when updating the network-manager, network connections fail

Binary package hint: network-manager

Hello! I'm using Ubuntu Gutsy, and I just realized an annoying fact:

When doing software updates which install a new version of the network manager, the network connections are temporarily disconnected while the network-manager is restarted. This has happened for as long as I can remember, but I just realized that it doesn't have to be this way.

(I noticed the problem with a wireless connection; I'm not sure if this happens with wired connections managed by NM, but I _think_ it does.)

Since the network-manager is just that, a manager, I see no reason why it should _disable_ the network interfaces when it is updated. Instead, they should be left in their current working state, and the new network manager should notice the existing settings and only update them if necessary. In fact, it should always be possible to tell the network manager to turn itself off and leave everything configured as it is. The only addition needed is a certain file that allows it on start-up to notice if the configuration was previously set up by NM and to take over. A /var/lib test-file would probably do, the NM should be able to detect the current configuration at start-up and only reset it if actually necessary.