documentation/docs/alpine-desktop-setup/post-install/network.md

# Network

## Using wifi

Although `dhcp` will already work out of the box, wifi will not. Luckily there exists `wpa_supplicant`. First install the necessary packages:

```
# apk add networkmanager-wifi wpa_supplicant
```

Then configure `/etc/NetworkManager/NetworkManager.conf` to use `wpa_supplicant`:

```
[main] 
dhcp=internal
plugins=ifupdown,keyfile

[ifupdown]
managed=true

[device]
wifi.scan-rand-mac-address=yes
wifi.backend=wpa_supplicant
```

Now restart the service and you should be able to connect with wifi.

```
# rc-service networkmanager restart
```

There are different frontends to configure connections but for now install `networkmanager-tui`:

```
# apk add networkmanager-tui
# nmtui
```

It should be self-explanatory how to use it.

To make it possible for users to edit connections create the config file `/etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/no-polkit.conf` with:

```
[main]
auth-polkit=false
```

## Using a VPN

NetworkManager can already use WireGuard but to use other VPN's it might be necessary to install their corresponding plugin. For OpenVPN that would be:

```
# apk add networkmanager-openvpn
```

## Security considerations

NetworkManager defaults are fine for normal usage but in terms of security they are definitely lacking.

### MAC Randomization

Create a config file `/etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/mac-rand.conf` to randomize the mac address every time your computer connects:

```
[connection-mac-randomization]
ethernet.cloned-mac-address=random
wifi.cloned-mac-address=random
```

### IPv6 privacy

Although ipv6 will be turned off in the [security section](https://docs.bijl.us/alpine-desktop-setup/post-install/security/#cmdline) you can still turn it on by editing `/etc/NetworkManager/conf.d/ipv6-privacy.conf`:

```
[connection]
ipv6.ip6-privacy=2
```