network-manager-openvpn does not see gconf configured connections

[Stein Henrik Jensaas]

Distro: Ubuntu precise

$uname -a
Linux pc2744 3.2.0-14-generic #23-Ubuntu SMP Fri Feb 3 23:17:59 UTC 2012 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

$ dpkg -l |grep network-manager-openvpn
ii network-manager-openvpn 0.9.0-0ubuntu1 network management framework (OpenVPN plugin core)
ii network-manager-openvpn-gnome 0.9.0-0ubuntu1 network management framework (OpenVPN plugin GNOME GUI)

I have a lot of machines with multiple users running openvpn. The configuration today ( on lucid ) is done automatic using gconftool, (cfengine) I am configureing two connections for each users with private certificates.

At the moment i am working with preparation for "precise", and found a problem with this.

1. Configuring openvpn with Network-manager-openvpn works OK.
    ( But it look like it stores the config in /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/MetNoVPN1 and MetNoVPN2,
      and not as expected in each users gconf )

   This is not an alternative due to +400 machines/users.

2. Configuring openvpn connections by using gconftools does not work:
    In lucid I was using the following gconf settings which was working very well:

$ gconftool-2 -R /system/networking/connections/MetNoVPN1
 /system/networking/connections/MetNoVPN1/ipv4:
  name = ipv4
  method = auto
 /system/networking/connections/MetNoVPN1/vpn:
  ta = /home/xxxx/.vpn/ta.key
  key = /home/xxxx/.vpn/xxxx_pc2744.key
  cert = /home/xxxx/.vpn/xxxx_pc2744.crt
  ca = /home/xxxx/.vpn/ca.crt
  username = xxxx
  service-type = org.freedesktop.NetworkManager.openvpn
  port = 443
  tap-dev = yes
  comp-lzo = yes
  proto-tcp = yes
  cipher = AES-256-CBC
  remote = xxx.xx.xx.xxx
  connection-type = password-tls
  ta-dir = 1
 /system/networking/connections/MetNoVPN1/connection:
  type = vpn
  id = MetNoVPN1
  autoconnect = false

4. When I open network-manager -> VPN-Connections : None of my connections is visible.

I have this as a question on
https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/network-manager-openvpn/+question/187838

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[Raphaël Pinson (raphink)]

I have the same issue.

When I installed my machine in Precise, network-manager-openvpn was correctly set up using gconf. Then I reinstalled the machine, keeping the home directory, and the settings disappeared.

[Raphaël Pinson (raphink)]

http://mail.gnome.org/archives/commits-list/2011-February/msg03861.html indicates that gconf is no longer used.

[Raphaël Pinson (raphink)]

It could be linked to http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Features/GConfRemoval

[Raphaël Pinson (raphink)]

The connections are now stored in /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections, in IniFile files.

[Steffen Neumann (sneumann)]

Hi,

I accidentally opened a duplicate of this under
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/987216

Because there seems to be no migration tool,
I loose all existing (wireless) connections upon upgrade.

We'd need at least some export / import feature
for the gconf -> /etc/NetworkManager/ migration.

Yours,
Steffen

[bojo42 (bojo42)]

Having suffered from this as well, i just posted "my migration path" under http://askubuntu.com/questions/129547/gnome-network-manager-config-file-migration