nm-connection-editor - NetworkManager GUI Connection Editor

Quick Launch: nm-connection-editor or Menu → Network Connections
Purpose: Graphical interface for managing NetworkManager connections
Best For: Desktop users who prefer point-and-click over terminal interfaces

1. Introduction to nm-connection-editor

1.1 What is nm-connection-editor?

nm-connection-editor is the graphical GTK-based application for configuring NetworkManager connections. It provides a full-featured GUI for creating, editing, and managing all types of network connections with visual feedback and easy-to-use forms.

1.2 Features and Capabilities

Complete GUI for all NetworkManager connection types
Visual tabs and organized settings
Advanced features not available in nmtui
Support for complex configurations (bonding, bridging, VLANs, VPNs)
Integration with desktop notification systems
Connection import/export functionality

1.3 Tool Comparison: When to Use What

nm-connection-editor

Use when:

Working on desktop system
Need visual interface
Complex configurations
Prefer mouse/keyboard
Need all advanced options
Managing VPNs visually

nmtui

Use when:

Terminal-only access
Server without GUI
SSH sessions
Quick configuration
Basic settings only
Lightweight interface

nmcli

Use when:

Scripting needed
Automation required
Batch operations
Remote administration
CI/CD pipelines
Quick status checks

1.4 Installation

# Usually installed with NetworkManager GUI components

# Debian/Ubuntu
sudo apt-get install network-manager-gnome

# RHEL/CentOS/Fedora
sudo yum install NetworkManager-gnome
# or
sudo dnf install NetworkManager-gnome

# Arch Linux
sudo pacman -S networkmanager network-manager-applet

# Verify installation
which nm-connection-editor
nm-connection-editor --version

2. Launching nm-connection-editor

2.1 Launch Methods

Method	Command/Location	Notes
Command Line	`nm-connection-editor`	Direct launch from terminal
Application Menu	Settings → Network Connections	Location varies by desktop
System Tray	Right-click network icon → Edit Connections	If nm-applet is running
GNOME Settings	Settings → Network → ⚙️ (gear icon)	Opens specific connection

2.2 Command Line Options

# Launch main window
nm-connection-editor

# Create new connection of specific type
nm-connection-editor --create --type=ethernet
nm-connection-editor --create --type=wifi

# Edit specific connection by UUID
nm-connection-editor --edit=UUID

# Show specific connection
nm-connection-editor --show=UUID

# Run in background (return immediately)
nm-connection-editor &

3. Main Window Overview

Network Connections Window

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Network Connections                    ☐ ☐ ✕   │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                 │
│  🔌 Ethernet                                    │
│    Wired connection 1                           │
│    Office-Static-192.168.1.100                  │
│                                                 │
│  📶 Wi-Fi                                       │
│    Home-WiFi-5GHz                               │
│    CoffeeShop-Guest                             │
│                                                 │
│  🔐 VPN                                         │
│    Corporate-VPN                                │
│                                                 │
│  🔗 Other Connection Types                      │
│    Bond0                                        │
│    Bridge0                                      │
│                                                 │
│  [ + ]  [ - ]  [ ⚙ ]  [ ↑ ]  [ ↓ ]           │
│   Add  Delete  Edit  Export  Import             │
│                                                 │
│                              [ Close ]          │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

3.1 Main Window Components

Element	Function	Shortcut/Action
+ Add	Create new connection	Opens connection type selector
- Delete	Remove selected connection	Confirms before deletion
⚙ Edit	Modify selected connection	Double-click also works
↑ Export	Export connection to file	Saves as .nmconnection file
↓ Import	Import connection from file	Reads .nmconnection files
Connection List	Shows all configured connections	Click to select, double-click to edit

4. Creating Connections

4.1 Connection Type Selection

Creating a New Connection

Click + Add button
Select connection type from dropdown list
Click Create...
Fill in connection details (see sections below)
Click Save

