This question is related to networking but not hard corps networking so I am posting it here. If this is the wrong place, moderators please feel free to move. Thanks!

Ubuntu Mate 15.10 on a Dell Inspiron 3050. I just completed the install and connected to my WiFi thusly:

"Connect to hidden network" and provided the Network name and password (WPA & WPA2 Personal security). I "Store password for all users" and edited the connection to [X] Automatically connect... and [X] All users may connect. And I can connect.

In theory this will allow WiFi to connect before a user logs in. However, that does not seem to work with the latest versions of Ubuntu so I also added "auto wlp2s0" to /etc/network/interfaces. wlp2s0 being the name of the wireless interface as shown by ifconfig. Still does not work but that was not my final design. I planned to have an automatic logon by a low privileged userid which would be used simply to play video from the PC to a large screen TV.

I created the user and pared down the permissions to [X] Connect to wireless and ethernet networks; [X] Use audio devices and [X] Use video devices. I added the necessary lines to /etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf to establish the autologon:

[SeatDefaults]
autologin-user=movies

The autologon works. However, the system prompts the user for the Wifi password even though I had already saved it "For all users." While logged on as user movies I entered the WiFi password, saved it (tried both for This user only and All users) rebooted and was prompted for the WiFi password again each time.

Thinking that this might be a permissions issue I created a second administrator account. Same game. I am prompted for the WiFi password each time when the new administrator logs on. My original account is the only one which will automatically connect to WiFi upon logon.

I have another PC running Ubuntu Mate 15.04 configured much the same way. The low privileged user automatically logs on and WiFi automatically connects. I have compared settings between the PCs and can find nothing which would seem to be different.

Any ideas?

TIA,

Ken

i think this will block the interface for other applications (e.g. network-manager).
in other words, if you want to manage that interface with your gui, you should undo this.

Thanks ondoho,

The "auto" entry seems to make no difference. I have tried both with and without it. My second admin will not connect without entering the password each time. Much less the WiFi connecting before a user logs on.

I reimaged the hard drive with a Clonezilla snap shot of a CentOS 7 + Mate install I had done earlier. I configured WiFi the very same way - from the notification icon/network manager. This is the first time I have EVER configured WiFi on CentOS (my large desktop runs CentOS 6 but has no WiFI card). I did not even get as far as to create a second user. The WiFi card connected before I logged back on after rebooting. I could ping and connect to it with ssh from another computer.

I first used Ubuntu at about 6.10 after dabbling with Red Hat 5.2 thru 9 and Fedora Core up to about 4 or 5. I though Ubuntu was very friendly as compared to the Hat products. When I tried to play an mp3 for example, Red Hat would say "contact your system administrator." Since that was me it was not very helpful. Ubuntu said "no software installed to play the file, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEARCH FOR SOME? and then presented me with choices to install - complete with star ratings! I was impressed.

After the move to Unity... I use Ubuntu with gnome fallback for some minor purposes but struggled to install and configure CentOS 6 on my main desktop (think vlc - almost impossible to install 5 years ago). With Mate becoming an "official" Ubuntu offering I was hoping to move back. With issues like this, and frequent crashes of Marco, Mate panel and a few other seemingly important pieces of Ubuntu Mate 15.04 and 15.10... CentOS 7 is looking better and better. And vlc installs without a hitch!

Off my soapbox now.

Ken