[gentoo-user] NetworkManager OK? kNetworkManager broken? Wireless setup very confusing...

[gentoo-user] NetworkManager OK? kNetworkManager broken? Wireless setup very confusing...

[Darren Kirby]

Hello all,

Getting very frustrated here. Trying to put the finishing touches on a
new laptop install. I have verified using the CLI that both wired and
wireless networking works fine when I configure manually. As with most
laptops, I would imagine, I will be switching locations often, and
switching between several different networks both wired and wireless.
I thought the thing to do would be to install a slick gui to take care
of this. To that end I installed NetworkManager, and KNetworkManager
as a front-end as I use a KDE desktop. As far as I can tell Network
Manager is working fine, I followed the instructions for setup from
the wiki here[0] and here[1], and it does seem to setup a wired
connection on eth0 just fine. However, I am getting an error upon
trying to start Knetworkmanager:

" KNetworkManager can not start because the installation is misconfigured.
 System DBUS policy does not allow it to provide user settings.
 contact your system administrator or distribution.
 KNetworkManager will not start automatically in future."

Not sure why, as per the wiki I added:

<policy group="plugdev">
    <allow send_destination="org.freedesktop.NetworkManager"/>

    <allow send_destination="org.freedesktop.NetworkManager"
           send_interface="org.freedesktop.NetworkManager"/>
</policy>

to /etc/dbus-1/system.d/NetworkManager.conf, and added my user to
plugdev group. Is there something else I'm missing? I'm unsure how to
further troubleshoot. I also tried the NetworkManager plasmoid for
kde, but that is just bombing with a bunch off error messages I can't
read in the 'connections' window.

I am wondering if I should just uninstall KNetworkManager, and try
nm-applet? Will that even work on a KDE desktop? Will it require
installing boatloads of gnome crap I don't want? Should I chuck the
whole works and use Wicd?

At this point I'd be happy with pretty much any solution that just
works, I've wasted the better half of the day on this and I'm starting
to think I should just stick to using the CLI...this frustration just
isn't worth it.

Do any of you folks out there have an easy, simple solution to
configuring wireless that you like? I'm open to any ideas.

[0] http://en.gentoo-wiki.com/wiki/NetworkManager
[1] http://en.gentoo-wiki.com/wiki/KNetworkManager
--
Support the mob or mysteriously disappear...
I'm on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/

Re: [gentoo-user] NetworkManager OK? kNetworkManager broken? Wireless setup very confusing...

[Bill Kenworthy]

Gentoo networking is a bit on the wild side - it doesnt seem to work
nicely with third party tools without a lot of work.

My fix was to manually configure each location (and a couple of general
ones such as wifi hotspot, and basic wired dhcp) as I came across them
and copy the resulting config files to separate directories.  Then when
I need to return to a location I just copy the matching set of files
back and restart services.  Allows a "profile" based approach based on
site - some need different screen resolutions, apache or bind running,
external projector, firewall settings for VoIP or not and so on - all
able to be scripted.

Very flexible as I control it with a shell script linked to a gtkdialog
for site selection one click to open dialog, second click selects site.
I have decided not to automate site selection (such as netwwork
detection on cable plugin) as I wanted control :)

So my reccomendation is forget networkmanager (particularly that heap
of !#$#%$@) and the like and roll your own.

