Wired VPN network connection icon needs to be fixed

[Hernando Torque]

The lock overlay on the wired network connection icon does really look bad. While it's fine with the wireless icons, I would rather assume that icon is corrupted than understanding that it's indicating an active VPN connection.

See attached screenshot.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.10
Package: ubuntu-mono 0.0.30
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.0.0-7.9-generic 3.0.0
Uname: Linux 3.0.0-7-generic x86_64
Architecture: amd64
Date: Wed Aug 10 01:49:51 2011
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot" - Alpha amd64 (20110630)
PackageArchitecture: all
ProcEnviron:
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: ubuntu-mono
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

[Matthew Paul Thomas (mpt)]

As I wrote in duplicate bug 1285726, VPN can be used with any physical layer, not just a wired connection. And I don't think it's practical to design icons, for every physical layer, that have a disposable corner just in case a padlock appears in that corner. And even if it was practical, whether you are connected to a VPN or not will often be too important for such a tiny emblem.

For those two reasons, I think it would be better for VPN to be shown with a completely separate icon. On PC at least, a separate icon implies a separate menu, but that's reasonable too -- VPN software on Windows and Mac often does that anyway.

[James Hunt (jamesodhunt)]

> And even if it was practical, whether you are connected to a VPN or not will often be too important for such a tiny emblem.
Agreed - VPN status should be as clear as possible since it usually suggests a more trusted connection so that indication should not really be crammed into a few pixels as it becomes indistinct.

On the topic of it being as clear as possible, can I suggest that the discrete VPN indicator does not flash? The current flashing padlock (shown bottom right of the wifi indicator) could be misconstrued: if you were too hasty you may see the padlock and assume the connection was up without necessarily noticing that it was in fact pulsing to show that the connection is _not_ in fact ready.

It would be clearer and safer I think to have a very distinct "unlocked padlock" which is completely static until the connection is fully up. At that point it could be changed to a "locked padlock". That seems unambiguous and we can always find another visual cue to add to the indicator which would be displayed in addition to the unlocked padlock to denote "connecting...".

[Antti Kaijanmäki (kaijanmaki)]

I agree that VPN should get it's own icon. We are already using the padlock in unity8 with wifi to indicate that you are connected to a secured network (IMHO very reasonable and understandable concept).

Given the fact that on the unity7 desktop the icon is coming from nm-applet and it has been the same for years now I see little point investing in trying to "fix" this on unity7. Instead we should aim that we get this implemented by the time unity8 hits the desktops. Having VPN on a phone or tablet is not a bad idea either, and I would really enjoy implementing VPN ASAP.

With unity8 we can have multiple icons coming from a single indicator and indicator-network is the most logical place to handle VPN.

[Antti Kaijanmäki (kaijanmaki)]

If we would have a whole icon for the VPN we might even move away from a padlock, as they are heavily used already in multiple different contexts. Maybe a shield with VPN written on it (VPN is universally recognized acronym):

http://a516.phobos.apple.com/us/r1000/064/Purple/v4/2c/a0/72/2ca07203-16ad-e8c9-553d-4d50add26cf3/mzm.nnnwksuw.png

[Matthew Paul Thomas (mpt)]

Reopened by request of Bill Filler.