nmtui
Configure network connections using a text interface
TLDR
Open the user interface
List available connections, with the option to activate or deactivate them
Connect to a given network
Edit/Add/Delete a given network
Set the system hostname
SYNOPSIS
nmtui
PARAMETERS
--help
Display help text and exit.
--version
Display the version number and exit.
--edit
Directly open the connection editor.
--connect
Directly open the activate a connection menu.
--hostname
Directly open the set system hostname menu.
DESCRIPTION
nmtui
is a curses-based text user interface (TUI) for managing NetworkManager. It provides a convenient way to configure network connections, activate or deactivate network interfaces, and set up hostnames directly from the terminal. It's particularly useful on systems without a graphical environment, such as servers or systems accessed via SSH. nmtui
presents a menu-driven interface, allowing users to easily navigate and modify network settings. Changes made using nmtui
are persistent and are applied using NetworkManager. This tool simplifies common network tasks such as configuring Ethernet, Wi-Fi, and VPN connections without needing to manually edit configuration files or use command-line tools like nmcli
.
CAVEATS
nmtui
requires NetworkManager to be installed and running. It needs terminal access. Using it in environments with limited terminal capabilities may result in unexpected behavior.
KEY BINDINGS
The nmtui
interface is navigated using the keyboard. Arrow keys move the cursor, Enter selects an option, Spacebar toggles checkboxes, and Tab cycles through options. Esc key is generally used to exit or cancel.
CONFIGURATION FILES
nmtui
uses the same configuration files as NetworkManager, typically stored in /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/
. Editing these files directly is not recommended while NetworkManager or nmtui
is running, as it may lead to conflicts and data loss.
Changes made with nmtui
are written to these files.
HISTORY
nmtui
was developed as part of the NetworkManager project to provide a more user-friendly interface for managing network connections in environments where a graphical user interface is not available. Its purpose is to simplify common networking tasks for administrators and users, especially on server systems.
SEE ALSO
nmcli(1), NetworkManager(8)