What NetworkManager does, in essence, is that if you have a wired
ethernet link it dhcp's it, and if you don't it lets you choose a
wireless essid from any that are available, and also specify the
encryption key etc., then dhcp's that. It could be extended to let you
provide a static IP config in a similar way to the wireless info.
If you plug/unplug the network cable then NetworkManager dynamically
moves between wired and wireless. Hopefully I got that right, I'm sure
Dan will correct me if not.
This could also be combined with system-config-network or should this really
go in a separate application?
greetings,
Florian La Roche