Slackware 14.0: setting up NetworkManager
 

Hi,

I'm just installing Slackware 14.0 on my old Panasonic Toughbook (replacing Slackware 13.37).

During setup, I opted for NetworkManager, and I am now confronted with the following message:

I suggest adding at least Xfce to the list of desktops.

Cheers,

Niki

There is an Xfce4 session offered in the login dialog box. Hit the UP arrow. You can use that. Or you may have it as your default WM this way--

Do these:

1. Bring the init back to run level 3 by hitting CTL+ALT+F3, on the shell login as root and issue this command:

Wait until you are brought again to a shell login. This time login as your regular $USER name and password and issue this:

Now choose Xfce4 and hit OK. Upon the close of the dialogue box issue startx again.

Now you may configure your Xfce4 DE.

That's for the DE question.

If you do not want to use the KDE network manager (I don't use it too. I don't use network managers. Only the shell.) You may install WICD Network Manager from the Slackware 14 install CD or DVD. It is located at /slackware/extras. You can cd into it and use ~# installpkg command <very easy though> but be sure to read the README file included in the /extras/wicd folder, by cursory reading I remember there is specific instruction to turn OFF something before using wicd. Just go there and good luck.

Hope that helps.

m.m.

maybe a little bit off topic, but does anyone who uses Slackware actually prefer the nebulous feel of Network Manager to the simple and precise WICD? When I started with linux using Ubuntu derivatives the thing I hated most was trying to get NM to do what I wanted it to do. When I discovered WICD it was a revelation. Want your network config gui to work? Use WICD. Want to get hairline cracks in your skull? Use Network Manager. Ouch.

Just my experience..

Ahz

@malekmustag: thanks for your detailed answer, but that wasn't the question. I wasn't talking about xwmconfig.

@ahzthecat: Tried wicd and NetworkManager on 13.37 on my laptop. Wicd kept disconnecting me every 30 seconds, NetworkManager worked perfectly. NetworkManager also works perfectly on the newly installed 14.0.

A brief summary of points of difference that I have observed between Wicd and NetworkManager.
As I use a USB modem on my netbook, then I like NetworkManager for that.
On this netbook, I have been using WindowMaker as my main window manager. To get 'nm-applet' to run, I needed to install 'wmsystemtray' from SlackBuilds.

I prefer the handling of post-connect scripts in Wicd to the need to setup scripts in /etc/NetworkManager/dispatcher.d/ for NetworkManager e.g. https://www.linuxquestions.org/quest...1/#post4579765

I also prefer the CLI interface to Wicd over the CLI interface to NetworkManager.

I also suffer from frequent disconnections when I use WICD, but only on some wireless routers. My main home router is working fine with WICD and Slack 13.37. When I do the upgrade to Slack 14.0 I will no doubt try out Network Manager since I have never managed to get to the bottom of the occasional WICD problems.

Ah yes sorry. I truly missed that point. I thought there was a problem, but as I gave additional moments of thought yes you are making suggestion.

I think the install script <authored by the distro, probably by Pat himself> cannot in any way offer an Xfce4 choice at current version SW 14 && Xfce4. For unlike KDE and Gnome the Xfce does not implement any widget or NM. <One thing I like with Xfce is that it doesn't intrude so much at my idiosyncrasy yet offers greater speed and power of configuration.>

Goodluck.

My experience was just the opposite and similar to what kikinovak described, but on two different boxes in two different locations, with 3 different ISPs. The problems had to be with wicd, not networkmanager.

I used to use wvdial for my mobile broadband modem, but NetworkManager makes it alot easier. If it was ethernet or wifi setup I would do it manually.

But there is one! And I'm using it! My initial post only suggested to mention that fact in the setup dialog.

May I take the honor to know what and which Xfce4 application?
For I may have also missed that one since for years I don't use an NM.

m.m.

It's the network-manager-applet-0.9.4.1-x86_64-2 package. Activate NetworkManager and start Xfce: you'll see the corresponding applet in Xfce's notification zone.