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# systemctl restart wpa_supplicant
# systemctl restart NetworkManager
1) Why does killing wpa_supplicant interfere with NetworkManager's ability to connect me to unsecured networks including regular ethernet? I would have assumed wpa_supplicant was only for secure networks i.e. WPA/WPA2, and I know it can be used for 802.1X but I guess it does more than that-- or it wouldn't totally break NetworkManager? My initial web search didn't reveal any helpful documentation on this.
2) After NetworkManager restarts and I get network connectivity back with the desktop applet, why are certain drop-down options grayed out like NetworkManager doesn't have privileges to execute them or something? Why exactly does this happen? (i.e., beyond "because you restarted the processes as root"-- Right, but isn't that how it happens at boot time anyway? Why does it do this when I restart manually, but not when they are initially started?)
(Specifically, "Disconnect," "Connect to Hidden Wi-Fi Network..." and "Create New Wi-Fi Network..." when I left click on the applet, and when I right click, also "Enable Networking," "Enable Wi-Fi," and "Edit Connections..." are grayed out)
3) Regarding #2, how can I re-enable networking but restore regular user privilege to NetworkManager to un-gray-out those options?
Thanks,
Colm
(Using Linux Mint 20.2 MATE, Kernel 5.4.0-109-generic but same results on other recent kernels. Various ethernet and wifi hardware.)