NetworkManager: how to select wireless interface

[Matthew Saltzman]

On Tue, 2008-06-10 at 00:53 +0100, Timothy Murphy wrote:
> Matthew Saltzman wrote:
> 
> > Then you select the one you want and it will try to connect.  If you've
> > connected to one before (based on BSSID, IIRC), it will try to connect
> > you to that one automatically.  Otherwise, you get to choose.
> 
> I know this is the theory, but it isn't like that for me.
> If NM is not working (5% of the time) no ESSID comes up;
> I have to "Connect to Other Wireless Network"
> and give the ESSID and encryption code.
> 
> One couldn't say it doesn't do what it says,
> as NM doesn't tell you what it's meant to do.
> But it doesn't do for me what other people say it does for them,
> ie remember the last connection.

It does sometimes take its sweet time about it, but most of the time, it
eventually (between instantaneously and about 30 seconds or so) does
attempt to connect.

You're right, it's not perfect.  But AFAICT it doesn't make a habit of
randomly connecting to unknown networks.  That's the safer fallback.

One thing I've learned following the NM mailing list: wireless is not
simple.

BTW, the answer to the OP's question is to include NM_CONTROLLED=yes
in /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-<device> for interfaces NM
should control and set it to 'no' for interfaces that should not be
used.  At least, that's how it is in F8.

> 
> 
> 
-- 
                Matthew Saltzman

Clemson University Math Sciences
mjs AT clemson DOT edu
http://www.math.clemson.edu/~mjs