Chapter 38. NetworkManager connection profiles in keyfile format

Procedure

1. Create a new connection profile in the keyfile format. For example, for a connection profile of an Ethernet device that does not use DHCP, run a similar nmcli command:

   # nmcli --offline connection add type ethernet con-name Example-Connection ipv4.addresses 192.0.2.1/24 ipv4.dns 192.0.2.200 ipv4.method manual > /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/example.nmconnection

   Note

   The connection name you specified with the con-name key is saved into the id variable of the generated profile. When you use the nmcli command to manage this connection later, specify the connection as follows:

   • When the id variable is not omitted, use the connection name, for example Example-Connection.
   • When the id variable is omitted, use the file name without the .nmconnection suffix, for example output.

2. Set permissions to the configuration file so that only the root user can read and update it:

   # chmod 600 /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/example.nmconnection
   # chown root:root /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/example.nmconnection

3. Start the NetworkManager service:

   # systemctl start NetworkManager.service

4. If you set the autoconnect variable in the profile to false, activate the connection:

   # nmcli connection up Example-Connection

Verification

1. Verify that the NetworkManager service is running:

   # systemctl status NetworkManager.service
   ● NetworkManager.service - Network Manager
      Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/NetworkManager.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
      Active: active (running) since Wed 2022-08-03 13:08:32 CEST; 1min 40s ago
   ...

2. Verify that NetworkManager can read the profile from the configuration file:

   # nmcli -f TYPE,FILENAME,NAME connection
   TYPE      FILENAME                                                     NAME
   ethernet /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/examaple.nmconnection Example-Connection
   ethernet  /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-enp1s0                  enp1s0
   ...

   If the output does not show the newly created connection, verify that the keyfile permissions and the syntax you used are correct.

3. Display the connection profile:

   # nmcli connection show Example-Connection
   connection.id:                          Example-Connection
   connection.uuid:                        232290ce-5225-422a-9228-cb83b22056b4
   connection.stable-id:                   --
   connection.type:                        802-3-ethernet
   connection.interface-name:              --
   connection.autoconnect:                 yes
   ...

Procedure

1. Create a connection profile. For example, for a connection profile for the enp1s0 Ethernet device that uses DHCP, create the /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/example.nmconnection file with the following content:

   [connection]
   id=Example-Connection
   type=ethernet
   autoconnect=true
   interface-name=enp1s0
   
   [ipv4]
   method=auto
   
   [ipv6]
   method=auto

   Note

   You can use any file name with a .nmconnection suffix. However, when you later use nmcli commands to manage the connection, you must use the connection name set in the id variable when you refer to this connection. When you omit the id variable, use the file name without the .nmconnection to refer to this connection.

2. Set permissions on the configuration file so that only the root user can read and update it:

   # chown root:root /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/example.nmconnection
   # chmod 600 /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/example.nmconnection

3. Reload the connection profiles:

   # nmcli connection reload

4. Verify that NetworkManager read the profile from the configuration file:

   # nmcli -f NAME,UUID,FILENAME connection
   NAME                UUID                                  FILENAME
   Example-Connection  86da2486-068d-4d05-9ac7-957ec118afba  /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/example.nmconnection
   ...

   If the command does not show the newly added connection, verify that the file permissions and the syntax you used in the file are correct.

5. If you set the autoconnect variable in the profile to false, activate the connection:

   # nmcli connection up example_connection