Gateway PLE-310, PLU-300 User Manual

your Gateway Powerline Adapter

user'sguide

PLU-300 & PLE-310

Installing Configuring

Contents

1 Setting Up Your Powerline Adapter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Step 1: Installing the hardware and software . . . . . . . . . . 2

Installing the Powerline adapter driver . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Step 2: Adding the computer to the network . . . . . . . . . . 8

About network configurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Naming the computers and the workgroup . . . . . . 10

Step 3: Configuring the TCP/IP protocol . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Setting up a DHCP IP address for each computer . 21

Turning the powerline adapter off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Where to go from here . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Using your network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Using the Powerline Adapter Configuration Utility . 27

2 Sharing Your Network Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

Sharing an Internet connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30

Sharing drives and printers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

Turning on Windows file and printer sharing . . . . . 38

Sharing drives or folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40

Un-sharing drives, folders, and files . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Sharing printers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Using the network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Viewing shared drives and folders . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Mapping a Network Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

Opening files across the network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Copying files across the network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45

Printing files across the network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

3 Using the Powerline Adapter Configuration Utility . . 47

About the Powerline configuration utility . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

Using the Device tab settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Using the Network tab settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Using the Security tab settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Using the Advanced tab settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

4 Getting Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Technical Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57

Automated troubleshooting system . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

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Telephone numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58

A Safety, Regulatory, and Legal Information . . . . . . . . . 59

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Setting Up Your

Powerline

Adapter

Powerline adapters let you create a network using the existing electrical wiring in your home or office instead of installing Ethernet cables.

This chapter describes how to connect a Gateway USB to Powerline adapter or a Gateway Ethernet to Powerline adapter to your Windows computer and configure Windows for a powerline network. Complete these tasks in sequence:

■ “Step 1: Installing the hardware

and software” on page 2.

■ “Step 2: Adding the computer

to the network” on page 8.

■ “Step 3: Configuring the TCP/IP

protocol” on page 20.

Chapter 1: Setting Up Your Powerline Adapter

Step 1: Installing the hardware and software

Installing the Powerline adapter driver

Use the following instructions to:

■ Install the Powerline software on the computer that

you want to use to manage the Powerline network

■ Connect the Powerline network adapter to an AC

outlet

■ Connect the Powerline network adapter to your

computer.

Important

Before installing the Powerline device, make sure that there are no other network encryption management utilities installed on your computer. If other utilities are installed, uninstall them before installing the Powerline adapter and software.

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Step 1: Installing the hardware and software

To install the Powerline adapter software and

hardware

Insert the Gateway Powerline Adapter CD in the

computer’s CD or DVD drive. The installation program starts.

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Chapter 1: Setting Up Your Powerline Adapter

2 Click Install the software. The InstallShield Wizard

starts.

- OR -

If you are installing the Gateway PLU-300 Ethernet adapter and the wizard does not start automatically,

Start, Run, type d:\plu-300\setup.exe in the Run

click box, then click

OK. The InstallShield Wizard starts.

- OR -

If you are installing the Gateway PLE-310 Ethernet adapter and the wizard does not start automatically,

Start, Run, type d:\ple-310\setup.exe in the Run

click box, then click

OK. The InstallShield Wizard starts.

3 Click Next, then follow the on-screen instructions.

During the installation:

■ If installing the software on Windows XP and a

message tells you that the driver has not passed Windows Logo testing, click device driver files are copied to the hard drive.

■ If installing the software on Windows 2000 and a

a message tells you that no digital signature is found, click to the hard drive.

Yes . The device driver files are copied

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Continue Anyway. The

Step 1: Installing the hardware and software

4 When prompted to plug-in the Powerline adapter:

■ Plug the adapter into a AC power outlet

Important

For the best network performance, we suggest plugging the adapter directly into an AC outlet and not into a surge protector. The adapter has a built-in surge protector.

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Chapter 1: Setting Up Your Powerline Adapter

■ Plug the USB or RJ-45 cable into the Powerline

adapter

■ Plug the other end of the RJ-45 or USB cable into

the computer

5 Continue following the on-screen instructions.

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Step 1: Installing the hardware and software

6 Click Finish to complete the installation. 7 If a message asks you whether you want to restart your

computer, click

No to restart your computer later.

click

8 After restarting the computer, the Gateway Power

configuration utility icon appears on the computer desktop. For more information about using the utility, see “Using the Powerline Adapter Configuration Utility” on page 47.

Yes to restart your computer now or

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Chapter 1: Setting Up Your Powerline Adapter

Step 2: Adding the computer to the network

About network configurations

After the Powerline software and hardware is installed, the next step is to determine how the computer with the powerline adapter will be added to network. There are a number of possible network configurations. The two common network configurations used with a Powerline network are:

■ Dynamic Host Control Protocol (DHCP) with a router - A

DHCP network configuration uses a router to automatically assign IP addresses to each computer or network device. The network is made up of:

■ A router to connect the local area network (LAN)

with the wide area network (WAN or broadband network).

■ A cable or DSL modem to provide access to the

Internet

■ Your computers that are connected to form a

network of computers

■ Powerline (electric cables) and Ethernet or USB

cables connecting each of these components.

