Chapter 5. Getting started with nmtui

The nmtui application is a text user interface (TUI) for NetworkManager. The following section provides how you can configure a network interface using nmtui.

Note

The nmtui application does not support all connection types. In particular, you cannot add or modify VPN connections or Ethernet connections that require 802.1X authentication.

5.1. Starting the nmtui utility

This procedure describes how to start the NetworkManager text user interface, nmtui.

Prerequisites

  • The NetworkManager-tui package is installed.

Procedure

  1. To start nmtui, enter: 

    # nmtui
    nmtui Select an Option

  2. To navigate:

    • Use the cursors or press Tab to step forwards and press Shift+Tab to step back through the options.
    • Use Enter to select an option.
    • Use the Space bar to toggle the status of check boxes.

5.2. Adding a connection profile using nmtui

The nmtui application provides a text user interface to NetworkManager. This procedure describes how to add a new connection profile.

Prerequisites

  • The NetworkManager-tui package is installed.

Procedure

  1. Start the NetworkManager text user interface utility: 

    # nmtui
  2. Select the Edit a connection menu entry, and press Enter.
  3. Select the Add button, and press Enter.
  4. Select Ethernet, and press Enter.

  5. Fill the fields with the connection details.

    add connection in nmtui
  6. Select OK to save the changes.
  7. Select Back to return to the main menu.
  8. Select Activate a connection, and press Enter.
  9. Select the new connection entry, and press Enter to activate the connection.
  10. Select Back to return to the main menu.
  11. Select Quit.

Verification steps

  1. Display the status of the devices and connections: 

    # nmcli device status
DEVICE      TYPE      STATE      CONNECTION
enp1s0      ethernet  connected  Example-Connection

  2. To display all settings of the connection profile: 

    # nmcli connection show Example-Connection
connection.id:              Example-Connection
connection.uuid:            b6cdfa1c-e4ad-46e5-af8b-a75f06b79f76
connection.stable-id:       --
connection.type:            802-3-ethernet
connection.interface-name:  enp1s0
...

Additional resources

5.3. Applying changes to a modified connection using nmtui

After you modified a connection in nmtui, you must reactivate the connection. Note that reactivating a connection in nmtui temporarily deactivates the connection.

Procedure

  1. In the main menu, select the Activate a connection menu entry:

    nmtui Activate a Connection
  2. Select the modified connection.

  3. On the right, select the Deactivate button, and press Enter:

    nmtui Deactivate a Modified Connection
  4. Select the connection again.

  5. On the right, select the Activate button, and press Enter:

    nmtui Activate a Modified Connection