netctl-auto and netctl switcht-to (wifi-menu)

[korylprince]

If I have the netctl-auto service enabled.
Trying to issue netctl switch-to, or use wifi-menu immediately fails:

The interface of network profile 'NETWORK' is already up

This seems really unintuitive to me. The fact that you have netctl-auto enabled means you are probably connecting to multiple networks, and it is highly likely you are connecting to new networks at least some of the time.

What makes it worse is that I can find no documentation of this in the man pages or on the Arch wiki. I spent a few days wondering why the only way I could get a new profile to work was to create it manually or with wifi-menu (which failed instantly) then rebooting.

Ideally, I would say netctl switch-to would take precedence over netctl-auto, if only by stopping the service.

Another alternative would be for wifi-menu to be able to detect netctl-auto running. In the case that it is, "connecting" to a network would just create the profile then restart netctl-auto which would then connect. (The problem with this is if two networks are available, netctl-auto would select one of them of it's own accord, I believe.)

Barring all that, at least put something in the man page about it?

I don't want to seem gripey. I think netctl is great! But I think more people than me are going to be bitten by this.

[joukewitteveen]

netctl-auto is a special way of using netctl. If you want to use netctl switch-to <profile>, you should first stop netctl-auto.

Your suggestion for wifi-menu is meaningful and I would welcome a patch. Otherwise you might be interested in using the Priority variable in profiles.

[korylprince]

I added a pull request. Github created another issue for it for some reason.

[jr0dd]

why can't these co-exist? wifi should always connect when in range and you want you should be able switch between networks as you choose. this is basic functionality. i personally have to switch between multiple wifi networks at work for testing purposes on our gear before it ships out. when i take my laptop home it should connect automatically to my home wifi. i do love netctl but this basic functionality really needs to be addressed.

[joukewitteveen]

You refer to #49.