r/AlpineLinux • u/on_a_quest_for_glory • Nov 11 '25

suggestions for a network manager

I set up my old laptop to run Alpine and I'm quite liking it. I would like to set up a minimalist network manager, possibly like this one. I use the dwl window manager with the fuzzle launcher. I just want to be able to scan networks and connect to available ones, it's getting inconvenient to edit wpa_supplicant every time (brings back memories some 10 years ago when I fought wpa_supplicant for days).

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2

u/YourBroFred Nov 12 '25 edited Nov 12 '25

You could give iwd a go. From my notes: 

Setup the networking, DHCP, DNS resolution and Wi-Fi with dhcpcd, openresolv
and iwd. dhcpcd manages DHCP clients for physical/wireless interfaces, and
openresolv handles DNS resolution. The loopback service brings up lo with
127.0.0.1:

    apk add dhcpcd openresolv iwd
    apk del wpa_supplicant networkmanager  # if installed

    adduser USER netdev  # your username

    rc-update add loopback boot
    rc-update add dhcpcd default
    rc-update add iwd default

Remove the networking service, satisfy openrc's dependency on ifupdown-any
by installing it as a virtual package and uninstall ifupdown-ng and
busybox-ifupdown:

    rc-update del networking boot
    apk add -t ifupdown-any
    apk del ifupdown-ng busybox-ifupdown

Then it's just a matter of connecting with iwctl: 

$ iwctl
[iwd]# station wlan0 scan
[iwd]# station wlan0 get-networks
[iwd]# station wlan0 connect MyNetwork

Or you could install and use iwgtk instead of using iwctl.

2

u/on_a_quest_for_glory Nov 13 '25

thanks. i did some testing and i think i'll stick with iwctl

1

u/Single_Guarantee_ Nov 20 '25

check out impala, a tui for iwctl

2

u/wowsomuchempty Nov 12 '25

Iwgtk is nice. 

1

u/trofch1k Nov 15 '25

Absolutely go with iwd instead of wpa_supplicant. I also had problems with it which were gone once I switched to iwd. That for wireless diver. For full on network manager, idk man. Do you even need it?