Introduction to the NWAM Graphical User Interface

The NWAM graphical user interface (GUI) is the graphical equivalent to the NWAM command-line user interface. The NWAM GUI enables you to view and monitor the status of your network in the desktop, as well as interact with NWAM to manage Ethernet and wireless configuration. In addition, you can perform various networking tasks from the desktop, such as connecting to a wired or wireless network at startup and configuring new wired or wireless networks. The NWAM GUI can also be used to create and manage locations, which are profiles that simplify the complex task of system-wide network configuration. The GUI component includes a feature that displays notifications about the current status of your network connection, as well as information about the overall condition of your network environment.

Basic feature capabilities of the NWAM GUI include the following:

• Network status notification

• Detection of hot-plugged events

• Creation and management of network profiles

• Management of wireless networks

The NWAM GUI manages network configuration the same way that the NWAM CLI does, by storing desired property values in the form of profiles on the system. The NWAM service determines which profile should be active at a given time, based on current network conditions, and then activates the most appropriate profile.

Accessing the NWAM GUI From the Desktop

There are two components that make up the NWAM GUI: the Network Status notification icon that is displayed continuously on the desktop panel and the network configuration dialogs that can be accessed both from the System -> Administration menu or by right-clicking the notification icon. The NWAM GUI behaves much the same as any other application that has a continuous status notification icon, for example, the power management icon or the printer icon. These applications enable you perform certain tasks by accessing their right-click (context) menu or by using configuration dialogs that are accessed from either the icon or from various preferences menus.

The panel icon is your most frequent point of contact with NWAM. The icon shows whether you are currently connected to a wired or wireless network. By hovering your mouse over the icon, a tool tip displays additional information, such as the currently active NCP and Location profile. By right-clicking the icon, you can change basic network configuration of your system, such as connecting to a different wireless network.

Clicking (left-clicking) the panel icon opens the Network Preferences dialog. This dialog can also be opened from the System ->Administration menu. Here, you can perform more detailed network configuration such as defining static IPv4 and IPv6 addresses, setting connection priorities, managing External Network Modifiers (ENMs), and creating groups of network settings for use in different locations.

Differences Between the NWAM CLI and the NWAM GUI

You can manage network configuration through NWAM by using either the CLI or the GUI. Both user interfaces can be used to manage the network configuration and interact with the NWAM configuration. Whether you choose to use the CLI or the GUI to perform a particular task depends on the task and the given situation. For some tasks, the most logical choice is to use the NWAM GUI. An example would be checking the status of your currently active network connection or choosing a wireless network to connect to at startup. These tasks can be more easily and quickly performed by directly interacting with NWAM from the desktop through the GUI. For more complicated tasks, such as specifying a script as the start and stop method for a new ENM, you might choose to work in the command-line mode.

Although the CLI and GUI are essentially the same, the following differences should be noted:

• Functionality differences

  The GUI includes functionality that enables you to interact with NWAM and check network connections from the desktop. How you obtain information regarding the status of your network varies slightly between the GUI and the CLI utilities. If you are using the GUI component, notifications are displayed on the desktop as they occur. If you are using the command-line utility, you can monitor NWAM events as they occur by using the netadm show-events command. For more information, see Monitoring the Current State of All Network Connections.

  Also, to obtain information about the status of your network by using the GUI, you would visually check, hover your mouse over, or click the Network Status notification icon that is displayed on the desktop. To obtain information about the status of your network from the command line is to use the netadm command with the list subcommand. The output of this command provides information about the basic state of each network object that is configured on your system. However, the GUI provides more complete information and details about your network status, such as which wireless network you are connected to and the IP address of your network connection.

  Some commands that you can perform by using the CLI cannot be performed by using the GUI. For example, you cannot export a profile configuration by using the GUI component. To export a profile configuration, use the netcfg export command. For more information, see Exporting and Restoring a Profile Configuration.

• Component name and term usage differences

  In the GUI, a Network Configuration Profile (NCP) is the same as a Network Profile. What are called Network Configuration Units (NCUs) in the CLI are referred to as network connections in the GUI.

  Enabling and disabling NCPs by using the command-line interface is the same as the Switching network profiles or connections task if you are using the GUI.