NetworkManager 1.56 Drops with Major Overhaul: WireGuard, DNS, and More

Linux users, get ready to geek out—NetworkManager 1.56 is here, and it’s packing some serious networking firepower. The widely beloved network management service, which powers most Linux distributions, has just rolled out its latest major update, and it’s loaded with features that’ll make your command-line-loving heart skip a beat.

Versioning Gets a Makeover

First things first: NetworkManager is finally standardizing its versioning scheme. No more confusing inconsistencies—the team is now consistently applying the -rcX and -dev suffixes across the board. That means release tarball names, URLs, and version reporting in both nmcli and the daemon are all speaking the same language. The C API keeps its 90+ scheme for release candidates, but everything else is now beautifully uniform.

WireGuard Gets CLI Love

Here’s where things get exciting for VPN enthusiasts. NetworkManager 1.56 extends nmcli to support viewing and managing WireGuard peers directly from the command line. No more manual configuration file editing or wrestling with complex setups. You can now handle peer-level administration with simple commands, making WireGuard deployments smoother than ever. This is a game-changer for sysadmins and power users who live in the terminal.

DNS Overhaul: Cleaner, Smarter, More Secure

DNS handling has received a significant upgrade. The global-dns configuration now overwrites rather than merges DNS searches and options from connections. This eliminates the messy conflicts that could arise when multiple configurations tried to play nice together.

But wait, there’s more! NetworkManager now accepts hostnames longer than 64 characters from DNS lookups—finally catching up to modern standards where longer hostnames are increasingly common. For those security-conscious users, per-connection configuration of systemd-resolved DNSSEC is now available through the connection.dnssec property. Your DNS queries just got a whole lot more trustworthy.

Multipath TCP Gets a New Trick

Networking nerds will appreciate this one: multipath TCP now includes a laminar endpoint type, set by default alongside the existing subflow type. If you’re not sure what that means, just know that it’s making your network connections more efficient and reliable, especially in complex routing scenarios.

VPN Connections Finally Behave

VPN connections now correctly apply properties that previously might have been ignored or misconfigured. We’re talking about connection.mdns, connection.llmnr, connection.dns-over-tls, connection.mptcp-flags, and ipv6.ip6-privacy. All of these now work as intended when you’re tunneled through a VPN. No more wondering why your privacy settings aren’t actually applying when you connect to that secure server.

SR-IOV and High-Availability Get Smarter

For the high-performance computing crowd, SR-IOV setups now allow the sriov.vfs property to be reapplied if sriov.total-vfs remains unchanged. Bond-port.vlans reapplication is also supported, giving you more flexibility in network bonding configurations.

High-availability networking has leveled up too. You can now configure the HSR (High-availability Seamless Redundancy) protocol version with hsr.protocol-version and define the interlink port using hsr.interlink. If you’re running critical infrastructure that can’t afford downtime, these features are your new best friends.

Broadband and Modem Improvements

NetworkManager 1.56 fixes a frustrating bug that prevented broadband auto-connect during certain modem states like “disconnecting” or “disconnected.” No more manual intervention when your modem is being temperamental. Connections without an operator code are now treated as recoverable errors rather than showstoppers, and the new GSM device-uid setting restricts which devices a connection applies to—perfect for managing multiple SIM cards or modems.

Initrd Generator and eBPF Support

The nm-initrd-generator now supports the rd.net.dhcp.client-id option, giving you more control during early boot networking. Additionally, n-acd is always compiled with eBPF enabled, and runtime detection determines if eBPF support is available on your system. This means better performance and more advanced networking capabilities on supported kernels.

Security Gets a Boost

NetworkManager is tightening security for private connections that specify a user in connection.permissions. The service now verifies user access to 802.1X certificates and keys, preventing unauthorized access to secure network resources. A new libnm function allows VPN plugins to validate user permissions on certificates and keys, closing potential security gaps.

What’s Next?

NetworkManager 1.56 represents a significant step forward in Linux network management. Whether you’re a casual user who just wants their VPN to work reliably, a sysadmin managing enterprise networks, or a developer pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with Linux networking, this release has something for you.

The source code is available for download from the project’s GitLab page, and the detailed changelog provides all the technical nitty-gritty for those who want to dive deep into the changes.

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NetworkManager just dropped the mic with version 1.56! 💥 Linux networking supremacy continues as WireGuard gets CLI superpowers and DNS gets a complete makeover. Say goodbye to configuration headaches and hello to seamless, secure connections. This isn’t just an update—it’s a revolution in how Linux handles networking. Sysadmins and power users, your command-line dreams just came true! 🚀🔒

The DNS overhaul alone is worth the upgrade—longer hostnames, proper DNSSEC support, and no more messy configuration conflicts. NetworkManager 1.56 is here to make your network faster, smarter, and more secure than ever before. Time to upgrade and take control of your Linux networking destiny! 🎯

SR-IOV, HSR, multipath TCP—if these acronyms get you excited, NetworkManager 1.56 is speaking your language. This release isn’t just about new features; it’s about making complex networking tasks actually manageable. From broadband modem fixes to enhanced security checks, every detail has been polished to perfection.

Linux users, rejoice! The network management tool you depend on just got a massive upgrade. Whether you’re tunneling through WireGuard, managing enterprise networks, or just want your internet to work reliably, NetworkManager 1.56 delivers the goods. Command-line warriors, your new favorite tool just arrived! ⚡

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