┌─────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Choose a Connection Type            │
├─────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                     │
│  Ethernet                           │
│  Wi-Fi                              │
│  Mobile Broadband                   │
│  DSL                                │
│  InfiniBand                         │
│  Bond                               │
│  Bridge                             │
│  VLAN                               │
│  Team                               │
│  VPN                                │
│  ▼ (more types)                     │
│                                     │
│        [ Cancel ]  [ Create... ]    │
└─────────────────────────────────────┘

4.2 Common Connection Types

Type	Primary Use	Key Configuration Items
Ethernet	Wired networks	IP settings, DNS, device selection
Wi-Fi	Wireless networks	SSID, security, password
VPN	Secure remote access	Server, type, credentials
Bond	Link aggregation	Mode, slave interfaces
Bridge	VM networking	Bridged interfaces
VLAN	Network segmentation	Parent interface, VLAN ID

5. Ethernet Connection Configuration

5.1 Connection Editor Window - Ethernet

Editing: Wired connection 1

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Editing: Wired connection 1          ☐ ☐ ✕      │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ [ Ethernet ]  [ 802.1X Security ]  [ DCB ]       │
│ [ IPv4 Settings ]  [ IPv6 Settings ]             │
│ [ General ]                                      │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                  │
│  Connection name: Office-Ethernet___________    │
│                                                  │
│  Device: enp0s3_________________________  [⌄]   │
│  (Select from available network devices)         │
│                                                  │
│  Cloned MAC address: ____________________        │
│                                                  │
│  MTU: _________ (automatic)                      │
│                                                  │
│                                                  │
│                     [ Cancel ]     [ Save ]      │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

5.2 Ethernet Tab

Ethernet Tab Settings

Field	Description	Example/Notes
Connection name	Descriptive name for connection	Office-Ethernet, Lab-Network
Device	Network interface to bind to	enp0s3, eth0, or "Any"
Cloned MAC address	Override hardware MAC (optional)	00:11:22:33:44:55
MTU	Maximum Transmission Unit	1500 (standard), 9000 (jumbo)

5.3 IPv4 Settings Tab

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ [ IPv4 Settings ]                                │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                  │
│  Method: [ Manual ▼ ]                            │
│    Options: Automatic (DHCP)                     │
│             Automatic (DHCP) address only        │
│             Link-Local Only                      │
│             Manual                               │
│             Shared to other computers            │
│             Disabled                             │
│                                                  │
│  Addresses:                                      │
│  ┌────────────────────────────────────────────┐ │
│  │ Address        Netmask        Gateway      │ │
│  ├────────────────────────────────────────────┤ │
│  │ 192.168.1.100  24            192.168.1.1   │ │
│  │                                            │ │
│  └────────────────────────────────────────────┘ │
│     [ Add ]  [ Delete ]                          │
│                                                  │
│  DNS servers: 8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4______________    │
│                                                  │
│  Search domains: company.local_____________     │
│                                                  │
│  □ Require IPv4 addressing for connection        │
│     to complete                                  │
│                                                  │
│  [ Routes... ]                                   │
│                                                  │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

IPv4 Settings Tab

IPv4 Methods

Method	Use Case	Configuration Required
Automatic (DHCP)	Most networks	None - all automatic
DHCP address only	Custom DNS/routes with DHCP IP	Manual DNS, gateway, routes
Link-Local Only	Direct device connections	None - 169.254.x.x auto-assigned
Manual	Servers, static configurations	IP, netmask, gateway, DNS
Shared to other computers	Internet connection sharing	None - automatic NAT setup
Disabled	IPv6-only networks	None

Address Configuration

Address: IP address (e.g., 192.168.1.100)
Netmask: CIDR prefix length (e.g., 24 for 255.255.255.0)
Gateway: Default gateway IP (e.g., 192.168.1.1)
Add button: Configure multiple IP addresses
Delete button: Remove selected address

