Hello,

I use Arch Linux mostly, but I'm running Slackware -current on an old IBM ThinkPad T41 right now. I'm looking for a complete network management tool. As in, provides a fast way to switch between wireless networks, or switch to wired ethernet. What would be very nice is if it was available with both a CLI and GUI interface. Of the two, I'd prefer CLI, but both would be even better. Wicd appears to offer this, through wicd-console and VeryPluggableBackends, but it's still in development and I can't find any packages or SlackBuilds for it - if there are no other suggestions, I'll probably see if I can make a SlackBuild...

Thanks for any suggestions I don't believe this is against the Slackware philosophy - I want a network manager so this kind of stuff can happen _faster_, not because I want it easier or more graphical.

Well, what you can do is use the traditional ifup and ifdown method, but get a GUI frontend for it, but I've tried that and it actually doesn't work very well since the command needs root privilages to operate corretly. For GUI, you can use NetworkManager. There is no CLI interface as far as I know, but its GUI is very good. It does exactly what you want it to do. Switching between wired and wireless networks, and features a very easy and simple interface in the taskbar. But in your situation, I would go with NetworkManager. It's easy, and effecient, but the only downside is that it has no CLI interface, and in an emergency, you would have to start the x server to connect.

good luck,
rabbit2345 ^_^

An official package can be found in the /extra directory.

It shipped with 12.2 and is in -current as well.

That requires a GUI. Please re-read - I wanted a solution that would work both in CLI and GUI, and though Wicd offers a CLI solution, it's still in development.

I'm looking at making my own script... hmm...

Please re-read your own post - which I will quote again:

I interpret this as "wicd might help, but I can't find a slackware package for it."

I told you where to find it.

Furthermore, the official SlackBuild script would be found in the sources directory for /extra, which is why I told you where to look so would not have to build a script from scratch.

Additionally, rworkman did much of the work on this package so checking out his site might give you more options - can't tell for certain because I did not look.

Wicd is under development, like most software it will never be completely finished...
But it works well. If you really are able to write a script yourself that works better, please release it as soon as it is no longer under development.

I am just a bit ironic, not meaning to offend you!

What I am going to say is that Wicd didn't seem exactly immature to me. So if it does what you want, use it. It is a good sign, as to stability and maturity, that it is in /extra, not in /testing. This means that the Slackware team (or Pat V., at least) thinks it is good enough for Slackware. Which usually means *very* good.

I just de-installed it after trying it out for a week or so, because it doesn't do anything I couldn't do as quickly with the "traditional" CLI commands, and because it's GTK+, where I prefer KDE and Qt. But it's certainly a comfortable solution for your scenario.

gargamel