Auto-connect to hidden wireless without elevating privilege

When I boot my laptop into Ubuntu 10.10, the wireless won't automatically connect; it is configured, and I can get a connection using "Connect to Hidden Wireless Network..." and selecting the name from the drop-down - however, the first time (per boot) I do this, it asks me to elevate myself. The connection works if I then surrender the elevated privilege. The connection is set as available to all users, and to connect automatically.

What I would like is that it silently and automatically connect to the wireless. How can I do that?

3 Answers

If even after all warnings about using a hidden SSID you still want to use it, this is how you can do it.

Create a script, e.g. ~/bin/nm-connect-me.sh with the follwing contents:

#!/bin/sh
#
# Automatically try to connect to 'MyWiFi' when WiFi is enabled
#
# the output of nmcli should be in English
LC_ALL=C
# loop for a while until NetworkManager is accepting commands
while [ "$(nmcli -t -f WIFI,STATE nm)" = 'enabled:disconnected' ]
do nmcli con up id MyWiFi sleep 5
done
exit 0

Then add it to your list of startup applications.

Of course you have to replace MyWiFi by your SSID name.

This information has been extracted from:

I'd recommend not to use hidden network settings, because you'll have nothing but trouble from it (I am telling you this from my own personal experience).

It is not a security feature, in fact, if you google it a bit, you'll discover that your network can actually be less secure with hidden SSID. It may also be the cause you need to elevate..

See

You can set the keystore password to blank, therefore you will not be asked for a password anymore (I mean the keystore password, not your account password, obviously).