How can I prevent Network Manager from automatically enabling wireless?

genogebot · 07-07-2010, 05:32 AM

I'm running Linux Mint 9 with Gnome.

I don't want my wireless network card to be automatically enabled in Network Manager when I start my computer. I keep setting it to disabled in Network Manager but when I reboot Network Manager has re-enabled it again.

Is there some way of starting with wireless disabled until I tell Network Manager to enable it?

camorri · 07-07-2010, 05:47 AM

I'm running version 0.8. If you edit the wireless connection, there is a check box called Connect automatically. Uncheck that box for your wireless connection.

You should be able to have several network connections, and have none start automatically. Then choose the one you want depending on your location.

genogebot · 07-07-2010, 06:05 AM

camorri, thanks for your quick reply, but that's not what I was referring to. I'm not talking about preventing automatic connection to a network, I'm trying to stop the wireless card from being enabled at all.

In the Network Manager applet, there's an entry 'Enable Wireless' with a check mark next to it. I click on it to disable wireless, but each time I restart my computer it's enabled again. I want to prevent that from happening.

RockDoctor · 07-07-2010, 06:25 AM

From the GNOME menu: System->Preferences->Startup Applications then disable NetworkManager

genogebot · 07-07-2010, 06:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RockDoctor

From the GNOME menu: System->Preferences->Startup Applications then disable NetworkManager

Thanks. Will that still allow my wired network to connect automatically?

onebuck · 07-07-2010, 07:41 AM

Hi,

Quote:

Originally Posted by genogebot

Thanks. Will that still allow my wired network to connect automatically?

If you disable the Network Manager then I suggest the use of 'wicd';

Quote:

excerpt from 'wicd';

Wicd is an open source wired and wireless network manager for Linux which aims to provide a simple interface to connect to networks with a wide variety of settings.
Some of Wicd's features include:

A full-featured interactive console interface and graphical interface
No required graphical dependencies (ie, no X, Gnome, KDE)
GTK interface has no GNOME dependencies, so it can be used in XFCE, Fluxbox, Openbox, Enlightenment, etc.
Ability to connect to wired (Ethernet only, no PPPoE/DSL support yet) and wireless networks
Profiles for each wireless network and wired network
Many encryption schemes, some of which include WEP/WPA/WPA2 (and you can add your own)
Remains compatible with wireless-tools
Tray icon showing network activity and signal strength

wicd is a lot better therfore easier to use.

The above links and others can be found at 'Slackware-Links'. More than just Slackware® links!

genogebot · 07-07-2010, 08:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onebuck

If you disable the Network Manager then I suggest the use of 'wicd';

Thanks, I'll give wicd a try.

I've hunted around the Network Manager site and there doesn't seem to be a way to make it behave the way I want. Maybe I'll have more luck with wicd.