RFC: standardized network provisioning

[Chuck Anderson <cra WPI EDU>]

Has any thought been given to implementing standardized network
provisioning similar to how Apple's .mobileconfig works?

We are using CloudPath XpressConnect to provision Windows, Mac, Linux,
Android, iOS, etc. with our WPA-Enterprise EAP-TLS configuration &
certificates.  XpressConnect's Linux support uses a native Linux
binary and relies on communication with the NetworkManager DBUS API.
The rapid changes in this API and other system components on Linux
cause this to break frequently.  For example, XpressConnect works on a
freshly installed Fedora 20, but not one updated with the latest
package updates.

XpressConnect for iOS just generates a .mobileconfig file server-side,
and the client downloads that and installs it to configure the network
settings, install certificates, etc.  There is no client-side code at
all.

It would be nice if NetworkManager supported a similar methodolgy for
standardized network configuration provisioning.