[ILUG] how to manage multiple nics, multiple networks on a laptop?

[Philip Trickett (List)]

On Tue, 2006-03-14 at 22:39 +0000, Paul Mc Auley wrote:
> On Tue, 14 Mar 2006 22:29:42 +0000 
> "Philip Trickett (List)" <phil-ml at techworks.ie>  wrote:
> | On Tue, 2006-03-14 at 19:51 +0000, Paul Mc Auley wrote:
> | > On Tue, 14 Mar 2006 16:36:27 +0000 jm at jmason.org (Justin Mason)  wrote:
> 
> | > | "iwlist scan", the presence of ethernet signal according to mii-tool, the
> 
> | > Which reminds me, is there a way for an ordinary user to determine link 
> | > status short of having the information collected by a root task? I had a 
> | > general dig around /proc and /sys but couldn't find a reliable candidate.
> 
> | Erm, there is a nice app called NetworkManager:
> | http://www.gnome.org/projects/NetworkManager/
> 
> Ah, I realise now that it wasn't immediately obvious that I meant the 
> (wired) ethernet link status.
> 
> That and the first thing NetworkManager says to me is that I must be root 
> to run it.
> 
> The general idea of what I have in mind is to be able to determine from a 
> script or unprivileged program if there is a live cable in the ethernet 
> port at the back of the machine. My current thinking is in terms of a 
> dockapp or similar which can indicate what the current method of 
> connection is or what is available.
> 	Paul
> 

OK.

when installed NetworkManager runs as a service, and the client app
(either NetworkManagerInfo or nmapplet) gives the status of the link, as
well showing available networks.

It also broadcasts dbus messages related to networks and connectivity.

Phil