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Fix Alt Linux 11 WiFi Not Detected After Install

Resolve Alt Linux Server 11 GNOME WiFi adapter not found issue. Change NM_CONTROLLED=yes in /etc/net/ifaces, diagnose with lspci, dmesg, nmcli. Safe fix for NetworkManager unmanaged interfaces.

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Alt Linux Server 11 (GNOME) doesn’t detect my Wi‑Fi adapter after installation — it was visible during the installer and works in Windows and in another Linux (Simply Linux 11). GNOME Settings shows “adapter not found” and nmcli reports no wireless interface. How can I restore Wi‑Fi and diagnose the root cause?

Details:

  • Hardware: mini PC with two Ethernet ports and built-in Wi‑Fi (I also tested an old Samsung 550 laptop with the same issue).
  • During installation all interfaces were visible and enabled, but after installation the Wi‑Fi adapter disappeared.
  • I inspected the interface file /etc/net/ifaces/wlp3s0 and found these lines:
    SYSTEMD_CONTROLLED=no
    DISABLED=no
    TYPE=eth
    CONFIG_WIRELESS=yes
    BOOTPROTO=dhcp
    SYSTEMD_BOOTPROTO=dhcp4
    CONFIG_IPV4=yes
    NM_CONTROLLED=no
    I changed NM_CONTROLLED=no to NM_CONTROLLED=yes and after a reboot the Wi‑Fi adapter was detected and started working.

Questions:

  1. Is changing NM_CONTROLLED to yes the correct and safe way to let NetworkManager manage the Wi‑Fi interface? Any side effects?
  2. Why would Alt Linux Server set NM_CONTROLLED=no (and TYPE=eth) by default so the interface is unmanaged by NetworkManager?
  3. How can I properly diagnose similar problems (which logs/commands to check, and which driver/firmware or packages to install) so I can fix systems where the adapter still doesn’t appear?

In Alt Linux 11, WiFi adapters like yours often vanish after installation because NM_CONTROLLED=no in /etc/net/ifaces/wlp3s0 tells NetworkManager (or networkmanager alt linux) to ignore the interface, treating it as manually managed. Flipping it to NM_CONTROLLED=yes is the right fix—your WiFi popped back up safely, and that’s standard for restoring linux не работает wifi issues. For diagnosis, hit lspci, dmesg | grep wifi, and nmcli device to spot driver or firmware gaps before tweaking configs.


Contents


What NM_CONTROLLED Means in Alt Linux

Ever wonder why your shiny new Alt Linux 11 install suddenly acts blind to hardware that worked fine in the installer? It’s often this sneaky line: NM_CONTROLLED=no in interface files like /etc/net/ifaces/wlp3s0.

This flag hands control from NetworkManager to traditional scripts (think ifup/ifdown). Your file shows TYPE=eth too, which screams “treat me like wired Ethernet, not wireless.” And CONFIG_WIRELESS=yes? That’s just a hint—without NM oversight, it sits idle. In alt linux настройка сети, flipping NM_CONTROLLED bridges that gap, letting nmcli and GNOME Settings see the adapter again.

But is it always the villain? Not quite. Servers prioritize stability over auto-discovery.


Safely Enabling NetworkManager for Your WiFi Adapter

You nailed it by editing to NM_CONTROLLED=yes and rebooting—WiFi lit up. That’s textbook, and safe for most setups. Here’s why, broken down:

No major side effects if your config’s clean. NM takes over DHCP (BOOTPROTO=dhcp), scans SSIDs, and handles roaming without clashing scripts. Your SYSTEMD_CONTROLLED=no stays fine; it just skips systemd-networkd interference.

Quick how-to for permanence:

  1. sudo nano /etc/net/ifaces/wlp3s0
  2. Set NM_CONTROLLED=yes
  3. sudo systemctl restart NetworkManager
  4. nmcli device wifi list—boom, networks appear.

Tested this on similar alt linux wifi woes? It sticks through updates. Rare gotcha: if static IP scripts linger, NM might whine in logs—zap 'em with nmcli con delete <old-prof>.

For your GNOME setup, refresh Settings > WiFi after. Works like a charm.


Why Alt Linux Server 11 Defaults to NM_CONTROLLED=no

Alt Linux Server (GNOME flavor) ships wired for datacenters, not laptops. Why NM_CONTROLLED=no and TYPE=eth out of the box?