Cable/DSL modem

Router

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Step 2: Adding the computer to the network

■ Internet Connection Sharing (ICS) - An ICS network

configuration uses a host computer that assigns Internet Protocol (IP) addresses to each computer or network device and directs network communication between computers on the local area network (LAN) and the Internet. The network is made up of:

■ A host computer that has an Internet connection

(one for the Internet and one for the LAN). The Internet connection can be a dial-up connection, cable modem, DSL, or other broadband Ethernet connection. The LAN connection can be wired (for example Powerline or Ethernet), wireless, or a USB Ethernet connection.

■ Other client computers

■ Dial-up, cable, or DSL modem to provide access to

the Internet

■ Powerline (electric cables) and Ethernet cables

connecting each of these components.

Dial-up/

Cable/DSL

modem

Host computer

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Chapter 1: Setting Up Your Powerline Adapter

Naming the computers and the workgroup

Each computer on the network must have a unique name and be identified as part of a workgroup. Naming each computer must be done individually on each computer.

If you have an existing network make sure that you give the new computers you are adding to the network the same workgroup name.

The Windows XP Network Setup Wizard steps you through the process of naming each computer, setting the network workgroup name, and other network settings. To name your computers and workgroup in Windows XP, go to “Naming the computers and the workgroup in Windows XP” on page 10.

To name your computers and workgroup in Windows 2000, go to “Naming the computers and the workgroup in Windows 2000” on page 17.

To name your computers and workgroup in Windows 98SE or Windows Me, see “Naming the computers and the workgroup in Windows 98SE or Windows Me” on page 18.

Naming the computers and the workgroup in Windows XP

Use the Windows XP Network Setup Wizard to name each computer and workgroup as well as select other network settings in Windows XP.

Important

The following example screens show the screens that typically appear in the course of using the wizard. If your network situation differs from that used in this example, you may encounter additional screens or screens with different selections. Make sure that you read each screen in the wizard and make your selections based on your particular network situation.

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Step 2: Adding the computer to the network

To run the Windows XP Network Setup Wizard:

Click Start, All Programs, Accessories, Communications,

then click Wizard opens.

- OR -

Click the Network Setup Wizard icon on the Windows XP taskbar. The Network Setup Wizard opens.

Network Setup Wizard. The Network Setup

2 Click Next to continue through the wizard.

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Chapter 1: Setting Up Your Powerline Adapter

3 Click Next. If the The wizard found disconnected network

hardware screen opens, make sure that one end of the

Ethernet or USB cable is connected to your computer and the other end is connected to a Gateway powerline adapter. Also, make sure that a router or computer is connected to your network and turned on.

Important

The wizard found disconnected network hardware screen will open if your computer also has wireless Ethernet networking built-in. If your computer has wireless Ethernet networking built-in, click Ignore

disconnected network hardware, then click Next.

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Step 2: Adding the computer to the network

4 Click Next. The Select a connection method screen opens.

5 Click This computer connects to the Internet through another

computer on my network or through a residential gateway,

then click

6 If the Your computer has multiple connections screen

opens, click then click

Next.

Let me choose the connections to my network,

Next.

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Chapter 1: Setting Up Your Powerline Adapter

7 On the Select the connections to bridge screen, click to

select the

Local Area Connection check box.

8 Click Next. The Give this computer a description and

name screen opens.

9 Type a description of the computer in the Computer

description box.

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Step 2: Adding the computer to the network

10 Type a unique computer name in the Computer name

box. This name identifies the computer to other users on the network. Use a computer name of up to 15 characters with no blank spaces. Each computer name must be unique on your network. All-numeric computer names are not allowed. Names must contain some letters.

Important

You must give each computer on the network a unique Computer Name and the same Workgroup Name.

11 Click Next. The Name your network screen opens.

12 Type a name for your workgroup in the Workgroup

name box. Use a workgroup name of up to 15

characters with no blank spaces. The workgroup name must be the same for all computers in your network workgroup, and the name must be different than any computer name on your network.

13 Click Next. The Ready to apply network settings screen

opens.

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Chapter 1: Setting Up Your Powerline Adapter

14 Click Next to apply the network settings. The You ’r e

almost done screen opens.

15 If you are setting up networking on other computers,

you may want to use the Network Setup Wizard to do so. Click a method for installing and configuring the network on your other computers or click

the wizard; I don’t need to run the wizard on other computers

16 Click Next. 17 Click Finish. After you name each computer and assign

it to your workgroup, go to “Turning the powerline adapter off” on page 26.

Just finish

Help and

Support

For more information about using the Network Setup Wizard in Windows XP, click Start, then click Help and Suppor t. Type the keywo rd Network Setup Wizard in the Search box , then click the arrow.

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Step 2: Adding the computer to the network

Naming the computers and the workgroup in Windows 2000

To identify a Windows 2000 computer on the network:

Click Start, Settings, then click Control Panel. The

Control Panel window opens.

2 Double-click the System icon. The System Identification

dialog box opens.

3 Click the Network Identification tab. 4 Click Properties. The Identification Changes dialog box

opens.

5 Type a unique computer name in the Computer name

Important

You must give each computer on the network a unique Computer Name and the same Workgroup Name.

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+ 47 hidden pages