ZyXEL PLA4111, PLA4101 Owner's Manual

Quick Start Guide

PLA Series

Powerline Ethernet Adapter

Utility Version 6.0.1 Edition 1, 03/2013 Default Network Name: HomePlugAV

User’s Guide

www.zyxel.com

IMPORTANT! READ CAREFULLY BEFORE USE. KEEP THIS GUIDE FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.

Note: This guide is a reference for a series of products. Therefore some features or

options in this guide may not be available in your product.

Screenshots and graphics in this book may differ slightly from your product due to differences in your product firmware or your computer operating system. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this manual is accurate.

Related Documentation

•Quick Start Guide The Quick Start Guide is designed to help you get up and running right away. It contains

information on making your hardware connections.

PLA Series User’s Guide2

Table of Contents

Table of Contents .................................................................................................................................3

Part I: User’s Guide ...........................................................................................5

Chapter 1

Introducing the PLA .............................................................................................................................7

1.1 Overview .......................................................................... ... ... .... .........................................................7

1.2 Expand Your Network with the PLA ....................................................................................................7

1.3 Ways to Manage the PLA ......................................... .......................................................... ................8

1.4 Security ......................................................................... ... ...................................................................8

1.4.1 Passwords .... .......................................................... ... ................................................................9

1.4.2 Setting Up Security ............................. .... ... ... ... .... ......................................................................9

1.5 Multiple Networks ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... .... ... .......................................................... ... ... .... ... .......................10

Chapter 2

Installing the Utility.............................................................................................................................11

2.1 System Requirements .. ... .... ............................................................. ... ... ...........................................11

2.2 Installing the Utility ............................................................................................................................11

2.3 Low Power Mode ..............................................................................................................................14

Part II: Technical Reference............................................................................15

Chapter 3

The RESET/ENCRYPT Button............................................................................................................17

3.1 RESET/ENCRYPT Button Overview .................................................................................................17

3.2 Set Up a Powerline Network .............................................................................................................17

3.3 Multiple Powerline Networks .............................................................................................................19

3.4 RESET/ENCRYPT Button Behavior .................................................................................................21

Chapter 4

The Configuration Utility....................................................................................................................22

4.1 Overview .......................................................................... ... ... .... .......................................................22

4.1.1 Powerline Network Security ................ .......................... .......................... .................................22

4.1.2 Device Access Key (DAK) .......................................................................................................23

4.2 Starting the Configuration Utility ............................. ... .... ....................................................................23

4.3 Configuration Screen ............................................... .... ... ... ... .... ... ....................................................24

PLA Series User’s Guide

Table of Contents

4.4 Firmware Screen ..............................................................................................................................25

4.5 Network Info Screen .........................................................................................................................26

4.6 Advanced Screen ..........................................................................................................................27

4.7 About Screen ............................................... .... .......................................................... .......................30

Chapter 5

Powerline Network Setup Tutorial.....................................................................................................31

5.1 Overview .......................................................................... ... ... .... .......................................................31

5.2 Important Terms .................. .......................................................... ... ... ... .... ... ....................................31

5.3 Accessing Your Powerline Adapter ...................................................................................................32

5.4 Adding a Powerline Adapter ..............................................................................................................33

5.5 Setting Up a New Network with a New Adapter ................................................................................34

5.6 Splitting a Network into Two Networks ..............................................................................................36

5.7 Troubleshooting ..................................... ... ... .... ... ... ...........................................................................38

Chapter 6

LEDs and Troubleshooting................................................................................................................41

6.1 LEDs ......................................... ... .... ... ... ... .......................................................... ..............................41

6.2 Power and Light Problems ................................................................................................................43

6.3 Configuration Utility Problems .......................................................... ... ... .... ... ... ... .... ... ... ....................44

6.4 Powerline Problems ......................................................................... ... ... .... ... ... ... .... ... ... ....................45

6.5 RESET/ENCRYPT Button Problems ................................................................................................45

Appendix A Legal Information............................................................................................................47

Index ....................................................................................................................................................51

PLA Series User’s Guide

PART I

User’s Guide

1.1 Overview

This chapter introduces the main applications and features of your ZyXEL HomePlug AV compliant powerline adapter, which is called “PLA” in this guide. The following generic icon is used to represent all PLA models.

In this User’s Guide the electrical wiring network is referred to as the “powerline network”. The HomePlug AV standard specifies how network devices communicate using standard electrical wiring.

