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3.2. Configuring IP Networking with nmtui

As a system administrator, you can configure a network interface using the NetworkManager's tool, nmtui. See Section 2.5, “NetworkManager Tools”.
This procedure describes how to configure networking using the text user interface tool, nmtui.
Prerequisites
  • The nmtui tool is used in a terminal window. It is contained in the NetworkManager-tui package, but it is not installed along with NetworkManager by default. To install NetworkManager-tui: 
    ~]# yum install NetworkManager-tui
  • To verify that NetworkManager is running, see Section 2.3, “Checking the Status of NetworkManager”.
Procedure
  1. Start the nmtui tool: 
    ~]$ nmtui
    The text user interface appears.
    The NetworkManager Text User Interface starting menu

    Figure 3.1. The NetworkManager Text User Interface starting menu

  2. To navigate, use the arrow keys or press Tab to step forwards and press Shift+Tab to step back through the options. Press Enter to select an option. The Space bar toggles the status of a check box.
To apply changes after a modified connection which is already active requires a reactivation of the connection. In this case, follow the procedure below:
Procedure
  1. Select the Activate a connection menu entry.
    Activate a Connection

    Figure 3.2. Activate a Connection

  2. Select the modified connection. On the right, click the Deactivate button.
    Deactivate the Modified Connection

    Figure 3.3. Deactivate the Modified Connection

  3. Choose the connection again and click the Activate button.
    Reactivate the Modified Connection

    Figure 3.4. Reactivate the Modified Connection

The following commands are also available: 
  • nmtui edit connection-name
    If no connection name is supplied, the selection menu appears. If the connection name is supplied and correctly identified, the relevant Edit connection screen appears. 
  • nmtui connect connection-name
    If no connection name is supplied, the selection menu appears. If the connection name is supplied and correctly identified, the relevant connection is activated. Any invalid command prints a usage message.
Note that nmtui does not support all types of connections. In particular, you cannot edit VPNs, wireless network connections using WPA Enterprise, or Ethernet connections using 802.1X.