Just a question, what kind of VPN are you using? I tried to connect to the router at work which uses L2TP, but struggled with it to the point where I gave up and installed Windows in a VM (under VirtualBox) and use that to log in instead.

For me rc.inet1.conf in combination with a wpa_supplicant.conf, which I copy from machine to machine, works quite well on laptops. Whenever I'm on a new wifi I just add a block to wpa_supplicant.conf. The only thing I have to do manually which is a bit of a hassle is connecting to open, unencrypted networks. However, I try to keep these occasions down to a minimum anyway.

I find it much more difficult to move connection details from one machine to another using Network-Manager. But I guess I'm just too stupid to handle anything which is not in a plain, obvious text file.

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I use NetworkManager because it is already installed.

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"plain, obvious text file"s like those in /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections ?

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Yep, that's about what I was looking for. I usually have a hard time finding those files if I didn't edit them by hand. But then, I usually also have a hard time finding my keys every morning...

I use NetworkManager. It comes by default and gets the job done.

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To turn on laptop WiFi, I run a script that calls ifconfig, iwconfig, wpa_supplicant, and dhclient. This works well when there is only one access point to connect to.
Ed

Well for the server I use the wired method I have used forever, while on the laptop I use to use wicd until network manager was brought in. When I go to the new release I will probably go with network manager even on the server. When the router looses power NM will auto reconnect. Sometimes around 5 or 6 AM power drops for 1 to 2 minutes, thus the router reboot.

i like both for different reasons, with Network Manager i could have two connections going at the same time one wifi and one ethernet,

with wicd it will run a script either before it connects or disconnects or after it connects or disconnects, look in /etc/wicd there are subfolders to put executable scripts

Sorry, been offline for a bit...

My work-vpn connects via a cisco-router, for which I need vpnc (on SBo).
Otherwise, I use openvpn (via my home-router with dd-wrt). Both can be used with nm-plugins (which is at the moment are not working) from SBo.

Did you see this post:
how-to-set-up-a-ipsec-l2tp-vpn-client-in-slackware

hth

rob

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used to use Wicd
switched to Network Manager (voted for it in this pool too)
on my "daily driver" laptop i switched to wpa_supplicant due to an odd issue with the current AP in my home.
It takes a while to connect at times, but does so flawlessly and i never fails.

On travel i 100% would switch to NM.

So there is that

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I prefer WICD when dealing with wireless networks. However, I am known to just use NetworkManager anyway when everything is working all on it's own.
I think WICD is far easier to get up and running when dealing with problematic access points or wireless adapters.

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You don't need wicd or NM at all. wpa_gui -t in KDE autostart is more than enough for laptops. wpa_gui is part of wpa_supplicant package, so, you don't have to install any other packages to get full-featured GUI for fast and comfortable WiFi usage on laptop.

Don't forget to add something like
to wpa_supplicant.conf to allow running wpa_gui as user. Your user have to be in group used for ctrl_interface_group setting.

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Yikes, Thanks Stanson !

I've got to try this out with my nasty HOME AP that only works with wicd !

-- kjh

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Hi,

I like to use in wpa_supplicant.conf; That way I have control and anyone that tries to use my laptop must have the 'root' password'. Most won't even try to use my personal laptop but just in case.

Each too his/her own!
Hope this helps.
Have fun & enjoy!

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