GNOME Bugzilla – Bug 745747
Allow the user to specify a connection is capped/metered
Last modified: 2018-03-22 21:05:25 UTC
Mobile broadband connections are not all detectable as mobile devices; in some case, they are just Ethernet or Wi-Fi connections going through a mobile-like device. It is up to the user to specify that a connection is actually capped/metered, in those cases, and avoid blowing through the monthly user quota, or start spending tons of money on roaming charges. It would be good to have a setting inside NetworkManager, and exposed in the UI, to let the user specify that a certain connection is capped/metered; this would allow tools like GNOME Software, or the web browser, or anything that automatically connects to the network, to be aware of the limitations of a connection. Additionally, having a way to specify an actual quota would allow client-side capping, as well as usage statistics. This would also be helpful for parental controls.
I've filed a NetworkManager bug a while ago, asking for a place to store this information. See bug 741725
Roaming charges are a completely different problem, one of cost, but roaming can be disabled with manual intervention.
Bastien, I agree roaming is a different issue and should be handled in the device setting up the mobile broadband connection (i.e., phone/UMTS router). But this issue is still a question of cost in two cases: 1. Capped transfer is used up. Then you need to purchase more data, or increase your plan. 2. You have no "flat rate" data plan and pay mobile data per kb. In both cases, having accidental unnecessary background traffic costs actual money.
Some prior art: http://www.addictivetips.com/windows-tips/windows-8-airplane-mode-metered-connections-in-network-settings/
Initial design guidance: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/gnome-design-team/gnome-mockups/master/system-settings/network/aday/png/background-data.png
*** Bug 754056 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
(In reply to Allan Day from comment #5) > Initial design guidance: > > https://raw.githubusercontent.com/gnome-design-team/gnome-mockups/master/ > system-settings/network/aday/png/background-data.png This makes it look like whether to use background data is based on the device used when it should actually be based on the connection used, eg. connecting via Wi-Fi to my phone (metered) and to my home Wi-Fi (unmetered) should have different values.
Bug 754409 contains some notes on setting the metered values by hand.
(In reply to Bastien Nocera from comment #7) ... > > https://raw.githubusercontent.com/gnome-design-team/gnome-mockups/master/ > > system-settings/network/aday/png/background-data.png > > This makes it look like whether to use background data is based on the > device used when it should actually be based on the connection used, eg. > connecting via Wi-Fi to my phone (metered) and to my home Wi-Fi (unmetered) > should have different values. I remember that I investigated that, and decided I didn't want it. I suspect that the reasons were: 1. People are unlikely to find the setting if they have to dig down too far in order to find the setting. 2. Since it's a significant global setting that effects your whole system, it should look like a significant setting that affects your whole system. One possibility would be add more information, so that it is clear that the setting is tied to a particular connection - we could show the connection name below the background data label, for example. If the setting was placed within each network connection, issue 2 means that we'd have to show a prominent, transient element at the global level when background data is off.
Oh, one other reason: 3. It's quite similar to airplane mode (in that it's a system-wide network mode).
This feature is still missing in latest g-c-c. Will this be part of the redesign?
(In reply to Jan-Michael Brummer from comment #11) > This feature is still missing in latest g-c-c. Will this be part of the > redesign? When it happens, yes.
I use a USB 4G modem daily and off course I need to know how much data I consume to not let my provider suck my credit dry all the time. :\ By the way the gnome-controle-center Mobile Broadband module works, but it is quite buggy regarding toggling on/off the modem or connection. Actually it doesn't separate modem and connection settings, the switch has a bit overlapping functions.
(In reply to rockonthemoonfm from comment #13) > I use a USB 4G modem daily and off course I need to know how much data I > consume to not let my provider suck my credit dry all the time. :\ > By the way the gnome-controle-center Mobile Broadband module works, but it > is quite buggy regarding toggling on/off the modem or connection. Actually > it doesn't separate modem and connection settings, the switch has a bit > overlapping functions. In terms of the switch button issue, there is already a bug filed about it, see bug#690361.
ping Needed feature for a Purism Librem smartphone too
(In reply to rockonthemoonfm from comment #15) > ping > > Needed feature for a Purism Librem smartphone too Stop "pinging" in bug reports, this isn't helping. Last warning.
(In reply to Allan Day from comment #9) > I remember that I investigated that, and decided I didn't want it. I suspect > that the reasons were: > > 1. People are unlikely to find the setting if they have to dig down too far > in order to find the setting. > > 2. Since it's a significant global setting that effects your whole system, > it should look like a significant setting that affects your whole system. > > One possibility would be add more information, so that it is clear that the > setting is tied to a particular connection - we could show the connection > name below the background data label, for example. > > If the setting was placed within each network connection, issue 2 means that > we'd have to show a prominent, transient element at the global level when > background data is off. And I don't personally see anything wrong with it. And really (maybe it's me to be strange?) nm-connection-editor seems the most natural place on earth, given indeed it's a per-connection pref. Then, if you *also* want it in other places, it's another matter. (In reply to rockonthemoonfm from comment #13) > I use a USB 4G modem daily and off course I need to know how much data I > consume to not let my provider suck my credit dry all the time. :\ That's bug 763048
Starting from GNOME Settings 3.28, a new checkbox in the connection settings dialog allows you to mark the connection as metered or not. I consider then this bug as FIXED. Please reopen if necessary.