CHAPTER 1

Introducing the PLA

This User’s Guide covers the following models:

Table 1 PLA Comparison Table

PORT/FEATURE PLA4101 PLA4111 PLA4201 PLA4201 V2

One 10/100 Base- T Et hernet port

AC Pass-Through Reset/Encrypt Button Maximum PHY Rate over

Powerline

The PLA4111 also comes with an AC power pass-through socket into which you can plug an electrical device (such as a router or computer) to supply power to the device.

There are two types of hardware for each of the PLA4101 and PLA4201 v2 models:

• One has an Ethernet port on the top and a power plug at the bottom of the rear panel.

• One has an Ethernet port on the bottom and a power plug at the top of the rear panel.

The power plug varies depending on your region.

200 Mbps 200 Mbps 500 Mbps 500 Mbps

1.2 Expand Your Network with the PLA

The PLA plugs into an ordinary power outlet to easily extend a cable or DSL broadband connection or existing Ethernet (LAN) network to any other electrical outlet in any room of a house, all without the need for any new cabling. Devices can securely communicate with each other at high data

PLA Series User’s Guide 7

Chapter 1 Introducing the PLA

PLA

transfer rates. The PLA uses 128-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) to ensure safe transfer of information.

Figure 1 Expand Your Network wi t h the PLA

Connect your PLA to an Internet gateway such as a modem and plug it into an ordinary power outlet in your home. Plug a second PLA into another power outlet and connect a computer to the PLA for Internet access. Your network can be further expanded by plugging additional PLAs into other outlets in your home and connecting other computers or network devices (for example, a printer) to them.

Refer to your Quick Start Guide for hardware connection information.

1.3 Ways to Manage the PLA

Use the RESET/ENCRYPT button to add powerline devices to your powerline network if they have this button. See Chapter 3 on page 17 for instructions on using the ENCRYPT feature.

Use the ZyXEL PLA Series Configuration utility (or utility, for short) to manage the PLA. See

Section 2.2 on page 11 for instructions on installing the utility.

1.4 Security

Since your powerline network may extend outside your premises, it is important to set up security on your PLA.

PLA Series User’s Guide

1.4.1 Passwords

You use two types of passwords in the HomePlug AV powerline network. The following table describes the differences between the passwords.

Table 2 Password Summary

PASSWORD DESCRIPTION

Network Name All powerline adapters that follow the HomePlug AV standard are shipped with the

DAK (Data Access Key) Password

1.4.2 Setting Up Security

Chapter 1 Introducing the PLA

same powerline network name “HomePlugAV”. Change the network name via the ZyXEL PLA Series Configuration utility or RESET/ENCRYPT button to create a private network. See Section 4.3 on page 24.

In order to manage the powerline adapters on your powerline network you must enter the adapters’ DAK password in t he ZyXEL PLA Series Configuration util ity. This password is printed on the powerline adapter itself.

You don’t need to add the password for the powerline adapter directly connected to the computer running the configuration utility (local powerline adapter), you only have to add the remote powerline adapters’ passwords (those on your circuit, but not directly connected to your computer).

The ENCRYPT feature automatically sets up security on your powerline network. Use this feature if your powerline devices have the RESET/ENCRYPT button.

If your devices do not have the RESET/ENCRYPT button, use the ZyXEL PLA Series Configuration utility to set up security on the PLA. Although the PLA is a “plug-and-play” network expanding solution there are several reasons for enabling security on the powerline network in your home.

1 It’s easy and only requires you to change a network name.

2 It’s a good idea to ensure privacy of your communication. When you use the PLA and other

powerline adapters, the electrical wiring in your home becomes an extension of your Ethernet network. Your network traffic flows freely within the electrical circuit of your home and is bounded in most cases by a power meter.

Without security (encryption) your information is accessible to anyone using a powerline adapter on the same electrical circuit. In some cases, a circuit can be shared by more than one household.

To prevent compromising your network security, you can create a private network. A private network uses a secret password (Network Name) to make sure that only permitted powerline adapters can communicate in your network. See Section 4.3 on page 24 for information on setting up a private network.

3 You may need to change the Network Name to create multiple powerline networks. See the next

section for more information on how to set up a multiple network.

PLA Series User’s Guide

Chapter 1 Introducing the PLA

1.5 Multiple Networks

Multiple powerline networks can coexist on a single powerline circuit. You might want to implement multiple powerline networks in a small office environment where you have two separate Ethernet networks.

