network manager keeps trying to connect to random wireless connections when already connected to wired connection

[Brett Sutton]

At work my laptop can see 10+ wireless connections, non of which I'm interesed in connecting to.

Even whilst I'm connected to a wired lan, network manager randomly pops open a request to enter the password for a number of these network connections. These requests seem to happen at random intervals during the day.

As I'm using gnome 3 this actually gets worse. When it asks for a wireless password I first get a gnome themed password prompt (which I cancel) and then i get the standard non-themed password prompt.

To make things even worse, if I attempt to go in and attempt to edit the wireless settings, the 'Configure...' button is disabled unless I'm already connected to a network. (ARGHHHHHHHHH!!!!).

Love,
Brett

lsb_release -rd
Description: Ubuntu 11.10
Release: 11.10

sudo apt-cache policy network-manager
[sudo] password for bsutton:
network-manager:
  Installed: 0.9.1.90-0ubuntu5.1
  Candidate: 0.9.1.90-0ubuntu5.1
  Version table:
 *** 0.9.1.90-0ubuntu5.1 0
        500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ oneiric-updates/main amd64 Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
     0.9.1.90-0ubuntu3 0
        500 http://us.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ oneiric/main amd64 Packages

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.10
Package: network-manager-gnome 0.9.1.90-0ubuntu6
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.0.0-18.31-generic 3.0.26
Uname: Linux 3.0.0-18-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 1.23-0ubuntu4
Architecture: amd64
CRDA: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory
Date: Thu Apr 5 09:18:57 2012
ExecutablePath: /usr/bin/nm-applet
IfupdownConfig:
 auto lo
 iface lo inet loopback
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.04 "Natty Narwhal" - Release amd64+mac (20110427.1)
IpRoute:
 default via 10.11.0.1 dev eth0 proto static
 10.0.0.0/8 dev eth0 proto kernel scope link src 10.10.0.222 metric 1
 169.254.0.0/16 dev eth0 scope link metric 1000
Keyfiles: Error: [Errno 2] No such file or directory
NetworkManager.state:
 [main]
 NetworkingEnabled=true
 WirelessEnabled=true
 WWANEnabled=false
SourcePackage: network-manager-applet
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to oneiric on 2011-12-19 (107 days ago)

[M Willis Monroe (willismonroe)]

I suffer from this as well, it is inconsistent (two dialogs) and annoying (why ask for wireless while connected to LAN*).

* NB: I understand if you want to connect to both wireless and LAN you should be able to, but in those instances the user probably knows how to select both networks and connect.

[Mathieu Trudel-Lapierre (cyphermox)]

No. NM will only try to connect to a network automatically if you have previously connected to the network, in the event that it's named the same but used elsewhere, etc; which would explain the password request. The fact that wired is connected doesn't stop this: you need to click Disconnect explicitly to have NM disconnect from the network.

If that doesn't work, then there ought to be an issue in gnome-shell, which reimplements the applet for its session.

As such, it also means you usually shouldn't be running nm-applet in a gnome-shell session; but I'll leave the exact debugging of what is happening and whether nm-applet is still needed in such a session to gnome-shell developers.

[Brett Sutton (bsutton)]

Mathieu,
thanks for the thoughts.

Firstly the issue with the password being re-requested is not to do with have two networks with the same name.
The problem occurs regularly when I arrive home. My wlan has a fairly unique name 'noojee' so I can be very certain that no one else is using it.

The NM developers seemed to have gone over-board in what I guess was an attept to simplify the nm interface.
The result of this is that if you 'accidently' click on a wlan connection from then on your laptop will continously try to connect to that wlan. The problem is that the NM developers have provided no means of removing that wlan from your 'auto connect' list.

If I've understood you statement regarding 'Disconnecting explicitly' which I've taken to mean 'disable you wlan' then that does work for me either as it disables all of my wlan connections when I just want to disable the ones that keep annoying me.

[Brett Sutton (bsutton)]

Sorry the last paragraph was missing the key word 'not'

If I've understood you statement regarding 'Disconnecting explicitly' which I've taken to mean 'disable you wlan' then that does NOT work for me either, as it disables all of my wlan connections, when I just want to disable the ones that keep annoying me.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

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

[Szymon Przybył (apocalyptiq)]

I have the same annoying issue while being connected to wifi by external USB wifi modem - NM displays from time to time prompt to connect to the same wifi connection, but using laptop built-in wifi modem.

[aj duncan (a-duncan)]

Also have this problem

[Mayank (mayankasthana1993)]

I have the same problem and it is very annoying.

[dino99 (9d9)]

EOL reached for that serie https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Releases

[kernc_ (kernc)]

dafuck dino99, this is still relevant in the latest release!

[kernc_ (kernc)]

manually Disconnecting and reConnecting another interface (e.g. wired) doesn't help.
so doesn't Disabling and re-Enabling Wireless, or Networking!

[kernc_ (kernc)]

a workaround: http://askubuntu.com/questions/112968/automatically-disable-wifi-wireless-when-wired/112969#112969

[MBi (stretchion)]

I've the same problem it tries to connect to a random networks whether I'm connected to LAN or not it tries. Ubuntu 12.1

[dino99 (9d9)]

This version has expired