10.2.4. User and System Connections
root
privileges to create and modify system connections. NetworkManager's default policy enables users to create and modify user connections, but requires them to have root
privileges to add, modify or delete system connections.
/etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/
directory (mainly in ifcfg-<network_type>
interface configuration files), user connection settings are stored in the GConf configuration database and the GNOME keyring, and are only available during login sessions for the user who created them. Thus, logging out of the desktop session causes user-specific connections to become unavailable.
Note
root
users on the system cannot view or access these connections in any way.
/etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/
directory, and to delete the GConf settings from the user's session. Conversely, converting a system to a user-specific connection causes NetworkManager to remove the system-wide configuration files and create the corresponding GConf/GNOME keyring settings.

Figure 10.5. The Available to all users check box controls whether connections are user-specific or system-wide
Procedure 10.2. Changing a Connection to be User-Specific instead of System-Wide, or Vice-Versa
Note
root
privileges on the system in order to change whether a connection is user-specific or system-wide.
- Right-click on the NetworkManager applet icon in the Notification Area and click Edit Connections. The Network Connections window appears.
- If needed, select the arrow head (on the left hand side) to hide and reveal the types of available network connections.
- Select the specific connection that you want to configure and click.
- Check the Available to all users check box to ask NetworkManager to make the connection a system-wide connection. Depending on system policy, you may then be prompted for the
root
password by the PolicyKit application. If so, enter theroot
password to finalize the change.Conversely, uncheck the Available to all users check box to make the connection user-specific.