[GLLUG] Network Manager & WPA

[Chick Tower]

I ran into a problem today with the nm-applet and I wonder if it rings 
any bells for anyone.  I was using CrunchBang Linux, which is based upon 
Debian, so I'm not very familiar with the inner workings.  I just know 
that the Debian way of configuring things looks mighty strange to a 
Slackware guy.

Anyway, I had been to a place that offered wifi access to customers with 
WPA, and they gave me the passphrase.  It worked fine the first time I 
tried it, about a month ago, and the nm-applet even asked me for the 
passphrase, which I thought was slick.  I was back at that same place 
today, and connected to the network without being asked for the 
passphrase.  I tried to use web browsers, but they couldn't resolve 
hostnames.  I tried elinks (CLI), Chromium, and Midori.  Same deal. 
However, I could ping the same websites the browsers couldn't resolve, 
without having to resort to IP addresses (which I don't have memorized, 
anyway).  I tried traceroute, just for grins, but it seemed to dislike 
having URLs as the only argument to the command; it worked fine with IP 
addresses as the only argument, though.

I rebooted the PC into Arch Linux and configured (IIRC) 
/etc/wpa_wireless.conf for the AP, it worked, and I went merrily on my 
way.  Therefore, I know the correct passphrase.

What I'd like to know is if anyone can explain why nm-applet worked the 
first time but not the second, and why ping could resolve hostnames but 
web browsers couldn't.  I realize they use different protocols, but 
wouldn't they both require DNS?  Any ideas?
-- 

                                Chick