editing wireless network interfaces

[pedora]

system-config-network handles the interface configurations, while NetworkManager handles the connections.

I read the above in the forum (from Iron Mike, I think). If I wanted to experiment and try editing the interfaces file, how might I do that? I googled and searched the forum but I'm not sure how yet. I thought I'd ask also to obtain an opinion and perspective from you, the respondent, and see what you thought of this approach. I was advised to do it this way as it is the preferred way. I guess it makes sense if one thinks the network managers don't work that well (i.e. NM, KNM). I might need a script, too?

I am used to looking at the file, /etc/network/interfaces, and there are several examples throughout the internet with discussions editing this file via the command line. But, I couldn't find any references to Fedora. Does Fedora use a different directory or something?

Is this a valid question? Is this recommended? I am not complaining so note that! I was just looking at options and would like to try various methods to configure wireless. I am planning to install a fresh copy of F8 on another computer and if I have to do 2 or 3 fresh installs until I'm familiar with configuring wireless, I will. I also want to learn how to install and use programs so that is the other reason for doing it.

I also want to learn how to install multiple distros so I can try the same with others. But, I would like to see if I can get things to work in Fedora so I will be starting this project soon. Okay, enough about that.

Does anyone know if any of the Fedora Documentation pages have a section on manual configuration of wireless interfaces? I am sure it would be a helpful guide.

Thanks.

Edit: P.S. this is the closest I came to finding something relevant to Fedora (but no one answered the guy's question):

http://fcp.surfsite.org/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=126194&topic_id=29451

[FriedChips]

I am not sure if this will answer your question or not but what Mike was referring to was that doing:
su
system-config-network
will bring up a gui wizard thingy to configure your network "devices".. Once your network "devices" are configured a system service called NetworkManager will handle keeping you connected to your chosen connections. See:
su
system-config-services
to make sure it is enabled.

[pedora]

Thanks for the quick reply. I was just mentioning that most of the discussion seems to be on the 'GUI way.' That is actually the way I am used to but I wanted to try the command way to see if there is any difference to note.

I am only used to seeing a /etc/network/interfaces file (in debian-based distro) and so editing something like:
auto wlan0
iface wlan0 inet dhcp
address xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
netmask 255.255.255.0
gateway 192.168.1.1

I am asking what the Fedora 8 equivalent is or how would I get to this file so that I could edit.

[Iron_Mike]

For Fedora, they are in:

/etc/sysconfig/network-scripts

The called ifcfg-eth0, ifcfg-eth1, ifcfg-wlan0, etc.....

[pedora]

I did find this actually before you posted but I'm glad it's been confirmed. I was using gedit to look around.

If only ifcfg-etho0 and ifcfg-lo is there, does that mean I have to add something like ifcfg-wlan0 manually or how would I find those files?

Right now, I'm connecting through wireless via scan or choosing an available host. Eventually, I'd like to configure a static ip or use an ip address outside of the dhcp range. But, for now, I am just trying to learn how I might edit the config file and see what happens.

This is what my current setup of iwconfig gives:
iwconfig
lo no wireless extensions.

wmaster0 no wireless extensions.

wlan0 IEEE 802.11g ESSID:"linksys"
Mode:Managed Frequency:2.462 GHz Access Point: 00:14:BF:7A:E5:69
Bit Rate=54 Mb/s Tx-Power=0 dBm
Retry min limit:7 RTS thr:off Fragment thr=2346 B
Encryption key:off
Link Quality=23/100 Signal level=41/100
Rx invalid nwid:0 Rx invalid crypt:0 Rx invalid frag:0
Tx excessive retries:0 Invalid misc:0 Missed beacon:0

eth0 no wireless extensions.

So, in theory, I would like to edit the main config file so that it might read somewhat differently (right?). Eventually, I'd like add a router into the equation.

[stevea]

Wow - such spectacular MISINFORMATION. The original quote is completely wrong.

system-config-network is a gui wrapper for an old old Redhat script system for configuring network interfaces.
NetworkManager(NM) is a relatively new Gnomic effort to produce an automatic network config system which also handles wireless authentication nicely for fairly simple end-user systems.

They both handle network interface config. That config may include wireless network interfaces. system-config-network only handles basic fixed wireless config (sets an interface to a fixed channel, fixed essid, key, ...) while NM will handle wireless authentication and supplicant config on a per-AP fashion.

NM is NOT dependent on system-config-network or it's underlying scripts (ifup ,ifdown etc). You can un-install the 'initscripts' package and NM still works fine. If you are using NM you *should* set the system-config-network settings to NOT start at boot.

These are two different and generally incompatible systems of network config.

==
If you want to understand how interfaces are set up you should read man pages and try the basic commands ...
ifconfig(deprecated), ip, iwconfig, iwlist, route, dhclient.

[stevea]

Youw "iwconfig wlan0" command just shows the settings your interface was last set to and your sig strength (your's is pretty low btw).

Look at the output of "iwlist wlan0 scan" to see what is in the air.