NetworkManager won't start on fresh 12.2 installation

English Install/Boot/Login
#1

I just installed 12.2 and the OS largely seems to work fine, but I cannot see any network connections or anything because it says NetworkManager is not started. (The internet works via wired connection, but I cannot get on my wireless network, as far as I can tell.) The problem persisted through much restarting and trying to mess with settings.

I repeated the whole installation process so I could pay closer attention to any problems. After the initial installation, before config, there’s an error message that was too brief for me to read (can’t create…something). (I’m guessing there’s a log of this somewhere?) Every time GRUB loads (during or after installation), there is an error message to brief for me to read (error: file…something). During config, when it tests the internet connection, it says the test was successful, but I also get a message “Cannot install downloaded release notes. RPM signature check failed.”

After config, there was an error “failed to start NetworkManager”, which seems to explain the issue with network connections. Apart from the NetworkManager business, it also bothers me that there there are some errors I don’t know how to trace that may cause problems later. I did do an md5sum check on the iso before installing (it matched).

My only previous experience with Linux is using Ubuntu 10.04 for two years. I’m dual-booting with Windows 7 (using the same partition I had working with Ubuntu). I used the DVD iso, booting from a USB flash drive. I appreciate any help anyone can give!

#2

In Yast > Network Settings >
Make sure you are set to Network Manager Controlled
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/10573557/All_Network/network_manager_yast2.png

Also make sure you do this
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/10573557/12.2_Misc/network-issue-12.2-loopback.png

Also post result of

/sbin/lspci -nnk | grep -iA2 net
#3

You can ignore this, message is cosmetic and has no effect. It complaints about missing language catalog. It is already fixed in Factory.

#4

One place you can check for helpful information in openSUSE is dmesg and /var/log/messages which is where a lot of logging happens especially boot messages.

Do you know what firmware your wireless card needs? It could be missing so try to verify that - this is usually with Broadcom wireless cards.

check dmesg and /var/log/messages:

dmesg | grep -i firmware
sudo grep -i firmware /var/log/messages

and look for an error message about missing firmware. If it is warning you about the missing broadcom firmware, the message is pretty self-explanatory:

sudo /usr/sbin/install_bcm43xx_firmware
sudo /sbin/modprobe -rv b43
sudo /sbin/modprobe -v b43

…should get things working **if **it’s a broadcom issue.

#5

Thanks to everyone who replied…I went into YaST and set network to be controlled by NetworkManager as suggested. Then I had to start NetworkManager from the command line, at which point things started working better, and it started the next time I booted as well. My wireless works too. I also checked dmesg and /var/log as suggested, and found no errors (so I still don’t know what the thing I saw during installation was, but I guess it’s harmless?). It seems I can go forward with the new OS with confidence now. Thank you.

Scott

#6

.I went into YaST and set network to be controlled by NetworkManager as suggested
Excellent news