In Oracle Solaris, network configuration profiles (NCPs) manage the system's network configuration. Only one NCP can be active on a system at a time. Oracle Solaris supports two types of NCPs: reactive and fixed. Depending on its type, the active NCP determines whether the system's network configuration is reactive or fixed.
By default, Oracle Solaris uses a feature called reactive network configuration (NWAM) to simplify network configuration. The Network preferences tool enables you to configure this feature.
The reactive network configuration feature simplifies basic network configuration by automatically configuring and managing wired and wireless networks. NWAM addresses basic Ethernet and wireless configurations and enables you to perform various networking tasks, such as connecting to wired or wireless network at startup and configuring new wired or wireless networks. The NWAM feature also simplifies more complex network configurations, such as system-wide network configuration. In addition, this feature displays informational messages about the current status of your network connection and the overall health of your network.
Other feature capabilities include:
Multiple concurrent network connections
Detection of hot-plug events
Network modifiers support, for example, virtual private network (VPN) client applications.
Network configuration is managed by storing desired property values in the form of profiles. NWAM determines which profile should be active at a given time depending on the current network conditions, then activates that profile.
The two primary profile types are the Network Profile, which specifies the configuration of individual network interfaces, and Locations, which specify system-wide network configuration. The individual components that make up the network profile are referred to as network connections. You can use this application to configure and manage both types of profiles.
For more information about using NWAM, see Configuring and Administering Network Components in Oracle Solaris 11.2 .