Quiz Entry - updated: 2026.07.14
What connection-level settings can be configured with nmcli?
The connection.* keys control the profile itself — autoconnect (start at boot), id (its name), and interface-name/MAC binding (which hardware it applies to).
Beyond the IP settings, every profile has connection-level metadata. The most consequential is connection.autoconnect: it decides whether NetworkManager activates this profile automatically at boot. interface-name (or a MAC binding) pins the profile to a specific NIC so it doesn't activate on the wrong one.
| Parameter | Effect |
|---|---|
connection.autoconnect yes |
Activate automatically at boot |
connection.id "My Connection" |
The profile's name |
connection.interface-name ens3 |
Bind to a named interface |
802-3-ethernet.mac-address XX:.. |
Bind to a specific MAC |
Useful commands:
# Rename a connection
nmcli con mod "old-name" connection.id "new-name"
# Disable autoconnect
nmcli con mod "eth0" connection.autoconnect no
# Bind to specific MAC address
nmcli con mod "eth0" 802-3-ethernet.mac-address "00:11:22:33:44:55"
# Show all connection settings
nmcli con show "eth0"
Tip: Use connection.interface-name to ensure a profile only activates on a specific interface.