connect to wifi nixos

2 min read 16-10-2024

NixOS, a unique Linux distribution known for its declarative configuration model, may pose some challenges for newcomers when it comes to connecting to Wi-Fi networks. However, with a little guidance, you can easily set up your wireless connection. This article will walk you through the steps to connect to Wi-Fi on NixOS.

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have the following:

NixOS Installed: Make sure you have NixOS installed and running on your machine.
Wireless Adapter: Ensure your machine has a wireless adapter that is recognized by the NixOS kernel.
NetworkManager (Optional): While not mandatory, having NetworkManager installed can simplify the process of managing your network connections.

Step 1: Identify Your Wireless Adapter

First, check if your wireless adapter is recognized by the system. Open your terminal and execute:

ip link

Look for a device that typically starts with wlan (e.g., wlan0). If you see it, that means your wireless adapter is recognized.

Step 2: Configure Your Wi-Fi in NixOS

Option A: Using NetworkManager (Recommended)

If you prefer to use NetworkManager, you first need to enable it in your NixOS configuration.

Edit your NixOS Configuration: Open your NixOS configuration file, usually located at /etc/nixos/configuration.nix:
```
sudo nano /etc/nixos/configuration.nix
```
Enable NetworkManager: Add or uncomment the following lines:
```
networking.networkmanager.enable = true;
```
Rebuild the NixOS Configuration: Apply the changes by rebuilding your NixOS configuration:
```
sudo nixos-rebuild switch
```
Connect to Wi-Fi: After enabling NetworkManager, you can use a graphical interface or the command line to connect to a Wi-Fi network. If you're using a desktop environment, look for the NetworkManager applet in your system tray. For command line, use:
```
nmcli device wifi list
nmcli device wifi connect YOUR_SSID password YOUR_PASSWORD
```

Option B: Using wpa_supplicant

If you prefer not to use NetworkManager or if it is not installed, you can connect using wpa_supplicant.

Install wpa_supplicant: Ensure that wpa_supplicant is included in your NixOS configuration:
```
networking.wpa_supplicant.enable = true;
```
Edit Configuration: Create or edit the /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf file:
```
sudo nano /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf
```
Add the following lines, replacing YOUR_SSID and YOUR_PASSWORD with your Wi-Fi network's credentials:
```
network={
    ssid="YOUR_SSID"
    psk="YOUR_PASSWORD"
}
```
Rebuild Configuration: After saving your configuration, rebuild NixOS:
```
sudo nixos-rebuild switch
```
Connect to Wi-Fi: Start wpa_supplicant by running:
```
sudo wpa_supplicant -B -i wlan0 -c /etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf
```
Replace wlan0 with your actual wireless interface name.
Obtain an IP Address: Finally, use dhclient to obtain an IP address:
```
sudo dhclient wlan0
```

Step 3: Verify Connection

To confirm that you are successfully connected to your Wi-Fi network, you can run:

ping google.com

If you receive replies, you are connected to the internet.

Conclusion

Connecting to Wi-Fi on NixOS is straightforward once you know the steps involved. Whether you opt for the ease of NetworkManager or prefer the manual approach with wpa_supplicant, you can get your system online efficiently. NixOS’s declarative approach means that your Wi-Fi settings will be reproducible, making network configuration simple and consistent across system rebuilds. Happy networking!