Your iPad will automatically connect to wireless networks it recognizes, such as your home or company network. However, changing or accessing a new network will require you to connect manually.

Wired Ethernet connections usually have an advantage over Wi-Fi in local network connectivity and drive mapping. With a wired connection, Windows can save your network mapped drives and printer ...

Gnome probably just starts NetworkManager which connects your wifi so you should just need to figure out how to launch it whenever you login to Ion.