funman300
134 lines
5.3 KiB
Markdown
134 lines
5.3 KiB
Markdown
# NetworkManager Activation Design
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**Date:** 2026-05-13
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**Status:** Approved
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## Summary
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Activate NetworkManager (already installed but disabled) and configure it to use `iwd` as its wifi backend. Disables `systemd-networkd` (the current connection manager) to avoid conflicts. Re-enables `nm-applet` and `networkmanager_dmenu` paths that were dead because NM wasn't running.
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## Current Behaviour
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- `iwd` is running — manages wifi at the protocol level
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- `systemd-networkd` is running — handles DHCP and link config
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- `NetworkManager.service` is installed but **disabled** (inactive/dead)
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- `nm-applet` runs at no-op (no dbus peer to connect to)
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- `networkmanager_dmenu` (waybar `network` module's on-click) errors with "NetworkManager is not running"
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End result: connectivity works, but the entire NM-based UI ecosystem (applet, dmenu picker, nmcli) is non-functional.
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## Target Behaviour
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- `iwd` continues running, now as NM's wifi backend
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- `NetworkManager` runs as the connection manager
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- `systemd-networkd` stopped and disabled
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- `nm-applet` shows connection state in the waybar tray (works because the SNI watcher chain works)
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- `networkmanager_dmenu` opens a wofi-style picker that lists/connects to known networks
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- Existing wifi profiles preserved (NM reads iwd's known-networks via the backend interface)
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## Implementation
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### Tracked dotfile
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**`NetworkManager/conf.d/wifi-backend.conf`** (new file in repo, deployed to `/etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/`):
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```ini
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[device]
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wifi.backend=iwd
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```
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This is the only file NM needs. It tells NM to delegate wifi to iwd (which is already running) instead of spawning its own `wpa_supplicant`. Modern, well-supported configuration on Arch.
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### `install.sh`
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Append one block in the existing system-deploy section (after the hibernate `sleep.conf.d` line):
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```bash
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sudo install -Dm644 "$(pwd)/NetworkManager/conf.d/wifi-backend.conf" \
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/etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/wifi-backend.conf
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```
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`install -Dm644` creates `/etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/` if it doesn't exist (it usually does, since the NM package ships an empty stub) and sets mode 644.
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### `packages.txt`
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Re-add `network-manager-applet` (removed in commit `4303562` when nm-applet was non-functional). Insertion can go anywhere — alphabetical-ish near the existing `networkmanager`-related lines.
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### `niri/config.kdl`
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Re-add the spawn-at-startup line (removed in same earlier commit):
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```kdl
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spawn-at-startup "nm-applet" "--indicator"
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```
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Position: with the other applet/daemon spawns, alphabetical order doesn't matter.
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### One-time service swap (manual, with sudo)
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Documented in README, not scripted. Two commands run once:
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```bash
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sudo systemctl disable --now systemd-networkd
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sudo systemctl enable --now NetworkManager
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```
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Why not script it: systemd unit state is persistent. Once flipped, it stays. Doesn't need to be in `install.sh` (which runs frequently). A one-time README instruction matches the existing pattern for `enable-hibernation.sh`.
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### `README.md`
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Append a subsection under `## Setup`, alongside the existing "One-time hibernation enablement":
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```markdown
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### One-time NetworkManager activation
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After `install.sh` deploys the NM config, swap from systemd-networkd to NetworkManager (one-time, persistent across reboots):
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\`\`\`bash
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sudo systemctl disable --now systemd-networkd
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sudo systemctl enable --now NetworkManager
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\`\`\`
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Wifi will drop for a few seconds and reconnect via iwd's stored profiles. If reconnection fails, re-enter the wifi password via `nm-applet` or `networkmanager_dmenu`.
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```
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## Files Touched
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| File | Action |
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|---|---|
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| `NetworkManager/conf.d/wifi-backend.conf` | created |
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| `install.sh` | append one `sudo install -Dm644` line |
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| `packages.txt` | re-add `network-manager-applet` |
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| `niri/config.kdl` | re-add `spawn-at-startup "nm-applet" "--indicator"` |
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| `README.md` | append "One-time NetworkManager activation" subsection |
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## Verification
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After `install.sh` + the two systemctl commands:
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```bash
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systemctl is-active NetworkManager # active
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systemctl is-active systemd-networkd # inactive
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nmcli general status # prints connectivity status
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nmcli -f WIFI-PROPERTIES.WPA general status # confirms iwd backend is alive
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nmcli connection show --active # shows the wifi connection
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busctl --user get-property org.kde.StatusNotifierWatcher \
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/StatusNotifierWatcher org.kde.StatusNotifierWatcher RegisteredStatusNotifierItems
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# should include nm-applet's tray entry
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```
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Behavioural checks:
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1. Wifi stays connected (after a brief drop during the swap).
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2. Click waybar's network widget — `networkmanager_dmenu` opens with available networks.
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3. The nm-applet tray icon shows current connection state.
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## Out of Scope
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- **Migrating iwd profiles to NM-format files** — not needed; NM reads iwd's known-networks via the backend interface.
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- **Removing `iwd`** — kept as the wifi backend.
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- **Removing the `networkmanager` package** — already installed; we just enable the service.
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- **DNS / dispatcher / split-tunnel / VPN config** — beyond scope; default NM behaviour is fine.
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- **Wired-only fallback** — out of scope; NM handles ethernet automatically when present.
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- **Deleting the obsolete `nm-applet` removal commit from history** — keep history honest.
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- **Auto-running the systemctl commands from `install.sh`** — out of scope; service-state changes are one-time and persistent.
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