Chapter 2. Getting Started with NetworkManager

Making Network management easier: NetworkManager ensures that network connectivity works. When it detects that there is no network configuration in a system but there are network devices, NetworkManager creates temporary connections to provide connectivity.

Providing easy setup of connection to the user: NetworkManager offers management through different tools — GUI, nmtui, nmcli —. See Section 2.5, “NetworkManager Tools”.

Supporting configuration flexibility. For example, configuring a WiFi interface, NetworkManager scans and shows the available wifi networks. You can select an interface, and NetworkManager displays the required credentials providing automatic connection after the reboot process. NetworkManager can configure network aliases, IP addresses, static routes, DNS information, and VPN connections, as well as many connection-specific parameters. You can modify the configuration options to reflect your needs.

Offering an API through D-Bus which allows applications to query and control network configuration and state. In this way, applications can check or configure networking through D-BUS. For example, the web console interface, which monitors and configures servers through a web browser, uses the NetworkManager D-BUS interface to configure networking.

Maintaining the state of devices after the reboot process and taking over interfaces which are set into managed mode during restart.

Handling devices which are not explicitly set unmanaged but controlled manually by the user or another network service.