Wired networks ==

If wired networks do not appear or you get an error message like "Could not activate connection: Connection 'Ethernet connection 1' is not available on device eth0 because device is strictly unmanaged", add the following to {{path|/etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf}}:

{{Cat|/etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf|[ifupdown]
managed{{=}}true
}}

== Wireless networks ==

Install {{Pkg|networkmanager-wifi}} package if you want NetworkManager to connect and manage wifi:{{Cmd|# apk add {{Pkg|networkmanager-wifi}}}}

[[NetworkManager]] supports both wireless daemons i.e [[#iwd_backend|iwd]] and [[#wpa_supplicant_backend|wpa_supplicant]]. Using both may lead to conflicts.

=== wpa_supplicant backend ===
{{Main|Wi-Fi}}
[[Wi-Fi#wpa supplicant|wpa supplicant]] is the default in Alpine Linux and can be [[Wi-Fi#Automatic_Configuration_on_System_Boot|configured to start]] on system boot.

{{Note|[[Wi-Fi#wpa supplicant|wpa supplicant]] might not be required, if it isn't it may be a good idea to have it setup just as a fallback.}}

Now open {{path|/etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf}} in a text editor and change it to something like this: {{Cat|/etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf|<nowiki>[main]
dhcp=internal
plugins=ifupdown,keyfile

[ifupdown]
managed=true

[device]
wifi.scan-rand-mac-address=yes
wifi.backend=wpa_supplicant</nowiki>}}

{{Note|If these options dont work on your system, change them as necessary.}}

Now you need to stop conflicting services:
{{Cmd|# rc-service networking stop}}
{{Cmd|# rc-service wpa_supplicant stop}}

Now restart NetworkManager:{{Cmd|# rc-service networkmanager restart}}

Now connect to a network using one of the interfaces configured. If that connects and stays connected with no issues enable the <code>networkmanager</code> service and disable the <code>networking</code> and <code>wpa_supplicant</code> boot services:

{{Cmd|# rc-update add networkmanager}}
{{Cmd|# rc-update del networking boot}}
{{Cmd|# rc-update del wpa_supplicant boot}}

=== iwd backend ===
{{Main|iwd}}
NetworkManager supports wireless networks with [[iwd]] as backend, however, consider [https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/NetworkManager/NetworkManager/-/issues?scope=all&utf8=%E2%9C%93&state=opened&search=iwd existing issues] before using it.

Using both wireless daemons i.e [[Wi-Fi#wpa_supplicant|wpa_supplicant]] and [[iwd]] simultaneously lead to conflicts. Once iwd has been configured, ensure that [[Wi-Fi#Service_configuration|wpa_supplicant]] and related services are stopped before continuing. Start the iwd service and restart NetworkManager:
{{Cmd|<noWiki># rc-service iwd start
# rc-service networkmanager restart</noWiki>}}

To use [[iwd]] as backend edit NetworkManager's configuration because it still defaults to [[Wi-Fi#wpa_supplicant|wpa_supplicant]]. Edit the file {{Path|/etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf}} and ensure that <code>[device]</code> section appears as follows: {{Cat|/etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf|[device]
wifi.backend{{=}}iwd}}

== VPN support ==

NetworkManager has support for Wireguard and support for other VPN's are provided by plugins in the following subpackage:
* {{Pkg|networkmanager-openvpn}} for OpenVPN

== Plasma support ==

{{Todo|([[KDE|KDE Plasma]] Desktop) find out if it is possible to prevent requesting the password for '''KDE Wallet''' on login}}
{{Todo|([[KDE|KDE Plasma]] Desktop) for autoconnect to wifi network on start, it appears that the "all users may connect to this network" option must be selected in settings, as root is not a choice to allow. There are likely better workarounds}}

== Troubleshooting ==

=== nm-applet not authorized to control networking ===

You can enable all users to edit connections without adding polkit.
First, make the <code>conf.d</code> directory for networkmanager:

{{Cmd|# mkdir -p /etc/NetworkManager/conf.d}}

Then, add following content to {{path|/etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/any-user.conf}} so that {{cat|/etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/any-user.conf|[main]
auth-polkit{{=}}false}}

Finally, restart networkmanager: {{Cmd|# rc-service networkmanager restart}}

== See also ==

* [[Configure Networking|Networking]] - Main page
* [[Wifi#wpa_supplicant|wpa_supplicant]] - Default wifi daemon
* [[Iwd|iwd]] - An alternate wifi daemon

[[Category:Networking]]

NetworkManager

2025-02-24T10:34:56Z

Gris:

[https://networkmanager.dev/ NetworkManager] is the standard Linux network configuration tool suite. For the list of all NetworkManager subpackages refer {{pkg|networkmanager-*}}

== Installation ==

Networkmanager needs to have [[eudev|udev]] to be setup properly. Otherwise your network devices can be listed as (strictly-)unmanaged.
{{:Include:Setup Device Manager}}

Install the basic Network Management daemon of NetworkManager suite:{{Cmd|# apk add {{Pkg|networkmanager}}}}

To be able to use NetworkManager with your current user (i.e. not root), you need to add your user to the <code>plugdev</code>: {{Cmd|# adduser <YourUsername> plugdev}}
{{Note|you will need to log out for the new group to take effect}}

There are multiple user interfaces available in NetworkManager suite. Choose the appropriate subpackage:
* TUI: {{Pkg|networkmanager-tui}}, a curses-based interface (run <code>nmtui</code>)
* Command line: {{Pkg|networkmanager-cli}} (run <code>nmcli</code>)
* GUI: {{Pkg|plasma-nm}} for Plasma integration and applet
* GUI: {{Pkg|network-manager-applet}} for a GTK system tray applet

== Networkmanager service ==

Ensure that [[Configure Networking|network interfaces]] are configured and [[Configure_Networking#Connectivity_testing|tested]].

