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Contributor snadrus on Network Manager

support VPN out of the box  
Written by nd_ea the 2 Nov 08 at 13:17. Implemented
in intrepid there is a VPN tab in the network manager, but all options are greyed out.

you have to download the vpn packages in synaptic.
...before you can connect to the internet, makes you feel a little mocked :-/

i think, the fact that in some cases you need those packages (network-manager-pptp, pptp-linux) to get ANY other package, increases its priority to be installed out of the box.

..unless i am wrong: is VPN so rarely used, or is there any proprietary code involved that keeps it from being included?
55
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#1): Auto-generated solution of idea #15140
Written by nd_ea the 2 Nov 08 at 13:17.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #15140 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!
407
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#2): Auto Install VPN Protocols When Needed
Written by Bender2k14 the 27 Jul 09 at 18:10.
Make the "Add" button clickable and populate the dropdown menu with every possible protocol, even it is not installed. If the users selects a protocol that is not installed, then first start a process to install the necessary packages and restart the network manager.
142
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#3): Have a message showing that a protocol needs to be installed.
Written by alourie the 28 Jul 09 at 08:37.
As a short-term solution, it can be a message in the VPN tab main window, saying something in lines of:

"You currently have no VPN protocols installed. In order to be able to create a VPN connection, install protocol package first. Click here for more information".
-1
votes
implemented
Selected solution (#4): Pre-defined configurations
Written by Baransels the 9 Nov 09 at 17:58.
let there be predefined configuration files for known VPN providers, users can download them and execute them with one click... presto!

it automatically installs required VPN Protocol(s) and configures.

if you are connecting your workplace you can ask your tech guy to make such a file for you


See the 15 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 29 May 12 at 12:00) >>

Terminal interface for NetworkManager  
Written by komputes the 20 Jul 11 at 16:58. New
The problem:
Users need a simple way to connect to a wireless network from the command line.

iwconfig is too difficult for average human beings. Using and understanding wpa-supplicant adds to the confusion.

The process of connecting to a wireless network from the command line takes a long time time.

Use case: Steve can't connect to his wireless network from recovery mode since he does not have a wired connection available, "netroot" recovery script only works on ethernet. "dpkg" recovery script is unable to do any updates.
43
votes
up equal down
Solution #1: Develop network-manager curses interface
Written by komputes the 20 Jul 11 at 16:58.
Implement a the text console n-curses interface for NetworkManager.

nmcli and cnetworkmanager are good (command line) examples of how to hook into the network manager service through dbus so that you do not depend on glib gui. It's possible to use this on the back end and ncurses on front end.


Example of similar project wicd-curses:
http://screenshots.debian.net/screenshots/w/wicd-curses/6109_large.png

Similar request from networkmanager-list (gnome mailing list):
http://www.mail-archive.com/networkmanager-list@gnome.org/msg14281.html
26
votes
up equal down
Solution #2: Add connection creation capabilities to nmcli
Written by mtrudel the 20 Jul 11 at 17:08.
nmcli already handles most things to bring up or down existing connections or list available wifi networks, but lacks the capability to create a new connection to a wifi network.

This should probably be added to offer a simple and quick way of connecting to an arbitrary wifi network.
-5
votes
up equal down
Solution #3: Develop a separate tool with curses interface and extend nmcli
Written by Ivo Georgiev the 30 Jul 11 at 23:06.
Develop another tool with a curses interface, similar to the WICD one, and don't include it by default in the distribution.
In the same time, include an extended nmcli in the distribution that works only by commands without heavy to implement curses interfaces.
8
votes
up equal down
Solution #4: Extend the solution to work for VPN connections
Written by mydoghasworms the 9 Aug 11 at 18:47.
I find the same problem with VPN. In the default Lubuntu/LXDE desktop for example, I have not seen a network manager tool that allows me to connect to my VPN, and my second choice would have been a command line tool.

See the 2 comments or propose a solution (latest comment the 14 Mar 12 at 15:21) >>