Novell LINUX ENTERPRISE SERVER 10 - INSTALLATION AND ADMINISTRATION 11-05-2007 Installation Manual page 597

the network configuration with YaST in Section 30.4, "Configuring a Network Connec-
tion with YaST" (page 560) and Section 29.1, "Wireless LAN" (page 529). Configure
supported wireless cards directly in NetworkManager.
To configure NetworkManager, use NetworkManager applets. KDE and GNOME each
have their own applets for NetworkManager. An appropriate applet should start auto-
matically with the desktop environment. The applet is then shown as an icon in the
system tray. The functions of the applets are similar, but their interfaces are a little
different. They can also be used in other graphical environments with standard system
tray support.
30.5.1 Differences between ifup and
NetworkManager
If you use NetworkManager for network setup, you can easily switch, stop, or start
your network connection at any time from within your desktop environment using an
applet. NetworkManager also makes it possible to change and configure wireless card
connections without requiring root privileges. For this reason, NetworkManager is
the ideal solution for a mobile workstation.
Traditional configuration with ifup also provides some ways to switch, stop, or start
the connection with or without user intervention, like user-managed devices, but it always
requires root privileges to change or configure a network device. This is often a
problem for mobile computing, where is not possible to preconfigure all connection
possibilities.
Both traditional configuration and NetworkManager can handle network connections
with a wireless network (with WEP, WPA-PSK, and WPA-Enterprise access), dial-up,
and wired networks both using DHCP and static configuration. They also support con-
nection through VPN.
NetworkManager tries to keep your computer connected at all times using the best
connection available. If available, it uses the fastest wired connection. If the network
cable is accidentally disconnected, it tries to reconnect. It can find a network with the
best signal strength from the list of your wireless connections and automatically use it
to connect. To get the same functionality with ifup, a great deal of configuration effort
is required.
Basic Networking 579