Table of Contents
ifconfig
A part of your command line toolset, ifconfig can be used out of your CLI or terminal emulator and is the bedrock of network management – many different network managing tools roll this up as a part of the package, whereas some people choose to make use of it direct. Check the docs for instructions on the choices available
Ease-of-use
As a command line tool, ease of use could be very subjective. Learning it from scratch is far more difficult than determining how the individual elements work in a graphical tool. Having said that, as soon as you realize exactly what you’re doing, it may be quick and really useful.
Features
There are many features hidden away in ifconfig for various connection settings such as MTUs and tunnelling together with the basic features wanted to get a wired or wi-fi network setup. The re’s no proxy control happening although that you can append to settings, that means you’ll want an external program for that.
Customisation
Being a command line tool it’s dangerously customisable in that any function might be finished actually however you need – it’ll simply break the connection way more simply than you’d be able to do with the graphical instruments on this take a look at. This additionally means you’re extra in a position to usher in external data to enter into your fields, which other tools don’t allow.
Privacy
IP tunnelling is about the only factor you are able to do when it comes to privacy with out bringing in external proxy or Tor tools. Tor is much more powerful than the tools you may get for ifconfig, however some additional type of privacy management would nonetheless be a great addition if the tool have been ever to be updated.
Overall
5/10
Ifconfig is a simple command line tool that does the job it was designed for and quite well at that. Should you’re running a command line interface it’s still a superb way to configure your network.
GNOME Network
A easy app you’ll discover in many Ubuntu spins, and one which’s been round for completely years, the GNOME Community app is a simplified network connections supervisor that’s very a lot in step with GNOME design. It’s additionally one which most individuals will have used at some point.
Ease-of-use
As a GNOME app, Network is easy to navigate and laid out very plainly and easily within a single window. All the key choices can be found from right here with extra advanced settings available by a clearly labelled button. It’s traditional GNOME design however instead of taking away options, it instead just makes everything a bit of easier to get to.
Features
The re’s a first rate choice of features accessible throughout Network, with advanced setup for various networks you’ve set up. The re’s additionally an airplane mode, just like that in a mobile phone, and one other example that GNOME is thinking extra when it comes to portable computing nowadays.
Customisation
Each wired and wi-fi have fairly nice customisation controls, permitting you full control over addresses for both IPv4 and v6 together with various security controls and even the flexibility to turn the wireless communications into a hotspot. It’s about the identical as you’d get from one thing like ifconfig however it’s offered loads better.
Privacy
In addition to the aforementioned airplane mode that’s fairly good for simply cutting off all entry, there are easy proxy controls that can be utilized system-vast to give you slightly more safety over the internet. The y’re nothing on Tor however they do much more than your normal connections.
Total
8/10
Community is one of the few GNOME apps that we really like, because the simplification course of has made it simpler to use and not dumbed down your entire application. If you happen to’re using it by default, you’ve got an ideal app.
Network Tools
Once more pre-put in in many Ubuntu spins, Network Tools is the more superior counterpart to GNOME Network. Offering all types of functionality, it’s typically the primary port of name for many who want to undertake extra involved community detection duties or determine problems.
Ease-of-use
Whereas barely more intimidating for newcomers, the main tab in Network Instruments has nearly everything you want for regular network management, though it does depend on default system wi-fi managing the place it can. The extra advanced features are plainly labelled.
Features
There are a huge amount of different networking features not just for connecting and seeing what’s round but also for trying round your network for any problems. It manages much more than simply your native network adapters; it can handle your complete community if that’s a factor you’d want it to do.
Customisation
It’s nice for a lot of the sniffing and routing tools but for the actual network connection it’s somewhat missing. It’s good that you are able to do actually customised network detection functions however we’re concentrating a little bit extra on truly making the connection to the network on this check.
Privacy
Other than figuring out the vulnerabilities in your network, the re’s no solution to truly make your connection private from inside the app itself. No proxy, no tunnelling and definitely no Tor tools either. It’s somewhat ironic you can work out the issues together with your network after which can’t actually fix them in your laptop.
Overall
6/10
Network Tools is superb for particular makes use of however for really managing network connections it falls a bit shy. It’s not likely its fault, although, and it’s nice should you want a correct and fast look by way of your network.
Wicd
One thing of a rising star, Wicd has been turning up because the default network manager in more and more Linux distros of late. It boasts a variety of interesting options, too, together with few dependencies and separate profiles for every network connection.
Ease-of-use
Placing every little thing necessary up entrance, Wicd makes connecting to any wi-fi community simple whereas additionally having nice controls for wired networks as properly. Any configuration menus are tied to the person connections as nicely, and a few fast choices to disconnect every thing and switch Wi-Fi off are available.
Features
In addition to the functions throughout the individual connections’ preferences, there are some advanced settings accessible through the interface to get just a little bit extra out of the network, from deciding on what external programs to make use of when making adjustments to switching the drivers as nicely.
Customisation
Virtually each a part of the networking is in some way configurable – from the IP settings and network ID right down to The Best way the drivers and low- stage programs join and work together. This lets you really get the optimum connection settings for almost any state of affairs and goes loads deeper than the opposite apps on this check.
Privacy
For all of the editing and customising you are able to do for the person connections and adapters, there are not any proxy tools and an almost hidden-away tunnelling option. Wicd might be one thing you’d be using in conjunction with Tor, if you wish to have a bit more privacy.
Overall
9/10
Of a restricted collection of managers, Wicd is clearly the perfect of the bunch. Its popularity is well earned on this case it’s nice to see it popping up more and more in distros as the default manager.
And the winner is…
Wicd
It actually was a tricky one, with the battle in the end coming down to GNOME Network and Wicd, however in the end it was Wicd’s wide array of deeply customisable options and good design that gave it the edge. Whereas GNOME Community is a better-looking and better-functioning GNOME app than most, the minimal design isn’t for everyone – particularly those that wish to go into extra element on certain aspects of their network and connections. With Wicd, having all the instruments and information available doesn’t translate into the kind of complexity you get with Network Tools. Instead, it’s just as straightforward to use as GNOME Network however with far more so that you can really play with.
Feature-wise, we notably just like the separate connection profiles – an actual boon if you end up switching between connections that require completely different settings very often. Greater than that, although, it’s the truth that the entire superior choices are hugely configurable. If you end up needing to step past the usual day-to-day use of a network supervisor, it’s likely you won’t have
to go for a secondary software as you’ll with one thing like GNOME Community. Except, after all, you’re involved in regards to the lack of privacy options – our only real gripe with this in any other case excellent network manager.
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