Skip to content

Networking

Networking in OmarOS is handled by NetworkManager, and you drive it from the network icon in the top bar or with Super + Ctrl + W.

That panel scans for Wi-Fi networks, shows signal strength, and connects. Ethernet needs nothing at all — plug it in and it works. If you'd rather stay in the terminal, nmtui gives you the same controls, and there's an omaros network command group too.

Sharing your Wi-Fi

Rather than reading a long password out loud, run Setup > Network > QR Code while you're on Wi-Fi. That puts a QR code on screen that any phone camera can scan to join. It's one of those things you'll use more than you'd expect once you know it's there.

If you actually need the password itself, omaros network password <interface> prints it.

DNS

OmarOS uses whatever DNS your network hands out over DHCP. You can override that for the whole machine under Setup > Network > DNS, where Cloudflare and Google are one click away. Pick Custom to type in your own servers.

From the terminal, omaros dns prints the current provider and omaros dns Cloudflare sets one.

Pinning the Wi-Fi band

If your router puts 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz on the same network name, your laptop will sometimes cling to the slow one. omaros network band shows which band you're on, and omaros network band 5 pins it. Use auto to let it choose again.

This pins the band rather than a specific access point, so you keep roaming between APs normally.

The firewall

The firewall is on by default and blocks all incoming traffic, with one exception: port 53317, so LocalSend works out of the box.

SSH is off until you turn it on with Setup > Security > SSHD, which starts the daemon, opens port 22 rate-limited against brute force, and authorizes a key. Docker is locked down too, so containers can't accidentally expose themselves to the world. See security for the whole story.

When it stops working

Before rebooting, try restarting the offending piece on its own. Update > Hardware has Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Audio, and Trackpad, and reloading one of those clears up most "it worked five minutes ago" situations. See troubleshooting.