CentOS - Mar 2014 - Is there any benefit to using NetworkManager on a server with a static IP?

I've been banging my head against the wall trying to get a simple two NIC
bond to work. Got really odd behavior from service network restart, then
finally decided to disable NetworkManager. Voila! Bonding and the network
service script starts working just the way I expect.

Does anyone here actually use NetworkManager on anything but a laptop or
desktop? I can't seem to figure out a reason to use it on a server.

Chris

On 03/25/2014 10:35 PM, Christopher Jacoby wrote:
> I've been banging my head against the wall trying to get a simple two
NIC
> bond to work. Got really odd behavior from service network restart, then
> finally decided to disable NetworkManager. Voila! Bonding and the network
> service script starts working just the way I expect.
>
> Does anyone here actually use NetworkManager on anything but a laptop or
> desktop? I can't seem to figure out a reason to use it on a server.
I never use NetworkManager on CentOS-5 or CentOS-6 with static IPs ...
but that is more a personal preference than for any other reason.

I basically only use NetworkManager on wireless laptops that are mobile
because it is very easy to get an IP or connect to the VPNs I need from
many different places.  But I am a salty old dog .. and you know what
they say about teaching us new tricks :D

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On 03/25/2014 11:35 PM Christopher Jacoby wrote:
> I've been banging my head against the wall trying to get a simple two
NIC
> bond to work. Got really odd behavior from service network restart, then
> finally decided to disable NetworkManager. Voila! Bonding and the network
> service script starts working just the way I expect.
>
> Does anyone here actually use NetworkManager on anything but a laptop or
> desktop? I can't seem to figure out a reason to use it on a server.
>
> Chris
Three or four of five  times I tried using it and every time it messed 
things up much more than it helped.  And each time, after a bit more 
investigation and playing around with configuration files, I got things 
to work without using NM.  So I don't use it anymore... and don't 
recommend it to anyone else.

On 03/25/2014 11:35 PM, Christopher Jacoby wrote:
> Does anyone here actually use NetworkManager on anything but a laptop or
> desktop? I can't seem to figure out a reason to use it on a server.
Hi,

I asked a similar question on the NetworkManager list a while ago:

https://mail.gnome.org/archives/networkmanager-list/2014-January/msg00061.html

There's a reply from one of the developers.

-- 
Jorge

> Does anyone here actually use NetworkManager on anything but a laptop or
> desktop? I can't seem to figure out a reason to use it on a server.
I don't.  I do some fairly complex bonding, and do not use NetworkManager 
at all.  Make sure you have NM_CONTROLLED=no and HWADDR=<MAC address> in 
your interface config files.  I don't even have NetworkManager installed 
on my servers at all.

On 03/26/2014 10:40 AM, Steve Clark wrote:
> Not optional? You mean I won't be able to ip a s xxxx dev xxxx, etc?
>
> What is you have only a serial console?
>
There is a cli for NM in EL7, IIRC.

On Wed, Mar 26, 2014 at 9:05 AM, Christopher Jacoby <cjacoby75 at
gmail.com> wrote:
> I've been banging my head against the wall trying to get a simple two
NIC
> bond to work. Got really odd behavior from service network restart, then
> finally decided to disable NetworkManager. Voila! Bonding and the network
> service script starts working just the way I expect.
>
> Does anyone here actually use NetworkManager on anything but a laptop or
> desktop? I can't seem to figure out a reason to use it on a server.
>
IMO, Network Manager is for desktop users who may connect to the 'Net
in various ways, wired LAN, WiFi, USB data dongles (from Telcom
providers).

With bridging and bonding scenarios, it causes more heartburn than
ease of use. Server installs that I undertake personally, it is turned
OFF.

However, when I have had to service other admin's installation, for
networking issues, I turn OFF the Network Manager.

-- Arun Khan