ZyXEL Communications 100 User Manual

PL-100

PowerLine 85 Mbps Ethernet Adapter

User’s Guide

Version 1.00

9/2005

PL-100 User’s Guide

Copyright © 2005 by ZyXEL Communications Corporation.

The contents of this publication may not be reproduced in any part or as a whole, transcribed,
stored in a retrieval system, translated into any language, or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, magnetic, optical, chemical, photocopying, manual, or
otherwise, without the prior written permission of ZyXEL Communications Corporation.

Published by ZyXEL Communications Corporation. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer

ZyXEL does not assume any liability arising out of the application or use of any products, or
software described herein. Neither does it convey any license under its patent rights nor the
patent rights of others. ZyXEL further reserves the right to make changes in any products
described herein without notice. This publication is subject to change without notice.

Copyright

Trademarks

ZyNOS (ZyXEL Network Operating System) is a registered trademark of ZyXEL
Communications, Inc. Other trademarks mentioned in this publication are used for
identification purposes only and may be properties of their respective owners.

2 Copyright

PL-100 User’s Guide

Federal Communications

Commission (FCC) Interference

Statement

This device complies with Part 15 of FCC rules. Operation is subject to the following two
conditions:

• This device may not cause harmful interference.

• This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause
undesired operations.

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital
device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference in a commercial environment. This equipment
generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy, and if not installed and used in
accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.

If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can
be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the
interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

• Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver.

• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver
is connected.

• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio or TV technician for help.

Notice 1

Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance
could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.

This Class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian ICES-003.

Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme à la norme NMB-003 du Canada.

Certifications

1 Go to www.zyxel.com.

2 Select your product from the drop-down list box on the ZyXEL home page to go to that

product's page.

3 Select the certification you wish to view from this page.

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Interference Statement 3

PL-100 User’s Guide

For your safety, be sure to read and follow all warning notices and instructions.

• Do NOT open the device or unit. Opening or removing covers can expose you to
dangerous high voltage points or other risks. ONLY qualified service personnel can
service the device. Please contact your vendor for further information.

• Connect the power cord to the right supply voltage (110V AC in North America or 230V
AC in Europe).

• Place connecting cables carefully so that no one will step on them or stumble over them.
Do NOT allow anything to rest on the power cord and do NOT locate the product where
anyone can walk on the power cord.

• If you wall mount your device, make sure that no electrical, gas or water pipes will be
damaged.

• Do NOT install nor use your device during a thunderstorm. There may be a remote risk of
electric shock from lightning.

• Do NOT expose your device to dampness, dust or corrosive liquids.

• Do NOT use this product near water, for example, in a wet basement or near a swimming
pool.

• Make sure to connect the cables to the correct ports.

• Do NOT obstruct the device ventilation slots, as insufficient airflow may harm your
device.

• Do NOT store things on the device.

• Connect ONLY suitable accessories to the device.

Safety Warnings

4 Safety Warnings

PL-100 User’s Guide

ZyXEL Limited Warranty

ZyXEL warrants to the original end user (purchaser) that this product is free from any defects
in materials or workmanship for a period of up to two years from the date of purchase. During
the warranty period, and upon proof of purchase, should the product have indications of failure
due to faulty workmanship and/or materials, ZyXEL will, at its discretion, repair or replace the
defective products or components without charge for either parts or labor, and to whatever
extent it shall deem necessary to restore the product or components to proper operating
condition. Any replacement will consist of a new or re-manufactured functionally equivalent
product of equal value, and will be solely at the discretion of ZyXEL. This warranty shall not
apply if the product is modified, misused, tampered with, damaged by an act of God, or
subjected to abnormal working conditions.

Note

Repair or replacement, as provided under this warranty, is the exclusive remedy of the
purchaser. This warranty is in lieu of all other warranties, express or implied, including any
implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular use or purpose. ZyXEL shall in
no event be held liable for indirect or consequential damages of any kind of character to the
purchaser.

To obtain the services of this warranty, contact ZyXEL's Service Center for your Return
Material Authorization number (RMA). Products must be returned Postage Prepaid. It is
recommended that the unit be insured when shipped. Any returned products without proof of
purchase or those with an out-dated warranty will be repaired or replaced (at the discretion of
ZyXEL) and the customer will be billed for parts and labor. All repaired or replaced products
will be shipped by ZyXEL to the corresponding return address, Postage Paid. This warranty
gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights that vary from country to
country.

ZyXEL Limited Warranty 5

PL-100 User’s Guide

Please have the following information ready when you contact customer support.

• Product model and serial number.

• Warranty Information.

• Date that you received your device.

• Brief description of the problem and the steps you took to solve it.