5.4 Advanced: Routes Button

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Editing IPv4 routes                         │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                             │
│ Routes:                                     │
│ ┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐│
│ │ Address   Netmask  Gateway   Metric    ││
│ ├─────────────────────────────────────────┤│
│ │ 10.0.0.0  24      192.168.1.254  100   ││
│ │                                         ││
│ └─────────────────────────────────────────┘│
│    [ Add ]  [ Delete ]                      │
│                                             │
│ ☑ Ignore automatically obtained routes      │
│                                             │
│ ☐ Use this connection only for resources    │
│   on its network                            │
│                                             │
│                  [ OK ]     [ Cancel ]      │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────┘

5.5 General Tab

General Tab Settings

Option	Description	Default
☑ Automatically connect	Connect at boot/when available	Checked
☑ Available to all users	System vs user connection	Checked
Priority	Auto-connect priority (0-999)	0 (lower = higher priority)
☐ Automatically connect to VPN	Start VPN with this connection	Unchecked
Firewall zone	FirewallD zone assignment	Default
Metered connection	Hint for bandwidth-aware apps	No

6. Wi-Fi Connection Configuration

6.1 Wi-Fi Tab

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ [ Wi-Fi ]  [ Wi-Fi Security ]                    │
│ [ IPv4 Settings ]  [ IPv6 Settings ]  [ General ]│
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                  │
│  Connection name: Home-WiFi_______________      │
│                                                  │
│  SSID: MyHomeNetwork___________________  [🔍]    │
│                                                  │
│  Mode: [ Infrastructure ▼ ]                      │
│    Options: Infrastructure (Access Point)        │
│             Ad-hoc (Peer-to-peer)                │
│             AP (Create hotspot)                  │
│                                                  │
│  Device: wlan0______________________  [⌄]        │
│                                                  │
│  BSSID: ______________________________           │
│  (Bind to specific access point MAC)            │
│                                                  │
│  Cloned MAC address: ____________________        │
│                                                  │
│  MTU: _________ (automatic)                      │
│                                                  │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Wi-Fi Tab Fields

Field	Description	Notes
SSID	Network name	Must match exactly (case-sensitive)
Mode	Network topology	Usually Infrastructure
Device	Wireless adapter	wlan0, wlp2s0, etc.
BSSID	Specific AP MAC address	Optional - locks to one AP
🔍 Button	Scan and select from list	Shows available networks

6.2 Wi-Fi Security Tab

┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ [ Wi-Fi Security ]                               │
├──────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                                                  │
│  Security: [ WPA & WPA2 Personal ▼ ]             │
│    Options: None (Open network)                  │
│             WEP 40/128-bit Key                   │
│             WEP 128-bit Passphrase               │
│             LEAP                                 │
│             Dynamic WEP (802.1X)                 │
│             WPA & WPA2 Personal                  │
│             WPA & WPA2 Enterprise                │
│             WPA3 Personal                        │
│                                                  │
│  Password: ••••••••••••••••••••               │
│                                                  │
│  ☐ Show password                                 │
│                                                  │
│  [More Options ▼]                                │
│                                                  │
└──────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Wi-Fi Security Types

Security Type	Security Level	Use Case
None	⚠️ No encryption	Public hotspots (use with caution)
WEP	⚠️ Weak (broken)	Legacy devices only
LEAP	⚠️ Weak	Older Cisco systems
WPA/WPA2 Personal	✓ Good	Most home networks (PSK)
WPA/WPA2 Enterprise	✓ Strong	Corporate (RADIUS/802.1X)
WPA3 Personal	✓ Strongest	Modern routers and devices

6.3 WPA Enterprise Configuration

For WPA/WPA2 Enterprise: Clicking the security dropdown and selecting Enterprise opens additional fields:

Authentication: TLS, PEAP, TTLS, FAST, etc.
Identity: Username or certificate
CA certificate: Certificate authority file
User certificate: Client certificate (for TLS)
Private key: User's private key file
Private key password: Key passphrase

7. VPN Connection Configuration

7.1 Creating a VPN Connection

Setting Up a VPN

Click + in main window
Scroll to VPN section
Select VPN type (OpenVPN, PPTP, L2TP, etc.)
Click Create...
Fill in VPN server details
Configure authentication
Click Save

