Network Manager indicator does not always load wireless networks or VPN options

[Chris Roberts]

When I first login my wireless will connect just fine, but clicking on the wireless indicator will not list any wireless networks, nor the usual VPN options. As I use openvpn this is a problem. A simple network-manager restart always fixes the problem.

This issue occurs 1 in 3 logins and is not restricted to this laptop or release - I had exactly the same experience on my previous Toshiba laptop, and on other laptops which I have given to other staff, from clean installs.

All the laptops have openvpn installed, so it is likely that that is the common thread.

1) The release of Ubuntu:
12.10

2) The version of the package you are using:

||/ Name Version Architecture Description
+++-==============================-====================-====================-============================
ii network-manager 0.9.6.0-0ubuntu7 amd64 network management framework (daemon and userspace tools)
ii network-manager-openvpn 0.9.6.0-0ubuntu2 amd64 network management framework (OpenVPN plugin core)
ii network-manager-openvpn-gnome 0.9.6.0-0ubuntu2 amd64 network management framework (OpenVPN plugin GNOME GUI)
ii openvpn 2.2.1-8ubuntu2 amd64 virtual private network daemon

3) What you expected to happen

For the wireless indicator menu to fully populate, enabling me to change wireless network, or connect to a VPN.

4) What happened instead

Wireless connected, but menu failed to populate, leaving only the following options:

Enable wireless
Enable wired
Connection information
Edit connections

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.10
Package: network-manager 0.9.6.0-0ubuntu7
Uname: Linux 3.6.3-030603-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.6.1-0ubuntu10
Architecture: amd64
Date: Fri Mar 29 07:17:09 2013
EcryptfsInUse: Yes
IfupdownConfig:
 # interfaces(5) file used by ifup(8) and ifdown(8)
 auto lo
 iface lo inet loopback
InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-01-29 (58 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.10 "Quantal Quetzal" - Release amd64 (20121017.5)
IpRoute:
 default via 192.168.0.1 dev wlan0 proto static
 169.254.0.0/16 dev wlan0 scope link metric 1000
 192.168.0.0/24 dev wlan0 proto kernel scope link src 192.168.0.60 metric 9
 192.168.122.0/24 dev virbr0 proto kernel scope link src 192.168.122.1
MarkForUpload: True
NetworkManager.state:
 [main]
 NetworkingEnabled=true
 WirelessEnabled=true
 WWANEnabled=true
 WimaxEnabled=true
SourcePackage: network-manager
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)
nmcli-dev:
 DEVICE TYPE STATE DBUS-PATH
 eth0 802-3-ethernet unavailable /org/freedesktop/NetworkManager/Devices/1
 wlan0 802-11-wireless connected /org/freedesktop/NetworkManager/Devices/0
nmcli-nm:
 RUNNING VERSION STATE NET-ENABLED WIFI-HARDWARE WIFI WWAN-HARDWARE WWAN
 running 0.9.6.0 connected enabled enabled enabled enabled disabled