NetworkManager menus doesn't show VPN options, connection information nor wireless network list with static configuration.

[Jordi R]

Binary package hint: network-manager-gnome

When static configuration is set up, the left-click menu only shows one option (manual configuration), it should also show the VPN configuration options and a list of available wireless networks. And the right-click menu doesn't allow to view connection information, the option is shown but disabled.
These two bugs were introduced by the recent update of NetworkManager (ubuntu7), ubuntu4 had all these options enabled.

[Cyp (cyprien-pouzenc)]

Precisely same problem, also since the recent update. No detection of available wireless networks, any possibility, except the static configuration.

[Martin Pitt (pitti)]

Have you tried these packages? They look promising:

network-manager-openvpn - network management framework (OpenVPN plugin)
network-manager-vpnc - network management framework (VPNC plugin)

Feedback appreciated!

[ekingery (pj-mfc)]

I have the same problem. It's not a matter of having the right vpn packages. The network-manager-pptp package works fine for me, until I try to go from dhcp to static IP. Then the icon only shows 'Manual configuration', and I can no longer get to my vpn connection. I have to completely re-install network-manager to get it back to the 'dhcp' state where the vpn connections show up. This seems to be the same issue as bug 107070 is addressing. I will post this info there as well.

[Martin G Miller (mgmiller)]

I have the same problem. I need to run a static IP on my feisty machine because it's a server for my house. I have been unable to use VPN since Dapper. If I set roaming mode, the vpn options appear in the nm-applet and I can establish the tunnel without error messages, but I can not access the machine I have vpn'd to.

[Martin G Miller (mgmiller)]

The 2 packages you suggested:

network-manager-openvpn - network management framework (OpenVPN plugin)
network-manager-vpnc - network management framework (VPNC plugin)

are not suitable for my case. I am trying to connect to a windowsXP VPN which uses pptp, so for me the correct package should be network-manager-pptp, which I am using.

I have discovered a work around for the static/DHCP issue. I created 2 locations in the network applet. 1 called static and one called roaming. I select the 1 I want and click the green check mark to apply it and wait for the network to respond. Some times I need to "sudo /etc/init.d/networking restart" to get it to work. This is clumsy, but easier than retyping all the static info every time.

Unfortunately, I still can't access what I have connected to.

[Eugen Pyvovarov (bsn.dev)]

for me when I am connecting to VPN via static configuration - I have this messages in syslog "NetworkManager: <WARNING>^I nm_vpn_manager_activate_vpn_connection (): nm_vpn_manager_activate_vpn_connection(): no currently active network device, won't activate VPN. "
when I am connected in roaming mode - all works fine

[Nemes Ioan Sorin (nemes-sorin)]

Hardy Heron - network-manager-pptp -> network applet show only 'Manual configuration...'

I have internet assigned by DHCP (cable modem)

Why the applet dialog can't stay there for ever ? no matter - static or dynamic IP ?

I wish to set up a VPN connection via pptp.