VPN Plugin Requirement: VPN types require separate plugins:

# Install VPN plugins as needed
# OpenVPN
sudo apt-get install network-manager-openvpn-gnome

# PPTP
sudo apt-get install network-manager-pptp-gnome

# L2TP
sudo apt-get install network-manager-l2tp-gnome

# OpenConnect (Cisco AnyConnect)
sudo apt-get install network-manager-openconnect-gnome

# Fortinet
sudo apt-get install network-manager-fortisslvpn-gnome

7.2 OpenVPN Configuration Example

OpenVPN Settings

Field	Description	Example
Connection name	Descriptive name	Corporate-OpenVPN
Gateway	VPN server address	vpn.company.com:1194
Type	Authentication method	Certificates, Password, etc.
User Certificate	Client cert file (.crt, .pem)	/path/to/client.crt
CA Certificate	Certificate authority	/path/to/ca.crt
Private Key	User's private key	/path/to/client.key

7.3 Importing VPN Configuration

# Import from .ovpn file (OpenVPN)
# In nm-connection-editor:
# 1. Click Import button (↓)
# 2. Select .ovpn file
# 3. Review/edit imported settings
# 4. Save

# Or use command line
nmcli connection import type openvpn file /path/to/config.ovpn

# Verify import
nmcli connection show

8. Advanced Connection Types

8.1 Bond Configuration

Bond Settings

Purpose: Combine multiple network interfaces for redundancy or increased bandwidth

Creating a Bond

Add → Bond → Create
Connection name: bond0
Click Add to add slave interfaces
For each slave: Select connection type (Ethernet) and device
Configure bonding mode in Bond tab
Configure IP settings (IPv4/IPv6 tabs)

Bonding Modes

Mode	Name	Description
0	balance-rr	Round-robin load balancing
1	active-backup	One active, others standby (failover)
2	balance-xor	XOR load balancing
3	broadcast	Broadcast on all interfaces
4	802.3ad (LACP)	Dynamic link aggregation (requires switch support)
5	balance-tlb	Transmit load balancing
6	balance-alb	Adaptive load balancing

8.2 Bridge Configuration

Bridge Settings

Purpose: Bridge network interfaces (common for virtualization)

Creating a Bridge

Add → Bridge → Create
Connection name: br0
Click Add to add bridged interfaces
Add physical interface (e.g., eth0)
Configure IP settings on the bridge (not on slave)
Save

Common Bridge Use Cases

KVM/QEMU virtual machines
Docker containers
LXC containers
Connecting VM networks to physical network

8.3 VLAN Configuration

VLAN Settings

Purpose: Virtual LAN tagging (802.1Q)

Creating a VLAN

Add → VLAN → Create
Connection name: vlan100
Parent interface: Select physical interface (eth0)
VLAN id: Enter VLAN tag (e.g., 100)
Configure IP settings
Save

VLAN Configuration Fields

Field	Description	Example
Parent interface	Physical interface to tag	eth0, enp0s3
VLAN id	VLAN tag number (1-4094)	100, 200, 300
VLAN interface name	Virtual interface name	eth0.100, vlan100

9. Import and Export Features

9.1 Exporting Connections

Export Connection to File

Select connection in main window
Click ↑ Export button (or gear icon → Export)
Choose destination folder
Enter filename
Click Save
Connection saved as .nmconnection file

Export Use Cases:

Backup before major changes
Migrate connections between systems
Share VPN configurations with team
Version control network configs
Document network setups

9.2 Importing Connections

Import Connection from File

Click ↓ Import button in main window
Navigate to .nmconnection or .ovpn file
Select file
Click Open
Review imported connection (editor opens automatically)
Modify if needed
Click Save

9.3 Supported Import Formats

Format	Extension	Connection Type
NetworkManager	.nmconnection	All types
OpenVPN	.ovpn, .conf	OpenVPN VPN
WireGuard	.conf	WireGuard VPN
Cisco VPN	.pcf	VPNC (Cisco)

