I am not satisfied with KDE’s native Network Manager as it works erratically and does not let me automatically start the wireless w/o kwallet (i need that since the computer is used by my parents as well and entering the password there again is just another hassle)
I want to replace Network Manager with WICD. I see that wicd is not in the official repos, which is a risk i am willing to take recalling my past no-nonsense experience with the application.
Is there a definite procedure i should follow to remove network manager and install wicd? Or just installing wicd will help without looking at other aspects would help?
NetworkManager allows for automatic start of the wireless w/o kwallet by storing the password in a file. Or you can also switch to GNOME applet if you want. I can’t help you with WICD though.
You don’t say which version of opensuse you are running.
In 11.4, 12.1 and 12.2, I have used WiFi under KDE, without needing Kwallet. Yes, I am prompted by Kwallet on first setting up connections, but not thereafter.
Tell us your version, and we can help guide you toward getting this to work. There was a change between 11.4 and 12.1 on how NetworkManager operates, which is why we need the opensuse version to provide help.
I did try wicd back when I was running 11.3. I quickly determined that NetworkManager does the job better.
edit: i have tried blank password for kwallet, still to no avail. Maybe i am not doing it right… is there a how-to to guide the ‘save password in file’ method?
On 09/07/2012 12:16 PM, njathan wrote:
>
> nrickert;2484545 Wrote:
>> You don’t say which version of opensuse you are running.
>
> I am running the latest version… 12.2
I have had to use wicd to debug some issues for an Arch Linux user. It
crashed/froze my computer more times in 2 days that NM ever has. I do not
recommend it.
I use KDE and Kwallet to store my wifi encryption secrets, but I do use an empty
password on the wallet, thus I never have to enter a password. I do not store
anything else there, thus it is not too bad a security risk - at least no worse
that saving the secrets in a file.
Click on the network icon in your tray. That’s an ordinary click (left click, not right click).
Select “manage connections”
Click on “Other” in the menu in the left column. And there you have a choice for saving wifi passwords encrypted, or unencrypted in a file, or never. Select unencrypted in a file.
That will, temporarily, get you into kwallet hell. But, once done, you will never again be asked for kwallet password for wifi settings.
If you have not done so, I also recommend setting your defined wifi connections to be system connections, and possibly turn on “auto-connect”. That way, you should be connected on boot, even before login.
I have tried this… even removed the .kde4 folder to make sure old settings do not interfere. But everytime i reboot, the network icon comes with a red oblique against it. I enter the settings, to see that the password for the wireless connection is still intact… so no problem with that. Then i have to remove the saved wireless connection from the settings, reboot and reconfigure To add to it, half the time i get a crash window (for many other apps too, not only Network Manager) Looks like OpenSUSE isn’t liking my hardware (It isn’t too archaic… roughly 3 year old Lenovo laptop where i had used 12.1 w/o many issues).
I really wish people would answer the question asked. I have spent an hour now looking at posts trying to get WICD working and every one just has posts asking why people don’t use network manager. Its because network manager sucks. I just reloaded my netbook and I go though this every time. WICD is 100X better then network manager but trying to get the service to start at boot on opensuse 12.1 is impossible. Its not in the runtime and there is a stupid little trick to make it work and it always takes me hours to find.
I am not sure how to enable it though I will try to help in a minor way if I can. Firstly, there are some wicd packages available on OBS, take your pick. Just stating this on the off chance you aren’t aware of alternative packages or are building it: software.opensuse.org:
Also, you can disable networkmanager and use ifup from the yast networking module. This may help to disable nwm. You could also try uninstalling it. There is a services module as well in yast but I am not sure if wicd would show up there.
I would test however I have my networking setup just how I want and do not really want to mess with it.
Its all about getting the wicd daemon to start at boot. However there is no wicd listed in System Services (Runlevel). I had it working great before I installed my SSD yesterday. I beleve the way I fixed it last time was changing the permissions to 777 on one of the wicd folders but I can’t for the life of me remember what folder it was. I already nuked my old drive to.
I beleve the way I fixed it last time was changing the permissions to 777 on one of the wicd folders but I can’t for the life of me remember what folder it was.
Yes. I tried iflist wlan0 scan and it says scanning not supported, network down. I also tried with an alpha and it will scan with iwlist but will not show up in wicd.
I’m such a moron!! My Alpha is a reltek and my internal card is a broadcom. I forgot that broadcom is proprietary and I need to install the firmware manually. I forget that every time I reload this system.
I’m such a moron!! My Alpha is a reltek and my internal card is a broadcom. I forgot that broadcom is proprietary and I need to install the firmware manually. I forget that every time I reload this system.
Thanks for your help I really appreciate it.
No worries. These things happen - maybe you’re Linux fatigued Disregard my last post.
To add to it, half the time i get a crash window (for many other apps too, not only Network Manager) Looks like OpenSUSE isn’t liking my hardware (It isn’t too archaic… roughly 3 year old Lenovo laptop where i had used 12.1 w/o many issues).