nmcli

nmcli is a command-line client for NetworkManager, the network management daemon used on many Linux distributions. It provides scriptable access to networking information and configuration, enabling management of devices, connections, VPNs, and radio settings from a terminal or in automation workflows. nmcli can report current status, bring interfaces up or down, and create, modify, or delete network connections without a graphical environment.

Usage and syntax: nmcli follows the pattern nmcli [OPTIONS] OBJECT { COMMAND | help }. OBJECTs include general, networking, radio, device, connection, and agent. Common commands include nmcli general status, nmcli device status, nmcli connection show, nmcli connection add, nmcli connection up, nmcli connection down, and nmcli networking on/off. For wireless networks, nmcli device wifi list and nmcli device wifi connect <SSID> [password] are frequently used. Connections can also be activated by name with nmcli connection up <name>.

Output and scripting: For automation, nmcli supports terse output with -t and field filtering with -f to limit the information displayed. It can be used locally or in scripts to configure interfaces, set IP addresses, DNS, routing, or VPN connections, and to enable or disable networking features. Most configuration changes require elevated privileges (for example, via sudo).

Availability and scope: nmcli is part of NetworkManager and is available on many Linux distributions that ship NetworkManager. It is well suited for environments without a graphical network manager or for administrators who prefer command-line workflows. While powerful, some advanced NetworkManager features may be easier to manage through GUI tools or alternative front ends.