nm-applet

nm-applet [OPTIONS]

--help
    Displays a brief help message and exits.

--version
    Prints the version information of the applet and exits.

--no-indicator
    Runs the applet but does not display an icon in the system tray. This can be useful for debugging or specific integrations where the visual indicator is not desired.

--indicator
    Forces the applet to display its icon in the system tray. This is often the default behavior but can be used for explicit clarity.

--gapplication-service
    An internal option used when nm-applet is started as a DBus service. Not typically used directly by end-users.

The nm-applet is a graphical user interface (GUI) component of the NetworkManager suite, typically residing in the system tray or notification area of a desktop environment.

Its primary purpose is to provide users with a convenient and intuitive way to manage network connections directly from their desktop. This includes connecting to Wi-Fi networks, configuring wired connections, setting up VPNs, and managing mobile broadband connections.

The applet displays the current network status, allowing users to quickly see if they are connected, what network they are on, and if there are available networks. It offers quick access to network settings, enabling users to enable/disable networking, select different Wi-Fi networks, input passwords, and edit connection properties. It's an essential tool for providing a seamless network experience on Linux desktops, abstracting away the complexities of command-line network configuration.

The nm-applet requires the NetworkManager daemon to be running in the background to function. It also relies on a graphical desktop environment with a system tray or notification area for its visual components.

Issues may arise if the desktop environment's notification area is not properly configured or if there are conflicts with other network management tools. Its functionality is entirely dependent on the underlying NetworkManager service; if NetworkManager is not working correctly, the applet will also fail to provide network management capabilities.

nm-applet is typically launched automatically by desktop environments (e.g., GNOME, KDE, XFCE) during user login. This ensures that the user always has a convenient way to manage their network connections without needing to manually start the applet.

Beyond the NetworkManager daemon, nm-applet depends on several desktop environment libraries and a system tray implementation to render its icon and menus correctly. It also often relies on polkit for privilege escalation when performing actions that require root permissions, such as adding new system-wide connections.

nm-applet is an integral part of the NetworkManager project, which was originally initiated by Red Hat to simplify network configuration on Linux, particularly for laptops and mobile devices that frequently switch networks. It was designed to replace cumbersome manual configuration with an intuitive graphical interface.

Over the years, it has evolved alongside the NetworkManager daemon itself, adapting to new network technologies and desktop environment standards (like GNOME, KDE, etc.). Its continuous development ensures it remains a user-friendly and robust tool for network management on Linux systems.

NetworkManager(8), nmcli(1), nmtui(1), nm-connection-editor(1)