1 Connect one powerline adapter to a router or switch on the first Ethernet network and assign a

Network Name (for example “Password1”) to this powerline adapter. Add additional powerline adapters to your network by plugging them into your powerline outlets and assigning them “Password1”. This completes the configuration of your first powerline network.

2 Connect another powerline adapter to a router or switch on the second Ethernet network and

assign a different Network Name (for example “Password2”) to this powerline adapter. Again, add additional powerline adapters and assign them “Password2”.

You now have two private networks on your powerline circuit. Information is not shared between the two networks as only powerline adapters with the same Network Name can communicate with each other.

PLA Series User’s Guide

This chapter guides you through the installation of the configuration utility for your PLA.

2.1 System Requirements

At the time of writing, the ZyXEL PLA Series Configuration utility is compatible with:

• Windows XP (32-bit version)

• Windows XP (64-bit version) (you may need to download and install .NET Framework version

2.0)

• Windows Vista (32-bit version)

• Windows Vista (64-bit version)

• Windows 7 (32-bit version)

• Windows 7 (64-bit version)

CHAPTER 2

Installing the Utility

Note: To check for your Windows operating system version, right-click on My Compute r

> Properties. You should see this information in the General tab.

Microsoft’s .NET Framework version 2.0 software is necessary for the installation of the ZyXEL PLA Series Configuration utility. The utility automatically installs .NET Framework version 2.0 on all

supported operating systems (if it’s not already installed on your computer) except Windows XP (64-bit version).

Note: Users with Windows XP (64-Bit version) operating systems can go to Microsoft’s

website to upgrade their systems to .NET Framework version 2.0 so it can work with the utility.

2.2 Installing the Utility

Follow the steps below to install .NET Framework version 2.0 and the ZyXEL PLA Series Configuration utility on your computer.

1 Insert the included CD-ROM into your computer’s CD-ROM drive. The Setup utility runs

automatically . Alternatively this can also be done manually by double clicking the setup.exe file on the CD. A prompt appears asking you to install the .NET Framework v ersion 2. 0. R evi ew Microsoft’s License Agreement, select Accept to proceed.

PLA Series User’s Guide 11

Chapter 2 Installing the Utility

Note: If you al r eady have .NET Framework version 2.0 inst alled on your computer this

step will be skipped.

Figure 2 .NET Framework Installation Prompt

2 The next screen allows you to see the progress of the installation.

Figure 3 .NET Framework Installation Process

3 The Setup utility runs automatically. Click Yes or Next to continue through the initial screen. Click

Cancel only if you want to abort the installation.

Figure 4 InstallShield Wizard Start Screen

PLA Series User’s Guide

Chapter 2 Installing the Utility

4 If you want the utility to be only available to the currently logged in user, select Just me.

Otherwise, click Everyone to allow all users to use the configuration utility . Click Next to install the utility to the default folder, or click Browse to specify a different location on your computer.

Figure 5 Install Destination Folder

Note: You can also click Disk Cost to know how much available disk space you have in

the hard drives found in your computer.

5 When the installation is finished, a screen appears to confirm the InstallShield Wizard has

successfully installed the PLA Series Configuration Utility to your computer. Click Next. Figure 6 Confirm Installation

PLA Series User’s Guide

Chapter 2 Installing the Utility

6 Click Close to exit the wizard.

Figure 7 Installation Complete

Note: Y ou may be ask ed to restart your comput er when the install ation is complete . Click

“Yes” to restart your computer. If you select “No, I will restart my computer later”, you will not be able to launch the utility until after a restart of your computer.

2.3 Low Power Mode

Your PLA is a certified green product. It goes into Low Power mode when there is no Ethernet connection.

When you plug the PLA into an electric socket, it waits for an Ethernet connection. When no connection is detected after sixty (60) seconds, the Power LED blinks indicating that it is going into Low Power mode.

The same process occurs when you disconnect the PLA from a previously working Ethernet connection. Sixty (60) seconds after disconnecting the Ethernet cable, the PLA’s power LED blinks signalling that it is going into Low Power mode.

The Ethernet and HomePlug LEDs are turned off in Low Power mode.

While in Low Power mode, you cannot use the RESET/ENCRYPT button. To enable the RESET/ ENCRYPT button again, you have to connect the PLA’s Ethernet cable to a computer/notebook or modem/router first. The PLA wakes up from Low Power mode and you can start using the RESET/ ENCRYPT button.

Low Power mode is enabled by default.

PLA Series User’s Guide

PART II

Technical Reference

+ 36 hidden pages