ZyXEL PLA4201 Owner's Manual

PLA4201

500 Mbps Mini Powerline Ethernet Adapter

Edition 1, 03/2012

www.zyxel.com

IMPORTANT! READ CAREFULL Y

BEFORE USE. KEEP THIS GUIDE

FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.

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

Graphics in this book may differ slightly from the product due to differences in operating systems, operating system versions, or if you installed updated firmware/software for your device. 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.

PLA4201 User’s Guide2

Table of Contents

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

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

Chapter 1

Introducing the PLA4201 .....................................................................................................................7

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

1.2 Expand Your Network with the PLA4201 ............................................................................................7

1.3 Ways to Manage the PLA4201 ........................................... ... .... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... .... ... .........................8

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

1.4.1 Passwords .......... ... ................................................................. ... ... .... ... ......................................8

1.4.2 Setting Up Security .................................... ... ... .... ... ... ... .... .........................................................8

1.5 Multiple Networks ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... .... ... .................................................................... ... .........................9

Chapter 2

Installing the Utility.............................................................................................................................10

2.1 Overview of the Installation Process .................................................................................................10

2.2 Installing the Utility ............................................................................................................................10

2.3 Low Power Mode ..............................................................................................................................12

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

Chapter 3

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

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

3.2 Set Up a HomePlug AV Network with ENCRYPT .............................................................................17

3.3 Setting Up Multiple 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

PLA4201 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 ................................................................................................................42

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

6.4 Powerline Problems .. ... ... .... ... ... .................................................................... ... .................................44

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

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

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

PLA4201 User’s Guide

PART I

User’s Guide

CHAPTER 1

Introducing the PLA4201

1.1 Overview

This chapter introduces the main applications and features of the PLA4201 HomePlug AV compliant powerline adapter.

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.

1.2 Expand Your Network with the PLA4201

The PLA4201 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 transfer rates. The PLA4201 uses 128-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) to ensure safe transfer of information.

Figure 1 Expand Your Network with the PLA4201

Connect your PLA4201 to an Internet gateway such as a modem and plug it into an ordinary power outlet in your home. Plug a second PLA4201 into another power outlet and connect a computer to the PLA4201 for Internet access. Your network can be further expanded by plugging additional PLA4201s into other outlets in your home and connecting other computers or network devices (for example, a printer) to them.

PLA4201 User’s Guide 7

Chapter 1 Introducing the PLA4201

Refer to your Quick Start Guide for hardware connection information.

1.3 Ways to Manage the PLA4201

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 PLA42xx Series Configuration Utility (or utility, for short) to manage the PLA4201. See

Section 2.2 on page 10 for instructions on installing the utility.

Note: This User’s Guide describes the latest version utility. This utility is only compatible

with a PLA4201 which has the latest firmware installed. If you don’t already have them, download the latest firmware and utility from the ZyXEL website.

1.4 Security

Since your powerline network may extend outside your premises, it is important to set up security on your PLA4201.

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 1 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

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

same powerline network name “HomePlugAV”. Change the network name via the PLA42xx Series Configuration Utility 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 the PLA42xx Series Configuration Utility. 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).

If your devices do not have the RESET/ENCRYPT button, use the PLA42xx Series Configuration Utility to set up security on the PLA4201. Although the PLA4201 is a “plug-andplay” network expanding solution there are several reasons for enabling security on the powerline network in your home.

PLA4201 User’s Guide

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 PLA4201 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.

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.

Chapter 1 Introducing the PLA4201

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.

PLA4201 User’s Guide

CHAPTER 2

Installing the Utility

This chapter guides you through the installation of the configuration utility for your PLA4201.

2.1 Overview of the Installation Process

The installation of the configuration utility does the following:

1 Checks for and installs Microsoft’s .NET Framework version 2.0 software on your computer. This

software is necessary for the installation of the PLA42xx Series Configuration Utility. If you already have .NET Framework version 2.0 installed on your computer this step will be skipped.

Note: At the time of writing the Utility is only compatible with Microsoft Windows XP and

Microsoft Windows Vista (32-bit version) operating systems. 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. To check for your Windows operating system version, right-click on My Computer > Properties. You should see this information in the General tab.

2 Installs ZyXEL’s PLA42xx Series Configuration Utility. This utility allows you to manage the

network name (See Section 4.3 on page 24 for more information) or view the devices recognized on your powerline network.

Note: This User’s Guide describes the latest version utility. This utility is only compatible

with a PLA4201 which has the latest firmware installed. If you don’t already have them, download the latest firmware and utility from the ZyXEL website.

2.2 Installing the Utility

Follow the steps below to install .NET Framework version 2.0 and the PLA42xx Series Configuration Utility on your computer.

PLA4201 User’s Guide 10

Chapter 2 Installing the Utility

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.

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

PLA4201 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 PLA42xx Series Configuration Utility to your computer. Click Close to exit the wizard.

Figure 6 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 PLA4201 is a certified green product. It goes into Low Power mode when there is no Ethernet connection.

PLA4201 User’s Guide

Chapter 2 Installing the Utility

When you plug the PLA4201 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 PLA4201 from a previously working Ethernet connection. Sixty (60) seconds after disconnecting the Ethernet cable, the PLA4201’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 PLA4201’s Ethernet cable to a computer/notebook or modem/router first. The PLA4201 wakes up from Low Power mode and you can start using the RESET/ENCRYPT button.

Low Power mode is enabled by default.

PLA4201 User’s Guide

Chapter 2 Installing the Utility

PLA4201 User’s Guide

PART II

Technical Reference

+ 36 hidden pages