Click on the NetworkManager applet to open the drop-down menu, this is the main point of entry for interacting with NetworkManager to configure connections.

If the system has detected a wired connection, the Wired menu entry will appear. If the system has detected a wireless card, then you will also see a Wireless menu entry. Clicking the Wired and Wireless labels or the associated ON OFF indicator to the right will toggle the status between ON and OFF.

Finally, clicking on the Network Settings menu entry opens the Network window, from where you can view some basic network configuration information and initiate configuration tasks.