# Ways of Connecting

Wired, wireless, mobile broadband, VPN and DSL connections are supported in Ubuntu with Network Manager. Dialup modem connections are not supported, but you may still be able to set one up; see .

## Wired (LAN)

You will be connected to a wired network automatically when you plug in the network cable.

If you are not connected, your network may not have a DHCP service (DHCP is responsible for assigning network settings). In this case, you will have to manually enter your network settings.

### Manually entering your network settings

If you don't have DHCP on your network then you can configure a static connection. You will need to enter the network settings yourself, so check with your network administrator or look at your router's settings to find out which details to use.

1. Right click the Network Manager icon in the system notification area and click Edit Connections.

2. Click the Wired tab, select the connection and click Edit.

3. Click the IPv4 Settings tab and choose Manual from the Method drop down list.

4. Click Add and enter your IP address and other details. Enter the address of your DNS server too.

5. Click Apply. The network should now connect if you entered the settings correctly.

## Wireless

To connect to a wireless network:

- Ensure that your wireless device is turned on.

- Click the Network Manager icon in the system notification area.

- Under Wireless Networks click on the network you want to connect to.

If you have connected to the network previously, Ubuntu will automatically connect to the network where it is available.

If you are connecting to a network for the first time, security details may be needed. If so, a dialog box will open. Enter your security details as follows.

- In most cases the security type will be detected automatically. If not, select the security type from the Wireless Security drop-down box. This will depend on how the wireless network is set up. Examples of security types are WEP, WPA and LEAP.

- Enter the password, key or other authentication details as appropriate. These are usually case-sensitive. If you don't know your wireless key, it may be printed on the bottom of your wireless router.

- Click Connect. If you are prompted again for your security details, you may have entered them incorrectly, or there could be a problem with your wireless setup.

If you have a wired network connection as well as a wireless connection, the wired connection will be used by default.

## Mobile Broadband

Mobile Broadband means any kind of high speed Internet connection which is provided by an external device such as a 3G USB stick or mobile phone with built-in HSPA/UMTS/GPRS data connection. Some laptops have recently been produced with mobile broadband devices already inside them.

Most mobile broadband devices should be recognised automatically when you connect them to your computer. Ubuntu will prompt you to configure the device.

- The New Mobile Broadband Connection wizard will open automatically when you connect the device.

- Click Forward and insert your details, including the country where your Mobile Broadband device was issued, the network provider and type of connection (for example, Contract or pre-pay).

- Give your connection a name (it is up to you what name you choose) and click Apply.

- Your connection is now ready to use. To connect, click the Network Manager icon in the top right of the panel and select your new connection.

- To disconnect, left click the Network Manager icon in the top right of the panel and click Disconnect.

If you are not prompted to configure the device when you connect it, it may still be recognised by Ubuntu. In such cases you can add the connection manually.

- Right-click the Network Manager icon in the system notification area and click Edit Connections

- Select the Mobile Broadband tab.

- Click Add.

- This should open the New Mobile Broadband Connection wizard. Enter your details as described above.

## Virtual Private Networks

There are three types of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) that are currently supported by NetworkManager.

### Cicso VPN

You will need to have network-manager-vpnc and network-manager-vpnc-gnome installed to be able to connect to a Cicso VPN.

- Right click the Network Manager icon in the system notification area and click Edit Connections.

- Select the VPN tab.

- Click Add.

- Select Cicso Compatible VPN (vpnc) from the drop down box.

- Click Create.

- Specify a connection name in Connection name.

- Enter your details and click Apply.

- Click Close.

### PPTP VPN

You will need to have network-manager-pptp and network-manager-pptp-gnome installed to be able to connect to a PPTP VPN.

- Right click the Network Manager icon in the system notification area and click Edit Connections...

- Select the VPN tab.

- Click Add.

- Select Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP) from the drop down box.

- Click Create.

- Specify a connection name in Connection name.

- Specify the address of VPN you wish to connect to in Gateway.

- Enter a user name and password if required by your VPN.

- Enter the domain of your VPN if required, in NT Domain.

- Click Apply.

- Click Close.

### OpenVPN

You will need to have network-manager-openvpn and network-manager-openvpn-gnome installed to be able to connect to a OpenVPN.

- Right click the Network Manager icon in the system notification area and click Edit Connections...

- Select the VPN tab.

- Click Add.

- Select OpenVPN from the drop down box.

- Click Create.

- Specify a connection name in Connection name.

- Specify the address of VPN you wish to connect to in Gateway.

- Select the authentication you wish to use from the Authentication drop down box.

- Enter your details and click Apply.

- Click Close.

### Configuration Files

NetworkManager can load and save VPN settings for individual connections using configuration files.

#### Importing Configuration

You can use a previously saved configuration file to import VPN connection settings.

- Right click the Network Manager icon in the system notification area and click Edit Connections.

- Select the VPN tab.

- Click Import.

- Select your config file and click Open.

- Click Apply.

- Click Close.

#### Exporting Configuration

You can save settings for a VPN connection to a configuration file.

- Right click the Network Manager icon in the system notification area and click Edit Connections...

- Select the VPN tab.

- Choose the connection you would like to save settings for.

- Click Export.

- Choose the filename and location where you would like to save the configuration file.

- Click Save.

- Click Close.

## DSL

1. Right click the Network Manager icon in the system notification area and click Edit Connections...

2. Click DSL.

3. Click Add.