Blame the server mindset. Installers detect everything, but post-boot, it favors ifcfg-style files in /etc/net/ifaces/ for predictability—no NM auto-tweaking production nets. Orcacore nails it: servers crave manual ifup/down for bonds, VLANs, static IPs. Your dual-Ethernet mini PC? Perfect candidate—WiFi’s an afterthought.

Alt linux сервер echoes RHEL/SUSE: deprecated ifcfg-rh, but alt linux clings for legacy. Matrixpost explains the shift to keyfiles, yet servers default unmanaged to dodge DHCP surprises. Your Samsung laptop mirroring it? Same installer logic—hardware tagged “server-like.”

Change it? Sure, but know reboots/updates might revert. Pin with autoconnect=yes in NM profiles.


Step-by-Step Diagnosis for Missing WiFi

Linux не работает wifi after install? Don’t guess—probe systematically. Start here:

Check visibility:

lspci | grep -i network

No WiFi chip? Kernel blind. See it (e.g., Intel AX200)? Proceed.

NM status:

nmcli device status
nmcli connection show

“Unmanaged” or absent? Your clue.

Logs scream truth:

dmesg | grep -i wifi
dmesg | grep firmware
journalctl -u NetworkManager -xe

Firmware fails like “failed to load iwlwifi-…”? Driver half-loaded.

Your case: NM_CONTROLLED=no hid it from NM, despite kernel seeing it. Dell Support and Kali Docs swear by this combo for “no adapter found.”

Pro tip: iwconfig or ip link confirms layer 2 up/down.


Fixing Drivers and Firmware Issues

Adapter ghosts despite NM? Alt linux драйвера time. Common culprits:

Identify module:

lspci -vnn | grep Network -A 12
lsmod | grep wifi

Intel? iwlwifi. Realtek? rtl88xx.

Force load:

sudo modprobe iwlwifi # or your driver

Fails? Firmware missing. IT’s FOSS guides: snag from linux-firmware.git, drop in /lib/firmware, reload.

Packages:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install linux-firmware firmware-iwlwifi # Intel

Alt Linux repos mirror this—apt search firmware-linux.

VM? Nah, your mini PC’s native. Veeble echoes: live USB tests rule out hardware.

Reload NM: sudo nmcli networking off && sudo nmcli networking on. Et voilà.


Testing on Multiple Devices Like Your Mini PC

Mini PC + Samsung both flaking? Batch diagnose:

  1. Boot live Alt Linux ISO—confirms hardware.
  2. Compare lspci -vv across Windows/Simply Linux.
  3. Edit all /etc/net/ifaces/wl* to NM_CONTROLLED=yes, TYPE=Wireless.
  4. sudo apt-mark showmanual | grep firmware—install gaps.

For servers: Bond WiFi as slave? Skip—use Ethernet primaries.

HowToUseLinux cheat sheet: nmcli device set wlp3s0 managed yes. Persistent across your fleet.

GNOME quirk: Kill gnome-network-displays if interfering. Reboot, scan—fixed.


Sources

  1. NetworkManager - Wikipedia
  2. Mastering Linux NetworkManager and its nmcli - .matrixpost.net
  3. The nmcli command on Linux Examples and Usages
  4. Configure Network Settings Using Network Manager in Linux | Baeldung on Linux
  5. Setting Up and Managing Network Connections Using NetworkManager | SUSE
  6. How to Configure IP Networking with ‘nmcli’ in Linux
  7. Ultimate nmcli Cheat Sheet for Linux Network Management - howtouselinux
  8. Easy Steps To Disable NetworkManager on AlmaLinux 8
  9. Resolving “No Wifi Adaptor Found” Error in Ubuntu - Veeble Hosting
  10. How to troubleshoot Wireless network issues in Ubuntu Linux on your Dell PC | Dell US
  11. Troubleshooting Wireless Drivers | Kali Linux Documentation
  12. Kernel latest wifi-card firmware load failed :: IT’S FOSS
  13. How to Troubleshoot WiFi Drivers on Linux - UMA Technology

Conclusion

Setting NM_CONTROLLED=yes in Alt Linux 11 ifaces is your go-to for reclaiming WiFi from server defaults—safe, quick, no drama. It stems from alt linux сервер bias toward manual nets, but diagnosis via lspci, dmesg, and nmcli uncovers drivers or firmware next time. Arm yourself with those commands, tweak packages, and your mini PC (or any rig) stays connected. Problem solved, no more “adapter not found” headaches.

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Fix Alt Linux 11 WiFi Not Detected After Install