10.4 Using KDE NetworkManager Widget

In KDE 4, the KNetworkManager applet for controlling NetworkManager has been replaced by the NetworkManager widget. Widgets are small applications that can be integrated into your desktop or your panel. If the network has been set up for NetworkManager control, the widget usually starts automatically with the desktop environment and is shown as icon in the system tray.

The NetworkManager widget shows the current network status as an icon and reports on changes using notifications. Use the widget to configure new network connections, to manually select another network connection, to disable the use of wireless networks, or to switch to offline mode altogether, if needed. The appearance of the icon depends on the type and state of the current network connection. Hold the mouse cursor over the icon to see details about the connection.

NetworkManager distinguishes two types of connections: trusted and untrusted. A trusted connection is any network that you explicitly selected. All others are untrusted. Right-click the connection icons to show a list of connections that you have already used at least once in the past. The currently used connection is marked in the menu.

Left-click any of the connection applets to choose another network connection at any time. Such a choice takes priority over automatically selected networks. The chosen network is used as long as it is available, meaning that plugging a network cable in does not switch to a wired network connection automatically.