BillK



On Thu, 2010-09-30 at 18:37 -0600, Darren Kirby wrote:
> Hello all,
> 
> Getting very frustrated here. Trying to put the finishing touches on a
> new laptop install. I have verified using the CLI that both wired and
> wireless networking works fine when I configure manually. As with most
> laptops, I would imagine, I will be switching locations often, and
> switching between several different networks both wired and wireless.
> I thought the thing to do would be to install a slick gui to take care
> of this. To that end I installed NetworkManager, and KNetworkManager
> as a front-end as I use a KDE desktop. As far as I can tell Network
> Manager is working fine, I followed the instructions for setup from
> the wiki here[0] and here[1], and it does seem to setup a wired
> connection on eth0 just fine. However, I am getting an error upon
> trying to start Knetworkmanager:
> 
> " KNetworkManager can not start because the installation is misconfigured.
>  System DBUS policy does not allow it to provide user settings.
>  contact your system administrator or distribution.
>  KNetworkManager will not start automatically in future."
> 
> Not sure why, as per the wiki I added:
> 
> <policy group="plugdev">
>     <allow send_destination="org.freedesktop.NetworkManager"/>
> 
>     <allow send_destination="org.freedesktop.NetworkManager"
>            send_interface="org.freedesktop.NetworkManager"/>
> </policy>
> 
> to /etc/dbus-1/system.d/NetworkManager.conf, and added my user to
> plugdev group. Is there something else I'm missing? I'm unsure how to
> further troubleshoot. I also tried the NetworkManager plasmoid for
> kde, but that is just bombing with a bunch off error messages I can't
> read in the 'connections' window.
> 
> I am wondering if I should just uninstall KNetworkManager, and try
> nm-applet? Will that even work on a KDE desktop? Will it require
> installing boatloads of gnome crap I don't want? Should I chuck the
> whole works and use Wicd?
> 
> At this point I'd be happy with pretty much any solution that just
> works, I've wasted the better half of the day on this and I'm starting
> to think I should just stick to using the CLI...this frustration just
> isn't worth it.
> 
> Do any of you folks out there have an easy, simple solution to
> configuring wireless that you like? I'm open to any ideas.
> 
> [0] http://en.gentoo-wiki.com/wiki/NetworkManager
> [1] http://en.gentoo-wiki.com/wiki/KNetworkManager
> --
> Support the mob or mysteriously disappear...
> I'm on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/
> 

Re: [gentoo-user] NetworkManager OK? kNetworkManager broken? Wireless setup very confusing...

[Canek Peláez Valdés]

On Thu, Sep 30, 2010 at 7:37 PM, Darren Kirby <bulliver@gmail.com> wrote:
[...]
> I am wondering if I should just uninstall KNetworkManager, and try
> nm-applet? Will that even work on a KDE desktop? Will it require
> installing boatloads of gnome crap I don't want? Should I chuck the
> whole works and use Wicd?

I don't know about KNetworkManager, but nm-applet under GNOME works
flawless and without need of any configuration. You just need to
disable the Gentoo network scripts (with RC_PLUG_SERVICES="!net.*" in
/etc/conf.d/rc) and off you go. No need to change any other
configuration file.

As I understand, nm-applet uses the Freedesktop standar for
notification areas, so it should work with KDE. It will pull part of
the GNOME stack, obviously, but is really minimal:

RDEPEND=">=dev-libs/glib-2.16
        >=dev-libs/dbus-glib-0.74
        >=sys-apps/dbus-1.2
        >=x11-libs/gtk+-2.14
        >=gnome-base/gconf-2.20
        >=gnome-extra/polkit-gnome-0.92
        >=x11-libs/libnotify-0.4.3
        >=gnome-base/libglade-2
        >=gnome-base/gnome-keyring-2.20

        >=dev-libs/libnl-1.1
        >=net-misc/networkmanager-${PV}
        >=net-wireless/wireless-tools-28_pre9
        >=net-wireless/wpa_supplicant-0.5.7
        net-misc/mobile-broadband-provider-info
        bluetooth? ( >=net-wireless/gnome-bluetooth-2.27.6 )"

And probably you already have most of those packages.

I used to have my own scripts and utilities, and back in the day I
knew wpa_supplicant like the palm of my hand. Now not so much; it's
not worth it. The GUI utilities (or at least those from GNOME, which
is my preferred desktop) never really fail any more.

Regards.
-- 
Canek Peláez Valdés
Instituto de Matemáticas
Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

Re: [gentoo-user] NetworkManager OK? kNetworkManager broken? Wireless setup very confusing...

