Beyond Linux® From Scratch - Version 7.7

Chapter 16. Networking Utilities

NetworkManager-1.0.0

Introduction to NetworkManager

NetworkManager is a set of co-operative tools that make networking simple and straightforward. Whether WiFi, wired, 3G, or Bluetooth, NetworkManager allows you to quickly move from one network to another: Once a network has been configured and joined once, it can be detected and re-joined automatically the next time it's available.

This package is known to build and work properly using an LFS-7.7 platform.

Package Information

NetworkManager Dependencies

Required

dbus-glib-0.104, libndp-1.4, libnl-3.2.25, NSS-3.17.4, (or GnuTLS-3.3.12), and udev-extras (from eudev) (for GUdev)

Recommended

ConsoleKit-0.4.6, dhcpcd-6.7.1 or DHCP-4.3.1 (client only), gobject-introspection-1.42.0, Iptables-1.4.21, libsoup-2.48.1, newt-0.52.18 (for nmtui), Polkit-0.112, UPower-0.9.23, and Vala-0.26.2

Optional

BlueZ-5.28, GTK-Doc-1.21, Qt-4.8.6, Valgrind-3.10.1, wpa_supplicant-2.3 (built with D-Bus support), libteam, and ModemManager,

User Notes: http://wiki.linuxfromscratch.org/blfs/wiki/NetworkManager

Installation of NetworkManager

If Qt-4.8.6 and Qt-5.4.0 are installed, you need to choose Qt4 with source setqt4, before starting. Install NetworkManager by running the following commands: 

./configure --prefix=/usr        \
            --sysconfdir=/etc    \
            --localstatedir=/var \
            --with-nmtui         \
            --disable-ppp        \
            --with-systemdsystemunitdir=no \
            --docdir=/usr/share/doc/network-manager-1.0.0 &&
make

An already active graphical session with bus address is necessary to run the tests. To test the results, issue: make check.

Now, as the root user: 

make install

Command Explanations

--with-nmtui: This parameter enables build of nmtui.

--with-systemdsystemunitdir=no: This parameter is used for sysv init systems. If you use systemd, replace "no" by the proper directory.

--disable-ppp: This parameter disables parameteral PPP support in NetworkManager.

--enable-gtk-doc: Use this switch if you have installed GTK-Doc-1.21 and wish to build the API manuals.

--without-iptables: Use this switch if you don't have Iptables installed.

Configuring NetworkManager

Config Files

/etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf

Configuration Information

For NetworkManager to work, at least minimal configuration file must be present. Such file is not installed with make install. Issue following command as the root user to create minimal NetworkManager.conf file: 

cat >> /etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf << "EOF"
[main]
plugins=keyfile
EOF

You can add dns=none to suppress changes to /etc/resolv.conf. See man 5 NetworkManager.conf for any additional options.

Boot Script

To automatically start the NetworkManager daemon when the system is rebooted, install the /etc/rc.d/init.d/networkmanager bootscript from the blfs-bootscripts-20150304 package. 

make install-networkmanager

Contents

Installed Programs: NetworkManager, nm-avahi-autoipd.action, nm-dhcp-helper, nm-dispatcher, nm-iface-helper, nm-online, nmcli, and, hardlinked to each other: nmtui, nmtui-connect, nmtui-edit and nmtui-hostname
Installed Libraries: libnm.so, libnm-glib.so, libnm-glib-vpn.so, libnm-util.so, and modules under /usr/lib/NetworkManager
Installed Directories: /etc/NetworkManager, /usr/include/{libnm,libnm-glib,NetworkManager}, /usr/lib/NetworkManager, /usr/share/doc/NetworkManager-1.0.0, /usr/share/gtk-doc/html/{libnm,libnm-glib,libnm-util,NetworkManager}, and /var/{lib,run}/NetworkManager

Short Descriptions

nmcli

is a command-line tool for controlling NetworkManager and getting its status.

nm-online

is a utility to find out whether you are online.

nmtui

interactive ncurses based interface for nmcli.

nmtui-connect

interactive ncurses based interface connection activate/deactivate.

nmtui-edit

interactive ncurses based interface connection editor.

nmtui-hostname

interactive ncurses based interface hostname editor.

NetworkManager

is the network management daemon.

libnm-glib.so

contains functions used by NetworkManager.

libnm-glib-vpn.so

contains functions used by NetworkManager VPN plugins.

libnm-util.so

contains functions used by NetworkManager utils.

Last updated on 2015-03-01 17:45:33 -0800