RHEL how to sync network settings between GUI and configuration files in /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/?

Question

In RHEL, we can change network settings either using GUI or editing the configuration files in /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/.

I would like to know how the network settings (e.g. IP address, gateway, etc) in the configuration files are sync with the GUI and vice versa. Do I need to restart any service to sync the data?

1. When NetworkManager is running, do I need to turn off network service? e.g. /etc/init.d/network stop?

2. If I have edited the configuration files in /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/, and I want to sync the new configuration with the GUI, do I need to use /etc/init.d/network restart? If /etc/init.d/network has been stopped due to #1 above, how can I sync the new configuration from text files to GUI without restarting /etc/init.d/network?

3. When I change network settings in the GUI, will it automatically edit the configuration files in /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/? It will edit the file immediately or users need to reboot?

4. What is the relation between NetworkManager and system-config-network GUI? Is system-config-network GUI part of the NetworkManager package?

5. If I have stopped /etc/init.d/network service, can I still use the system-config-network GUI to configure network settings?

Thanks.

Answer 1

NetworkManager use a dynamic configuration, save settings with gconf for each user, whereas network-scripts are system global configure files, you're never getting them synchronized, and you don't need to.

When to use them?

In most cases, if you always use, e.g dhcp on your workstation, you don't need networkmanager, just set it up in network-scripts, (and turn off NM)

But for a laptop, that may use wireless, pppoe as needed, (e.g you move around between office and home) you will need NetworkManager to be more adaptive.