[Darren Kirby]

Hey Bill,

On Thu, Sep 30, 2010 at 7:13 PM, Bill Kenworthy <billk@iinet.net.au> wrote:
> Gentoo networking is a bit on the wild side - it doesnt seem to work
> nicely with third party tools without a lot of work.
>
> My fix was to manually configure each location (and a couple of general
> ones such as wifi hotspot, and basic wired dhcp) as I came across them
> and copy the resulting config files to separate directories.  Then when
> I need to return to a location I just copy the matching set of files
> back and restart services.  Allows a "profile" based approach based on
> site - some need different screen resolutions, apache or bind running,
> external projector, firewall settings for VoIP or not and so on - all
> able to be scripted.

So are you saying you are writing configs in the normal gentoo
/etc/conf.d/net format? Not sure I'm following you here...

> Very flexible as I control it with a shell script linked to a gtkdialog
> for site selection one click to open dialog, second click selects site.
> I have decided not to automate site selection (such as netwwork
> detection on cable plugin) as I wanted control :)
>
> So my reccomendation is forget networkmanager (particularly that heap
> of !#$#%$@) and the like and roll your own.
>
> BillK
>

Yeah...starting to think that myself. I think conf.d/net allows you to
write separate configs based on essid, so perhaps I'll just go with
that. I'm sure I'll be using the same core group of APs a good 80% or
so of the time, it will just be annoying to have to scan and configure
manually the other 20%...

Perhaps I'll give Wicd a shot, if if no joy there just stick to what I
know and do it on the CLI...

Thanks,

D
--
Support the mob or mysteriously disappear...
I'm on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/

Re: [gentoo-user] NetworkManager OK? kNetworkManager broken? Wireless setup very confusing...

[Bill Kenworthy]

No I am saying create a unique /etc/conf./net, hosts file, bind files,
firewall files (shorewall in my
case), /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf and anything else that
has a unique setup per site and put them together in another directory.

I have tried putting everything in the net file in the past but its just
too complex once you get beyond a few sites, and many things wont fit
anyway.  Ive learnt that its best to simplify - let each part of the
process do one thing only.  You have less failures when you go into a
lecture/demo/site when all eyes are on you :) - and easier to fix
quickly, especially when the local IT services decides to change the
topology/settings without telling you!

Its a lot more complex in my case because of the number and complexity
of sites - VPN's at some, local routing, non-local routing,
private/public addressing, and in one case a site required cisco VPN
over wifi with an OpenVPN running through it to my office connecting
across a private addressed WAN to a asterisk VoIP.

You can do almost anything ...

BillK

On Thu, 2010-09-30 at 20:17 -0600, Darren Kirby wrote:
> Hey Bill,
> 
> On Thu, Sep 30, 2010 at 7:13 PM, Bill Kenworthy <billk@iinet.net.au> wrote:
> > Gentoo networking is a bit on the wild side - it doesnt seem to work
> > nicely with third party tools without a lot of work.
> >
> > My fix was to manually configure each location (and a couple of general
> > ones such as wifi hotspot, and basic wired dhcp) as I came across them
> > and copy the resulting config files to separate directories.  Then when
> > I need to return to a location I just copy the matching set of files
> > back and restart services.  Allows a "profile" based approach based on
> > site - some need different screen resolutions, apache or bind running,
> > external projector, firewall settings for VoIP or not and so on - all
> > able to be scripted.
> 
> So are you saying you are writing configs in the normal gentoo
> /etc/conf.d/net format? Not sure I'm following you here...
> 
> > Very flexible as I control it with a shell script linked to a gtkdialog
> > for site selection one click to open dialog, second click selects site.
> > I have decided not to automate site selection (such as netwwork
> > detection on cable plugin) as I wanted control :)
> >
> > So my reccomendation is forget networkmanager (particularly that heap
> > of !#$#%$@) and the like and roll your own.
> >
> > BillK
> >
> 
> Yeah...starting to think that myself. I think conf.d/net allows you to
> write separate configs based on essid, so perhaps I'll just go with
> that. I'm sure I'll be using the same core group of APs a good 80% or
> so of the time, it will just be annoying to have to scan and configure
> manually the other 20%...
> 
> Perhaps I'll give Wicd a shot, if if no joy there just stick to what I
> know and do it on the CLI...
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> D
> --
> Support the mob or mysteriously disappear...
> I'm on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/
> 

Re: [gentoo-user] NetworkManager OK? kNetworkManager broken? Wireless setup very confusing...

