[ubuntu-uk] Internet access for second user

[Stephen Drake]

On Sun, 2007-12-09 at 18:03 +0000, Keith Bowerman wrote:
> I have two large hard drives on this computer with Ubuntu 7.10 on the
> first and Kubuntu 7.10 on the second.
> 
> I am the administrator on both and there is a second user, my partner,
> on each.  When I boot up the machine and log-in in my name, Internet
> access is normal.  However, if my partner switches on the machine and
> logs-in in her name, the wireless network does not start and asks for
> the password.  Firstly my partner does not know the password and I can't
> see the point of her having to go through such a procedure anyway.
> Secondly, if we switch user to myself, the problem persists and short of
> resetting the network configuration the only way I can fix it is by
> rebooting and logging into my account.
> 
> This happens on both operating systems and it effectively means that my
> partner can only use the computer with Internet access when I am at
> home.
> 
> Has anyone any idea how to solve this problem for us?
> 
> Cheers,
> 
> Keith.
> 
> 
This is a well known problem with Network Manager as is does not
currently have a method for system-wide configuration. I believe the
next version (0.7) does have this ability. Until then you have three
options.

1. Configure the wireless connection for each user separately. This does
seem redundant, but it works. The downside is that you have to go
through each one again when you update the passphrase, which we all do
at least once a month ;)

2. Turn off roaming mode and use Network-admin (not sure what KDE has)
rather than Network Manager. I've found this to be rather buggy and
doesn't always come up on boot. Though that could just be my
card/driver.

3. Install a different wireless utility. Wicd and wifi-radar seem to
popular amongst the forum users. I've not used either for a while, so I
can't really recommend them.