The laptop-net package supports the built-in ethernet of laptops by providing several integrated features that automatically adapt the laptop to the network environment. the package is easily configured to support a wide variety of network environments, and supports manual as well as automatic management of the network interface.

laptop-net can automatically: start and stop the network interface at appropriate times; disable the network interface when the network cable is removed, and enable it when the cable is inserted; select the network interface's ip address, either by probing the network for known hosts or by use of the dhcp protocol; customize the laptop's software configuration to match the network interface's ip address.