[Darren Kirby]

On Thu, Sep 30, 2010 at 8:16 PM, Canek Peláez Valdés <caneko@gmail.com> wrote:
> On Thu, Sep 30, 2010 at 7:37 PM, Darren Kirby <bulliver@gmail.com> wrote:
> [...]
>> I am wondering if I should just uninstall KNetworkManager, and try
>> nm-applet? Will that even work on a KDE desktop? Will it require
>> installing boatloads of gnome crap I don't want? Should I chuck the
>> whole works and use Wicd?
>
> I don't know about KNetworkManager, but nm-applet under GNOME works
> flawless and without need of any configuration. You just need to
> disable the Gentoo network scripts (with RC_PLUG_SERVICES="!net.*" in
> /etc/conf.d/rc) and off you go. No need to change any other
> configuration file.

I did already edit RC_PLUG_SERVICES to override udev...

I guess it works fine without configuration for everyone but me...I get this:

** (nm-applet:24816): WARNING **: <WARN>  request_name(): Could not
acquire the NetworkManagerUserSettings service.
  Error: (9) Connection ":1.35" is not allowed to own the service
"org.freedesktop.NetworkManagerUserSettings" due to security policies
in the configuration file

So then I add this:

        <policy group="plugdev">
                <allow send_destination="org.freedesktop.NetworkManager"/>

                <allow send_destination="org.freedesktop.NetworkManager"
                       send_interface="org.freedesktop.NetworkManager"/>
        </policy>

to /etc/dbus-1/system.d/nm-applet.conf but it still doesn't work. I
don't even know if that's right, I know nothing of writing dbus policy
rules. You say you didn't have to configure anything?  I don't know,
it says 'WARNING' rather than error, but 'ps' shows no nm-applet
running. Is it just supposed to show up on the panel or what?


> As I understand, nm-applet uses the Freedesktop standar for
> notification areas, so it should work with KDE. It will pull part of
> the GNOME stack, obviously, but is really minimal:
>
> RDEPEND=">=dev-libs/glib-2.16
>        >=dev-libs/dbus-glib-0.74
>        >=sys-apps/dbus-1.2
>        >=x11-libs/gtk+-2.14
>        >=gnome-base/gconf-2.20
>        >=gnome-extra/polkit-gnome-0.92
>        >=x11-libs/libnotify-0.4.3
>        >=gnome-base/libglade-2
>        >=gnome-base/gnome-keyring-2.20
>
>        >=dev-libs/libnl-1.1
>        >=net-misc/networkmanager-${PV}
>        >=net-wireless/wireless-tools-28_pre9
>        >=net-wireless/wpa_supplicant-0.5.7
>        net-misc/mobile-broadband-provider-info
>        bluetooth? ( >=net-wireless/gnome-bluetooth-2.27.6 )"
>
> And probably you already have most of those packages.

Yes, I only had to install 8 new ones.

> I used to have my own scripts and utilities, and back in the day I
> knew wpa_supplicant like the palm of my hand. Now not so much; it's
> not worth it. The GUI utilities (or at least those from GNOME, which
> is my preferred desktop) never really fail any more.
>
> Regards.
> --
> Canek Peláez Valdés
> Instituto de Matemáticas
> Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
>
>

Still frustrated that not a damn thing seems to work,
D
-- 
--
Support the mob or mysteriously disappear...
I'm on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/

[gentoo-user] [SOLVED]Re: NetworkManager OK? kNetworkManager broken? Wireless setup very confusing...

