nmtui-connect

View documentation for the original command

$ tldr nmtui

The phrase "nmtui-connect" refers to an action performed within the interactive nmtui utility, not a standalone command with direct syntax. Therefore, it does not have a unique command synopsis. However, to directly access the connection activation interface within nmtui, one can invoke the tool in 'connect' mode:
nmtui connect

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    The nmtui connect mode does not accept direct command-line parameters for connection selection. The process of choosing and activating a network connection is entirely interactive, performed through the nmtui graphical interface.

The command nmtui-connect is not a standalone executable or command in Linux. Instead, it refers conceptually to the process of activating or managing network connections within the nmtui (NetworkManager Text User Interface) program. nmtui provides a simple, curses-based graphical interface for configuring NetworkManager. Users launch nmtui and navigate its menus to perform various networking tasks, including activating existing connections, editing connection profiles, or setting the system hostname. When a user selects 'Activate a connection' within nmtui, they are presented with a list of available network profiles. Selecting a profile and confirming activates that connection, which is the action the phrase 'nmtui-connect' likely refers to. This interactive process abstracts away the direct command-line arguments typically found in tools like nmcli, offering a user-friendly way to manage network interfaces without complex syntax.

The term "nmtui-connect" is not a direct, executable Linux command. It serves as a conceptual shorthand for the action of activating a network connection using the interactive nmtui utility. Users must launch nmtui (or specifically nmtui connect) and interact with its text-based interface to perform connection operations. It is distinct from command-line tools like nmcli which operate non-interactively with specific arguments.

Upon executing nmtui connect (or launching nmtui and navigating to 'Activate a connection'), users are presented with a scrollable list of available network connections (profiles). These profiles can include various types of networks such as Wi-Fi networks, wired Ethernet connections, VPNs, or mobile broadband connections. Users navigate this list using arrow keys, select a desired connection, and press Enter (or the 'Activate' button) to initiate the connection. For password-protected networks, nmtui will interactively prompt for the necessary credentials within the terminal. This entire process is menu-driven and does not involve passing connection-specific parameters directly on the command line.

The nmtui utility, which facilitates the connection functionality referred to as "nmtui-connect," was developed as part of the NetworkManager project. NetworkManager is a critical system service for managing network connections and configurations on Linux. nmtui was introduced to offer a simpler, curses-based alternative to the more complex nmcli command-line tool. It emerged as a user-friendly interactive interface for common networking tasks, particularly beneficial for users without direct desktop GUI access or those preferring a terminal-based workflow. Its core 'connect' functionality has been an integral part of its design since its inception, providing an easy way to activate configured network profiles.

nmtui(1), nmcli(1), NetworkManager(8)