9.4 Bulk Operations

# Export all connections (command line helper)
for conn in /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/*; do
    cp "$conn" ~/network-backup/
done

# Import multiple connections
for file in ~/network-backup/*.nmconnection; do
    nmcli connection import type generic file "$file"
done

# Verify imports
nmcli connection show

10. Connection Management

10.1 Activating Connections

Note: nm-connection-editor is for configuration only. To activate/deactivate connections, use:

Network applet (system tray icon)
GNOME Settings → Network
nmcli: nmcli connection up "Name"
nmtui: nmtui connect

10.2 Deleting Connections

Remove a Connection

Select connection in main window
Click - Delete button
Confirm deletion in dialog
Connection removed from system

Warning: Deletion is permanent. The connection file is removed from /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/. Export connections before deleting if you might need them later.

10.3 Cloning Connections

Clone Technique: While there's no explicit "clone" button, you can:

Select connection and export it
Import the exported file
Edit the imported connection (change name, IP, etc.)
Save with new name

11. Troubleshooting

11.1 nm-connection-editor Won't Launch

Symptom	Possible Cause	Solution
Command not found	Not installed	`sudo apt-get install network-manager-gnome`
Error: Cannot open display	No X11/Wayland session	Must run in GUI environment
Permission denied errors	PolicyKit issues	Check user is in netdev group
Crashes on startup	Corrupt config or GTK issue	Check logs: `journalctl -xe`

11.2 Can't Save Connection Changes

Diagnostic Steps:

Check if NetworkManager is running: systemctl status NetworkManager
Verify permissions: ls -l /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/
Check disk space: df -h /etc
Review logs: journalctl -u NetworkManager -n 50
Try with sudo: sudo nm-connection-editor

11.3 Connection Not Showing in List

Issue	Check	Fix
Created but not visible	Check file exists in system-connections	Reload: `nmcli connection reload`
Hidden connection	Check if it's user-specific vs system-wide	Run editor as different user or set "Available to all users"
Corrupted profile	Check file syntax	Delete and recreate, or fix manually

11.4 VPN Options Missing

Problem: VPN connection types don't appear in dropdown Cause: VPN plugins not installed Solution:

# Check installed VPN plugins
dpkg -l | grep network-manager | grep vpn

# Install needed plugins (example for OpenVPN)
sudo apt-get install network-manager-openvpn-gnome

# Restart nm-connection-editor
# VPN types should now appear

11.5 Changes Not Taking Effect

Ensure Changes Apply:

After saving in editor, close the editor window
Connection is automatically reloaded
If connection is active, deactivate and reactivate it
Use network applet or: nmcli connection down "Name" && nmcli connection up "Name"

12. Best Practices

12.1 Connection Naming Conventions

Use descriptive names: Office-Ethernet-Desk47
Include location: Home-WiFi-5GHz
Include purpose: Lab-Testing-VLAN100
For static IPs: WebServer-192.168.1.50
Avoid generic names: Not "Wired connection 1"
Use consistent naming across infrastructure

12.2 Configuration Management

Practice	Benefit	How
Regular backups	Quick recovery	Export connections monthly
Document changes	Audit trail	Keep change log with exports
Test before production	Avoid outages	Create test connection first
Version control	Track history	Git repo for exported configs
Standard templates	Consistency	Export reference configs

12.3 Security Best Practices

Security Considerations:

Don't save WiFi passwords for public networks
Use WPA2/WPA3, never WEP or open networks
For VPNs, use certificate authentication over passwords
Set "Available to all users" carefully on multi-user systems
Protect exported connections (contain passwords)
Review connection permissions regularly
Use firewall zones appropriately

12.4 Performance Optimization

Optimize Network Performance:

Set appropriate MTU for your network (usually 1500)
Configure autoconnect priority to avoid connection conflicts
Disable IPv6 if not used: IPv6 Settings → Method: Ignore
For servers, disable IPv6 privacy extensions
Use wired over wireless when possible
For VMs/containers, use bridge instead of NAT

