Activation modes for profiles are either manual, automatic, or conditional. When a reactive profile is active, changes in the network environment cause the system to reevaluate the network configuration and then make a “best guess” at which reactive NCP and Location to activate, based on current conditions. Changes in network conditions include plugging or unplugging an Ethernet cable, obtaining or losing a DHCP lease, and detecting a new wireless network. At all times, there must be at one NCP and Location that is active on the system.
The reactive network configuration mode enables you to specify the activation policy for reactive NCPs. This policy determines when to enable NCUs. Each Location profile also contains properties that define its activation criteria.
NCUs, Locations and ENMs both have an activation-mode property. The allowable values for each of these profile types differs. Also how the activation-mode property is validated differs for each profile type, as well as the conditions under which each profile type is enabled.
The NCP activation policy is enforced through the use of properties and conditions that can be specified for each NCU. Examples of policy that you might specify include: “prefer wired connections over wireless connections” or “activate one interface at a time.” How and when NCPs are enabled is defined in the properties that are set for each NCU type. For more information about activation conditions, see the netcfg(1M) man page.