Debian or Devuan connection managers and comparations

In original Debian theres some connection managers, the famous Network/mananger, the light Wicd python stupid suite and the newer true lighty focused Connamn, those have some special use cases and tipsand at the botton of the page a table comparison for easy choose.

Devuan&Debian Network Managers availables

There's the only packages by both :

1) Connman

Devuan and also Debian has the connman, available since Debian Jeesie, that are a wicd equivalent, but no python based, so its the best choice for light desktops, plus have some features that wicd does not! Have a UI GTK (connman-ui) and other QT (cmst) interfaces both minimal dependences.

Pros

• Very light, minimal interface
• Supports VPN, 4G and bluetooh also

Cons

• Lacks of connection editor, due its minimalist focused.
• No multiuser capable, due its focused on minimalist (if user logout and other login, issues happened)
• if a problem will happened, the solution will be hard to find.

2) Network Manager

The default in Debian comes with many MANY corrections respect Debian, see Debian bugs respect no systemd display managers integration with network manager Its the steroid based network connection manager in linux and have a KDE and GTK/Gnome UI availables. Devuan has some corrections, but don't expect too much

Pros

• Steroid based with all the flavors, can manage inclusively your eyes. (Wimax, 4G, PPPoE)

Cons

• Tons of dependences, many, many and of course
• if a problem will happened, the solution will be hard to find.

Wicd suite

The Default in Devuan, available since Debian lenny, comes only with basic, wired and wireless connections, some adhoc and ip settings.. its based on python so its a pain of horror if u change some python or want to upgrade due security reasons...  and their UI its GTK (wicd/gtk) or KDE only (wicd-kde).

Pros

• wired and wireless with WPA/WPK support. with profiles separation.

Cons

• Python based, so slow and so if some python change, wicd will not work any more…
• Ethernet only, no PPPoE/DSL support.
• Lacks VPN, Bluetooh or Mobile broadband managing connection.

 

Table comparison

Featured		'Network Manager'		'Connman'		'Wicd'
Systemd free?		Managed		Yes		Yes
3G		Yes		Yes		No
SMS		No		No		No
Bluetooth		Yes		No		No
Manual IP/DNS		Yes		?		Yes
ipv4 tunnel		Yes		no		no
Wireless		Yes		Yes		Yes
WEP WPA/WPE		Yes		Yes		Yes
Debian default		Yes		No		No
Devuan default		No		No		Yes
Wired		Yes		Yes		Yes
PPPoe		Yes		No		No
VPN X, Y, Z		Yes		Yes		No
wimax		Yes		Yes		No
system connections		Yes		Yes		Yes
connection sharing		Yes		Yes		No
multi user capable		Yes		No		Yes
Connection Editor		Yes		No		Yes
By plugins?		Many		few		few
Care mantained		Yes		No		Yes

Package names

A table based on Tipe feature related with the names to install with apt

Tipe/package		'Network Manager'		'Connman'		'Wicd'
Mobile		network-manager-pptp		connman		N/A
Wireless		network-manager		connman		wicd
Wired		network-manager		connman		wicd
PPPoe		network-manager-pptp		connman		N/A
VPN		network-manager-{vpnc/openvn/openconnect}		N/A		N/A
wimax		network-manager-{vpnc/openvn/openconnect}		connman		N/A
Bluetooth		network-manager-pptp		connman		N/A

A table based on GUi package related  with the names to isntall with apt

Feature/package		'Network Manager'		'Connman'		'Wicd'
Manual IP/DNS		network-manager-gnome		connman-ui/cmst		wicd-{gtk/ncurses/kde}
system UI config		network-manager-gnome		connman-ui/cmst		wicd-{gtk/ncurses/kde}
connection sharing		network-manager-gnome		connman-ui/cmst		N/A
multi user capable		network-manager-gnome				wicd-{gtk/ncurses/kde}
Connection GUI Editor		network-manager-gnome		connman-ui/cmst		wicd-{gtk/ncurses/kde}
Mobile GUI config		network-manager-gnome		connman-ui/cmst		wicd-{gtk/ncurses/kde}
PPPoe GUI config		network-manager-pptp-gnome		connman-ui/cmst		wicd-{gtk/ncurses/kde}
VPN GUI config		network-manager-{vpnc/openvn/openconnect}-gnome		N/A		N/A
wimax GUI config		network-manager-gnome		connman-ui/cmst		N/A
Ipv4 GUI tunneling		network-manager-iodine-gnome		connman-ui/cmst		N/A