3.3 KInternet—Tool for User
Controlled Devices
If you do not use NetworkManager and do use KDE, manage your Internet connections
with KInternet, package kinternet.
The program checks whether an Internet connection can be
established. If this is possible, the application icon, a plug,
automatically appears in the right section of the KDE panel. Depending on
the state of the network connection, the panel icon changes appearance:
-
-
Currently there is no connection to the Internet.
-
-
The connection is being established or terminated.
-
-
The connection has been established.
-
-
Data is being transmitted to or from the Internet.
-
-
An error has occurred. If a connection has already been
configured with YaST, use to
identify the reason for the error. Access the menu by
right-clicking the KInternet icon.
-
-
The connection is not yet active, but will be established as
soon as a request is made.
HINT: Controlling the Connection from a Command Line
If you work in the command line or in a desktop where it is not
possible to use KInternet,
you can use cinternet. cinternet is a simple command line application. For
detailed information, refer to the cinternet(8)
man page.
KInternet does not provide any VPN configuration dialog. Configure a
VPN connection manually or using a dedicated client program.
3.3.1 Access YaST from KInternet
Right-click the KInternet panel icon to access its
configuration menu. Start the YaST configuration dialog with . After entering the root password, YaST starts.
Depending on the access type, start the modem, ISDN, network, or DSL
configuration of YaST.
If you are using an ISDN connection and selected
in YaST, add a second ISDN
channel to an existing connection with . This doubles the transfer rate (although at a higher
price). Activate channel bundling if you need to download large
files. Activated channel bundling is displayed with a red plus
symbol at the top left corner of the KInternet icon.
3.3.2 Multiple Network Interfaces
If your computer has more than one network device and you have
configured all of them with YaST, you can use the KInternet
option to switch between these
interfaces. If you have multiple providers as well, choose them using
in KInternet. Providers are also set in
YaST.
To enable other network interfaces in the KInternet, you must
have selected
device activation in the appropriate YaST network dialog.
3.3.3 Automatic Connection
To establish Internet connections automatically,
use dial on demand (DoD). If this mode is
selected, KInternet automatically connects to your Internet service
provider (ISP) as soon as a request is submitted. After a certain
time-out, the connection is terminated. A DoD connection is shown
with a blue D at the bottom right corner of the KInternet icon.
Note that DoD only makes sense if you have a flat rate
Internet account. If that is not the case, connecting and
disconnecting all the time can become very costly.
3.3.4 Wireless Cards
To access the WLAN functionality of KInternet,
right-click the icon to open the menu. Select and a window showing two tabs opens. First,
scan for suitable wireless networks to which to connect. Select the
tab and start the scan with
. For KInternet to continuously scan the
network environment, also select . Activate
acoustic feedback for each connection found with . Any connection found is displayed in the list
window. Select one and click to connect to the
selected network. If additional configuration efforts are needed to connect
to the selected network, click to open
the YaST network module for wireless network devices.
NOTE: Hidden Networks
KInternet does not provide support of networks that do not broadcast
their service
set identifier (ESSID).
The tab allows you to
monitor the state of your current wireless connection. The left-hand
view of this tab offers a summary of all connection parameters
for network address and ESSID, signal quality, signal and noise
level, channel frequency and speed, and encryption parameters, such
as type of encryption and key length. Select any of these parameters
in the tree structure and see the details displayed in the right
part of the window.
