How do I connect to a WiFi network using nmcli?

I am able to connect to a wireless network using nm-applet when running it in lightdm, however, it does not work in an openBox session that I start as myself (a user started X Session), but am not able to do so using nmcli.

I am running nmcli using sudo. After 90 seconds, I get a time out message. What could be wrong?

This is the configuration I must use -

9

2 Answers

1. In case the wireless interface is already connected to some other AP, first disconnect it using

    nmcli con down <AP name>

   Example: Supposing interface is already connected to 'PreviousAP', then disconnect it using

    nmcli con down PreviousAP

2. Now for Connecting to new AP

   Considering you know the AP name and password.

    nmcli device wifi connect <AP name> password <password>

   Example: AP name: Connect-to-this. WPA/WPA2 PSK: iampassword123

    nmcli device wifi connect Connect-to-this password iampassword123

   If you don't want to have the wireless password stored in your history in recent versions you can add --ask to have nmcli prompt you for missing information it needs (default behavior if password is not provided).

This will automatically create a file in /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/ with the AP name, which will contain the configuration.

ls /etc/NetworkManager/system-connections/Connect-to-this

Tested in Ubuntu 16.04 LTS.

3

To turn on WiFi

sudo rfkill unblock wifi
nmcli networking on

To list WiFi Networks

nmcli connection show

Output should be something like this

NAME UUID TYPE TIMESTAMP-REAL
Rishbh-Q1000 cd79a7a1-1cf4-49c3-ad58-21ab17d1ba05 802-11-wireless Thursday 18 September 2014 05:32:34 PM IST

ncmli allows you to connect via The UUID or ID (NAME, SSID)

Usage :

 nmcli connection { COMMAND | help } COMMAND := { list | status | up | down | delete } list [id <id> | uuid <id>] status [id <id> | uuid <id> | path <path>] up id <id> | uuid <id> [iface <iface>] [ap <BSSID>] [--nowait] [--timeout <timeout>] down id <id> | uuid <id> delete id <id> | uuid <id>

Example Usage in this case

• Connect :

  nmcli c up uuid cd79a7a1-1cf4-49c3-ad58-21ab17d1ba05

  or

  nmcli c up id Rishbh-Q1000

• Connect on specific wlan interface :

  nmcli c up id Rishbh-Q1000 iface wlan1

  or

  nmcli c up uuid cd79a7a1-1cf4-49c3-ad58-21ab17d1ba05 iface wlan1

• Disconnect :

  nmcli c down id Rishbh-Q1000

  or

  nmcli c down uuid cd79a7a1-1cf4-49c3-ad58-21ab17d1ba05

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