Re: NetworkManager multi-client support

[Dan Williams <dcbw redhat com>]

On Tue, 2010-03-16 at 12:43 -0400, Bill C Riemers wrote:
> I do not know if this is the same thing, but one really annoying think
> I have found with network manager, is the desktop icon for it only
> appears under one login.   Which means for example if my son gets up
> in the morning and logs into my laptop to play a game.   When I come
> down and press "switch user".   My login will have no access to
> network manager.   If I need to connect to vpn or such, I'm screwed.
> If the wifi connection drops and I need to change a setting, I end up
> having to logout, force logout my son, and then log back in, just so I
> can access the wifi settings.
> 
> Considering that Linux is designed from the ground up to be a
> multi-user multi-process operating system, this type of oversight
> seems unimaginable.   So what can I do to help to fix this?

Fast-user-switching has only really become feasible on Linux in the last
few years, and that's what you're looking for.  There's a plan in place
for supporting it though, so it'll show for an upcoming release.  Yes,
it sucks that it's not "supported" yet.  But we're working to fix that.

Dan

> 
> Bill
> 
> 
> On 16/03/10 01:52 AM, 代尔欣 wrote: 
> > Hi Dan,
> >    I add some comments below. Thanks!    
> > 
> > 2010/3/16 Dan Williams <dcbw redhat com>
> >         On Fri, 2010-03-12 at 09:20 +0800, 代尔欣 wrote:
> >         > Thanks! Dan. The clients I mean are 2 applications on same
> >         computer
> >         > and run at same time.
> >         
> >         
> >         Are the applications run as different unix users?  The
> >         current
> >         permissions model in Linux in general is largely tied to
> >         specific users;
> >         generally a user is allowed to perform some operation (like
> >         connecting
> >         3G) or they are not allowed to perform it.
> > The 2 applications run as same user.  
> > 
> >         
> >         If you don't actually care about permissions, then NM can
> >         certainly
> >         support the use-cases you mention, since any client using
> >         D-Bus can talk
> >         to NetworkManager.  But certain restrictions apply to
> >         telling NM to
> >         activate/deactivate connections due to security concerns.
> > It's an embedded device. Only one user available. So do not have
> > permission concern.
> > 
> >         
> >         To activate connections, the application must be running as
> >         the same
> >         unix user as nm-applet (or knetworkmanager, or whatever), or
> >         it must be
> >         running as root.  This prevents unprivileged daemons or
> >         other
> >         unprivileged users from hijacking your network connections.
> >          As long as
> >         these restrictions are met, the application can control
> >         network
> >         connections or get their status.
> > Questions about the use-case:
> > 
> > Assume the 2 applications are nm-applet1 and nm-applet2. And the 2
> > applications have implemented correctly.
> > 
> > After both application running, when activate the connection through
> > nm-applet1. Can nm-applet2 also know this and change to correct
> > status?
> > 
> > When the connection is *activating* through nm-applet1, user through
> > nm-applet2 activate the connection again! What will happen? NM
> > daemon can handle this or just confused.
> > 
> > 
> >         
> >         Dan
> >         
> >         > 2010/3/12 Dan Williams <dcbw redhat com>
> >         >         On Thu, 2010-03-11 at 13:56 +0800, 代尔欣 wrote:
> >         >         > Hi all,
> >         >         >        Does NM daemon support this usage? I know
> >         it's weird.
> >         >         But
> >         >         > please help.
> >         >         >
> >         >         > Device only have one wifi modem and one 3G
> >         modem.
> >         >         >
> >         >         > Client1:
> >         >         > a. User can connect wifi through it.
> >         >         > b. User can't connect 3G using it but it can
> >         reflect 3G
> >         >         connection
> >         >         > states.
> >         >
> >         >
> >         >         By "clients" do you mean two users or applications
> >         on the same
> >         >         computer?
> >         >
> >         >         Dan
> >         >
> >         >         > Client2:
> >         >         > a. User can connect wifi through it.
> >         >         > b. User can connect 3G through it but it do not
> >         need reflect
> >         >         3G
> >         >         > connection states.
> >         >         >
> >         >         > Can NM daemon handle multi-client?
> >         >         >
> >         >         > When connect 3G through client2, can client1
> >         know it?
> >         >         >
> >         >         > If user connect AP1 through client1, and then
> >         connect AP2
> >         >         through
> >         >         > client2, what will happen? And other
> >         combinations(e.g.
> >         >         client1->AP1
> >         >         > then client2->AP1 .....)
> >         >         >
> >         >         > Thanks!
> >         >
> >         >         > _______________________________________________
> >         >         > NetworkManager-list mailing list
> >         >         > NetworkManager-list gnome org
> >         >         >
> >         http://mail.gnome.org/mailman/listinfo/networkmanager-list
> >         >
> >         >
> >         >
> >         
> >         
> >         
> > 
> > 
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