[Darren Kirby]

Right, so I uninstalled nm-applet, NetworkManager and all that,
emerged wicd, and bam...everything Just Worked.

Going to stick with wicd for now. Thanks for the replys all...

D
--
Support the mob or mysteriously disappear...
I'm on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/

Re: [gentoo-user] NetworkManager OK? kNetworkManager broken? Wireless setup very confusing...

[Alan McKinnon]

[-- Attachment #1: Type: text/plain, Size: 2552 bytes --]

Dump NetworkManager.
Use wicd.
All these issues just GoAway(tm) with wicd
> Hello all,
>
> Getting very frustrated here. Trying to put the finishing touches on a
> new laptop install. I have verified using the CLI that both wired and
> wireless networking works fine when I configure manually. As with most
> laptops, I would imagine, I will be switching locations often, and
> switching between several different networks both wired and wireless.
> I thought the thing to do would be to install a slick gui to take care
> of this. To that end I installed NetworkManager, and KNetworkManager
> as a front-end as I use a KDE desktop. As far as I can tell Network
> Manager is working fine, I followed the instructions for setup from
> the wiki here[0] and here[1], and it does seem to setup a wired
> connection on eth0 just fine. However, I am getting an error upon
> trying to start Knetworkmanager:
>
> " KNetworkManager can not start because the installation is misconfigured.
> System DBUS policy does not allow it to provide user settings.
> contact your system administrator or distribution.
> KNetworkManager will not start automatically in future."
>
> Not sure why, as per the wiki I added:
>
> <policy group="plugdev">
> <allow send_destination="org.freedesktop.NetworkManager"/>
>
> <allow send_destination="org.freedesktop.NetworkManager"
> send_interface="org.freedesktop.NetworkManager"/>
> </policy>
>
> to /etc/dbus-1/system.d/NetworkManager.conf, and added my user to
> plugdev group. Is there something else I'm missing? I'm unsure how to
> further troubleshoot. I also tried the NetworkManager plasmoid for
> kde, but that is just bombing with a bunch off error messages I can't
> read in the 'connections' window.
>
> I am wondering if I should just uninstall KNetworkManager, and try
> nm-applet? Will that even work on a KDE desktop? Will it require
> installing boatloads of gnome crap I don't want? Should I chuck the
> whole works and use Wicd?
>
> At this point I'd be happy with pretty much any solution that just
> works, I've wasted the better half of the day on this and I'm starting
> to think I should just stick to using the CLI...this frustration just
> isn't worth it.
>
> Do any of you folks out there have an easy, simple solution to
> configuring wireless that you like? I'm open to any ideas.
>
> [0] http://en.gentoo-wiki.com/wiki/NetworkManager
> [1] http://en.gentoo-wiki.com/wiki/KNetworkManager
> --
> Support the mob or mysteriously disappear...
> I'm on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/
>

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Re: [gentoo-user] NetworkManager OK? kNetworkManager broken? Wireless setup very confusing...

[Darren Kirby]

On Thu, Sep 30, 2010 at 11:22 PM, Alan McKinnon <alan.mckinnon@gmail.com> wrote:
> Dump NetworkManager.
> Use wicd.
> All these issues just GoAway(tm) with wicd

Thanks Alan, I've just realized that. Wish I could get the last 10
hours back though :)

D
-- 
--
Support the mob or mysteriously disappear...
I'm on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/badcomputer/

Re: [gentoo-user] NetworkManager OK? kNetworkManager broken? Wireless setup very confusing...

[Neil Bothwick]

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On Fri, 01 Oct 2010 09:13:41 +0800, Bill Kenworthy wrote:

> Gentoo networking is a bit on the wild side - it doesnt seem to work
> nicely with third party tools without a lot of work.

Nor should it - you either let baselayout manage the networking
interfaces or another program. Letting two systems fight over control
over the interface is asking for problems.


-- 
Neil Bothwick

Joystick: (n.) a device essential for performing business tasks and
training exercises esp. favored by pilots, tank commanders, riverboat
          gamblers, and medieval warlords.

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