13. Integration and Automation

13.1 Command Line Integration

# Launch editor from scripts
nm-connection-editor &

# Create connection via GUI with pre-filled type
nm-connection-editor --create --type=ethernet &

# Edit specific connection by UUID
UUID=$(nmcli -t -f UUID connection show "MyConnection")
nm-connection-editor --edit="$UUID" &

# Combine with nmcli for automation
nmcli connection add type ethernet con-name "Auto-Created" ifname eth0
nm-connection-editor --edit="$(nmcli -t -f UUID con show "Auto-Created")" &

13.2 Configuration File Management

# Backup connections
#!/bin/bash
BACKUP_DIR=~/network-configs-$(date +%Y%m%d)
mkdir -p "$BACKUP_DIR"

# Copy all connections
sudo cp -r /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/* "$BACKUP_DIR/"

# Create inventory
for conn in "$BACKUP_DIR"/*; do
    echo "$(basename "$conn")" >> "$BACKUP_DIR/inventory.txt"
done

echo "Backup complete: $BACKUP_DIR"

13.3 Desktop Environment Integration

Desktop	Network Settings Access	Editor Launch
GNOME	Settings → Network	Click connection ⚙️ → Identity/Details
KDE Plasma	System Settings → Network	Configure button
XFCE	Settings → Network	Edit button
MATE	System → Preferences → Network	Edit button
System Tray	Click network icon	Right-click → Edit Connections

14. Advanced Topics

14.1 Connection Permissions

Understanding Permissions

Available to all users checkbox:

Setting	File Location	Access	Use Case
☑ Checked (System)	/etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/	All users, root can edit	Servers, shared systems
☐ Unchecked (User)	~/.local/share/NetworkManager/system-connections/	Only creating user	Personal devices, laptops

14.2 Firewall Zone Configuration

Firewall Zones (if using firewalld):

public: Untrusted networks (default for most)
home: Trusted home network
work: Trusted work network
internal: Internal network traffic
external: Masquerading/NAT zone
dmz: Demilitarized zone
block: Block all incoming
drop: Drop packets silently

Set in General tab → Firewall zone dropdown

14.3 Metered Connections

Metered Connection Setting: Hints to applications that bandwidth is limited or costs money.

Effects:

GNOME Software won't auto-update
Automatic backups may pause
Cloud sync may defer uploads
Browsers may compress data

When to use: Mobile hotspots, cellular connections, limited data plans

Set in General tab → Metered connection: Yes

15. Quick Reference

15.1 Common Tasks Summary

Task	Steps
Create Ethernet DHCP	Add → Ethernet → IPv4: Automatic → Save
Create Static IP	Add → Ethernet → IPv4: Manual → Enter IP/Gateway/DNS → Save
Add WiFi	Add → Wi-Fi → Enter SSID → Wi-Fi Security: WPA2 → Password → Save
Import VPN	Import button → Select .ovpn file → Review → Save
Export Connection	Select → Export button → Choose location → Save
Delete Connection	Select → Delete button → Confirm
Add Secondary IP	Edit → IPv4 Settings → Add button → Enter IP → Save
Change DNS	Edit → IPv4 Settings → DNS servers field → Update → Save

15.2 Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut	Action
`Ctrl+W` or `Ctrl+Q`	Close window
`Enter`	Activate selected button/field
`Tab`	Move between fields
`Space`	Toggle checkbox
`Alt+F4`	Close window (Linux standard)
`Esc`	Cancel current dialog

15.3 File Locations Reference

# System-wide connections
/etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/

# User-specific connections
~/.local/share/NetworkManager/system-connections/

# NetworkManager configuration
/etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf

# Connection files format
*.nmconnection

# View a connection file
sudo cat /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/MyConnection.nmconnection

# Connection file permissions
-rw------- (600) root:root

16. Comparison: Editor Tools

16.1 Full Feature Comparison

Feature	nm-connection-editor	nmtui	nmcli
Interface Type	GUI (GTK)	TUI (curses)	CLI
Requires X11/Wayland	Yes	No	No
All Connection Types	✓ Yes	Basic only	✓ Yes
Advanced Options	✓ All visible	Limited	✓ All available
VPN Configuration	✓ Full support	Basic	✓ Full support
Import/Export	✓ Built-in	No	Via commands
Bonding/Bridging/VLAN	✓ Visual setup	No	✓ Command-based
Scripting Support	No	No	✓ Excellent
Learning Curve	Low	Low-Medium	Medium-High
Best For	Desktop users	Server admins	Automation

