Only root can utilize nm-applet and nmcli as part of NetworkManager - how can other users use it w/o root?

["Thomas Schneider" <c monty web de>]

Hello!

 

I have installed latest version of NetworkManager and nmcli respectively + OpenVPN plugin or NetworkManager.

 

user pc1-asus:~$ apt-cache policy network-manager
network-manager:
  Installiert:           0.9.10.0-5
  Installationskandidat: 0.9.10.0-5
  Versionstabelle:
 *** 0.9.10.0-5 0
        500 http://ftp.debian.org/debian/ jessie/main i386 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

user pc1-asus:~$ apt-cache policy network-manager-gnome
network-manager-gnome:
  Installiert:           0.9.10.0-2
  Installationskandidat: 0.9.10.0-2
  Versionstabelle:
 *** 0.9.10.0-2 0
        500 http://ftp.debian.org/debian/ jessie/main i386 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
user pc1-asus:~$ apt-cache policy network-manager-openvpn
network-manager-openvpn:
  Installiert:           0.9.10.0-1
  Installationskandidat: 0.9.10.0-1
  Versionstabelle:
 *** 0.9.10.0-1 0
        500 http://ftp.debian.org/debian/ jessie/main i386 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
user pc1-asus:~$ apt-cache policy network-manager-openvpn-gnome
network-manager-openvpn-gnome:
  Installiert:           0.9.10.0-1
  Installationskandidat: 0.9.10.0-1
  Versionstabelle:
 *** 0.9.10.0-1 0
        500 http://ftp.debian.org/debian/ jessie/main i386 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

 

All maintained connections are working. This includes OpenVPN connection type, too.

However, in order to use either nm-applet or command-line client nmcli, I need to be root.

The issue I'm facing is that with older release I could use either nm-applet or nmcli without root authorization.

This becomes a critical issue in a multi-user desktop PC where most user neither have root authorization nor can utilize sudo.

 

Question:

How can I ensure that both, nm-applet and nmcli, can be used without root authorization?

 

THX