Start NetworkManager:{{Cmd|# rc-service networkmanager start}}
Set the service to autostart on boot:{{Cmd|# rc-update add networkmanager default}}

== Wired networks ==

If wired networks do not appear or you get an error message like "Could not activate connection: Connection 'Ethernet connection 1' is not available on device eth0 because device is strictly unmanaged", add the following to {{path|/etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf}}:

{{Cat|/etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf|[ifupdown]
managed{{=}}true
}}

== Wireless networks ==

Install {{Pkg|networkmanager-wifi}} package if you want NetworkManager to connect and manage wifi:{{Cmd|# apk add {{Pkg|networkmanager-wifi}}}}

[[NetworkManager]] supports both wireless daemons i.e [[#iwd_backend|iwd]] and [[#wpa_supplicant_backend|wpa_supplicant]]. Using both may lead to conflicts.

=== wpa_supplicant backend ===
{{Main|Wi-Fi}}
[[Wi-Fi#wpa supplicant|wpa supplicant]] is the default in Alpine Linux and can be [[Wi-Fi#Automatic_Configuration_on_System_Boot|configured to start]] on system boot.

{{Note|[[Wi-Fi#wpa supplicant|wpa supplicant]] might not be required, if it isn't it may be a good idea to have it setup just as a fallback.}}

Now open {{path|/etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf}} in a text editor and change it to something like this: {{Cat|/etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf|<nowiki>[main]
dhcp=internal
plugins=ifupdown,keyfile

[ifupdown]
managed=true

[device]
wifi.scan-rand-mac-address=yes
wifi.backend=wpa_supplicant</nowiki>}}

{{Note|If these options dont work on your system, change them as necessary.}}

Now you need to stop conflicting services:
{{Cmd|# rc-service networking stop}}
{{Cmd|# rc-service wpa_supplicant stop}}

Now restart NetworkManager:{{Cmd|# rc-service networkmanager restart}}

Now connect to a network using one of the interfaces configured. If that connects and stays connected with no issues enable the <code>networkmanager</code> service and disable the <code>networking</code> and <code>wpa_supplicant</code> boot services:

{{Cmd|# rc-update add networkmanager}}
{{Cmd|# rc-update del networking boot}}
{{Cmd|# rc-update del wpa_supplicant boot}}

=== iwd backend ===
{{Main|iwd}}
NetworkManager supports wireless networks with [[iwd]] as backend, however, consider [https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/NetworkManager/NetworkManager/-/issues?scope=all&utf8=%E2%9C%93&state=opened&search=iwd existing issues] before using it.

Using both wireless daemons i.e [[Wi-Fi#wpa_supplicant|wpa_supplicant]] and [[iwd]] simultaneously lead to conflicts. Once iwd has been configured, ensure that [[Wi-Fi#Service_configuration|wpa_supplicant]] and related services are stopped before continuing. Start the iwd service and restart NetworkManager:
{{Cmd|<noWiki># rc-service iwd start
# rc-service networkmanager restart</noWiki>}}

To use [[iwd]] as backend edit NetworkManager's configuration because it still defaults to [[Wi-Fi#wpa_supplicant|wpa_supplicant]]. Edit the file {{Path|/etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf}} and ensure that <code>[device]</code> section appears as follows: {{Cat|/etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf|[device]
wifi.backend{{=}}iwd}}

== VPN support ==

NetworkManager has support for Wireguard and support for other VPN's are provided by plugins in the following subpackage:
* {{Pkg|networkmanager-openvpn}} for OpenVPN

== Plasma support ==

{{Todo|([[KDE|KDE Plasma]] Desktop) find out if it is possible to prevent requesting the password for '''KDE Wallet''' on login}}
{{Todo|([[KDE|KDE Plasma]] Desktop) for autoconnect to wifi network on start, it appears that the "all users may connect to this network" option must be selected in settings, as root is not a choice to allow. There are likely better workarounds}}

== Troubleshooting ==

=== nm-applet not authorized to control networking ===

You can enable all users to edit connections without adding polkit.
First, make the <code>conf.d</code> directory for networkmanager:

{{Cmd|# mkdir -p /etc/NetworkManager/conf.d}}

Then, add following content to {{path|/etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/any-user.conf}} so that {{cat|/etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/any-user.conf|[main]
auth-polkit{{=}}false}}

Finally, restart networkmanager: {{Cmd|# rc-service networkmanager restart}}

== See also ==

* [[Configure Networking|Networking]] - Main page
* [[Wifi#wpa_supplicant|wpa_supplicant]] - Default wifi daemon
* [[Iwd|iwd]] - An alternate wifi daemon

[[Category:Networking]]