17. Troubleshooting Checklist

Connection Issues Diagnostic

Verify NetworkManager is running: systemctl status NetworkManager
Check device exists: Open editor → Check device dropdown
Review all tabs for misconfigurations
Verify IP settings match network requirements
Check DNS servers are reachable
Test with simpler config (DHCP instead of static)
Export connection and review file manually
Check NetworkManager logs: journalctl -u NetworkManager -n 100
Try recreating connection from scratch
Verify physical connectivity (cables, wireless signal)

18. Summary

nm-connection-editor Quick Start

Launch: nm-connection-editor or right-click network icon → Edit Connections
Create: Click + → Select type → Fill tabs → Save
Edit: Select connection → Click ⚙ or double-click
Import: Click ↓ → Select file
Export: Select connection → Click ↑
Delete: Select connection → Click - → Confirm

Key Advantages:

Visual interface - see all options at once
Organized tabs - settings grouped logically
Point-and-click - no syntax to remember
Complete feature set - access all NetworkManager capabilities
Built-in import/export - easy backup and migration
Desktop integration - natural workflow for GUI users

nm-connection-editor - NetworkManager GUI Connection Editor

1. Introduction to nm-connection-editor

1.1 What is nm-connection-editor?

1.2 Features and Capabilities

1.3 Tool Comparison: When to Use What

nm-connection-editor

nmtui

nmcli

1.4 Installation

2. Launching nm-connection-editor

2.1 Launch Methods

2.2 Command Line Options

3. Main Window Overview

Network Connections Window

3.1 Main Window Components

3.2 Connection Categories

4. Creating Connections

4.1 Connection Type Selection

Creating a New Connection

4.2 Common Connection Types

5. Ethernet Connection Configuration

5.1 Connection Editor Window - Ethernet

Editing: Wired connection 1

5.2 Ethernet Tab

5.3 IPv4 Settings Tab

IPv4 Methods

Address Configuration

5.4 Advanced: Routes Button

5.5 General Tab

6. Wi-Fi Connection Configuration

6.1 Wi-Fi Tab

6.2 Wi-Fi Security Tab

6.3 WPA Enterprise Configuration

7. VPN Connection Configuration

7.1 Creating a VPN Connection

Setting Up a VPN

7.2 OpenVPN Configuration Example

7.3 Importing VPN Configuration

8. Advanced Connection Types

8.1 Bond Configuration

Creating a Bond

Bonding Modes

8.2 Bridge Configuration

Creating a Bridge

Common Bridge Use Cases

8.3 VLAN Configuration

Creating a VLAN

VLAN Configuration Fields

9. Import and Export Features

9.1 Exporting Connections

Export Connection to File

9.2 Importing Connections

Import Connection from File

9.3 Supported Import Formats

9.4 Bulk Operations

10. Connection Management

10.1 Activating Connections

10.2 Deleting Connections

Remove a Connection

10.3 Cloning Connections

11. Troubleshooting

11.1 nm-connection-editor Won't Launch

11.2 Can't Save Connection Changes

11.3 Connection Not Showing in List

11.4 VPN Options Missing

11.5 Changes Not Taking Effect

12. Best Practices

12.1 Connection Naming Conventions

12.2 Configuration Management

12.3 Security Best Practices

12.4 Performance Optimization

13. Integration and Automation

13.1 Command Line Integration

13.2 Configuration File Management

13.3 Desktop Environment Integration

14. Advanced Topics

14.1 Connection Permissions

14.2 Firewall Zone Configuration

14.3 Metered Connections

15. Quick Reference