Wpa_supplicant mystery

[Aaron Konstam]

On Sun, 2008-05-11 at 15:21 -0400, Bill Davidsen wrote:
> Aaron Konstam wrote:
> > <snip>
> >> Documentation? NM has been around since FC6, and people seem to keep 
> >> saying that the documentation is being worked on. At least on FC9beta it 
> >> really didn't work, ignored the hardwire, and brought the WiFi up on a 
> >> random open AP. I live between an apartment building and a college, 
> >> there are enough open APs available to choose.
> >> nations of the wicked."  - from Slashdot
> >>
> > http://live.gnome.org/DarrenAlbers/NetworkManagerFAQ
> > 
> > 
> > http://live.gnome.org/NetworkManager
> > 
> I appreciate that you're trying to be helpful, but the FAQ does 
> hand-waving instead of giving useful answers.
> 
> Example
> 
> Q: "How does NetworkManager select which wireless network to connect to?"
> 
> A: (part1) NM only attempts to automatically connect to networks you 
> have previously told it to connect to.  [not the case, it picked one]
The one it picks is generally the one you connected to last. I know you
are going to say you never connected before. No matter look at comment
under A.  part2.
> 
> (part2) If NM isn't connecting to the network you want, try to force it 
> to connect to the network you wish to be connected,... [If I knew how to 
> force it I wouldn't be reading the FAQ, now, would I?]
You left click on nm-applet icon and choose the AP ypu wnat to connect
to.
> 
> (part3) In version 0.6.6 and later there is a profile editor that can be 
> used to add/remove networks.  [Again, effort saved by not bothering to 
> tell the user HOW to get that tool running]
> 
> 
> All it would take is a hyperlink at each point where the reader is told 
> to do something unfamiliar. However, not only is there no hyperlink, the 
> index points to a single sentence on doing this, "For version 0.6.6 or 
> later Use the Network Profile editor to remove unwanted networks." Do I 
> have to tell you that there doesn't appear to be a link in the table of 
> contents which describes the Network Profile Editor and how one accesses it?
> 
> 
> I have written documentation for GE, IBM, SBC and technical articles for 
> national magazines, I've dealt with enough editors to know that this FAQ 
> is simply not well written for the target audience. And if I knew the 
> topic I would offer to make changes, but I don't. But as people are 
> forced to switch from known easy to use tools like 
> system-config-network, a lot of people are going to be unhappy trying to 
> learn a complex tool of limited capabilities.
> 
> I would have hoped that there would be a simple way to enter a list of 
> APs, and an option to use any of them if only one were available, if 
> more than one were available ASK, if none of the preferred list are 
> available ASK. That suggestion came from someone about FC6...
> 
> -- 
> 
> Bill Davidsen <davidsen at tmr.com>
>    "We have more to fear from the bungling of the incompetent than from
> the machinations of the wicked."  - from Slashdot
> 
--
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Bride, n.: A woman with a fine prospect of happiness behind her. --
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Aaron Konstam telephone: (210) 656-0355 e-mail: akonstam at sbcglobal.net