Customer Support

METHOD

LOCATION

CORPORATE
HEADQUARTERS
(WORLDWIDE)

CZECH REPUBLIC

DENMARK

FINLAND

FRANCE

GERMANY

NORTH AMERICA

NORWAY

SPAIN

SWEDEN

SUPPORT E-MAIL TELEPHONE

SALES E-MAIL FAX FTP SITE

[e-mail] [phone] www.zyxel.com

[e-mail] [phone] ftp.zyxel.com

[e-mail] [phone] www.zyxel.cz ZyXEL Communications

[e-mail] [phone]

[e-mail] [phone] www.zyxel.dk Z y X E L C o m m u n i c a t i o n s A / S

[e-mail] [phone]

[e-mail] [phone] www.zyxel.fi ZyXEL Communications Oy

[e-mail] [phone]

[e-mail] [phone] www.zyxel.fr Z yX E L F r an c e

[phone]

[e-mail] [phone] www.zyxel.de ZyXEL Deutschland GmbH.

[e-mail] [phone]

[e-mail] [phone]

[phone]

[e-mail] [phone] ftp.us.zyxel.com

[e-mail] [phone] www.zyxel.no Z y X E L C o m m u n i c a t i o n s A / S

[e-mail] [phone]

[e-mail] [phone] www.zyxel.es Z y X E L C o mm u n i c a t i o n s

[e-mail] [phone]

[e-mail] [phone] www.zyxel.se ZyXEL Communications A/S

[e-mail] [phone]

A

WEB SITE

www.europe.zyxel.com

ftp.europe.zyxel.com

www.us.zyxel.com ZyXEL Communications Inc.

REGULAR MAIL

ZyXEL Communications Corp.
6 I nn ovat ion R oad I I

Sc ien ce P ar k
Hs inc hu 3 00
Ta iw a n

Czech s.r.o.
Modranská 621
143 01 Praha 4 - Modrany
Ceská Republika

Col um bu sv ej 5
2860 Soeborg
Denmark

Mal mi nk aa ri 10
00700 Helsinki
Finland

1 ru e d e s V er ge r s
Ba t. 1 / C
69760 Limonest
France

Adenauerstr. 20/A2 D-52146
Wuerselen
Germany

1130 N. Miller St.
An ah eim

CA 92806-2001
U.S.A.

Ni ls H ans en s ve i 13
0667 Oslo
Norway

Alejandro Villegas 33
1º, 28043 Madrid
Spain

Sjöporten 4, 41764 Göteborg
Sweden

6 Customer Support

PL-100 User’s Guide

METHOD

LOCATION

UNITED KINGDOM

SUPPORT E-MAIL TELEPHONE

SALES E-MAIL FAX FTP SITE

[e-mail] [phone]

08707 555779 (UK only)

[e-mail] [phone] ftp.zyxel.co.uk

A

WEB SITE

www.zyxel.co.uk ZyXEL Communications UK

a. “+” is the (prefix) number you enter to make an international telephone call.

REGULAR MAIL

Ltd.,11 The Courtyard,
Eastern Road, Bracknell,
Berkshire, RG12 2XB,
United Kingdom (UK)

Customer Support 7

PL-100 User’s Guide

8 Customer Support

PL-100 User’s Guide

Table of Contents

Copyright .................................................................................................................. 2

Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Interference Statement ............... 3

Safety Warnings ....................................................................................................... 4

ZyXEL Limited Warranty.......................................................................................... 5

Customer Support.................................................................................................... 6

Table of Contents ..................................................................................................... 9

List of Figures ........................................................................................................ 11

List of Tables .......................................................................................................... 13

Preface .................................................................................................................... 15

Chapter 1

Getting to Know Your PL-100................................................................................17

1.1 PL-100 PowerLine 85 Mbps Ethernet Adapter Overview ...................................17

1.2 Key Features ......................................................................................................17

1.3 System Requirements ........................................................................................18

1.4 Applications for the PL-100 ................................................................................18

1.4.1 Broadband Internet Access via Cable or DSL Modem .............................18

1.4.2 Connect a Computer, Printer or Game Device to a Network ....................18

1.4.3 Share Files, Printers and Other Devices ..................................................19

Chapter 2

Connecting the PL-100 ..........................................................................................21

2.1 Preparing to Install the PL-100 ...........................................................................21

2.2 Connecting the PL-100 ......................................................................................22

2.2.1 Connecting the PL-100 to Your Main Cable or DSL Modem ....................22

2.2.2 Connecting the PL-100 to a Computer .....................................................23

2.2.3 LED Status ................................................................................................24

Chapter 3

Installing the PL-100 Software .............................................................................. 25

3.1 Installation of the Utility ......................................................................................25

Table of Contents 9

PL-100 User’s Guide

Chapter 4

Using the Configuration Utility ............................................................................. 29

Chapter 5

Troubleshooting .....................................................................................................37

Appendix A

PL-100 Specifications ............................................................................................ 39

Appendix B

Setting up Your Computer’s IP Address.............................................................. 41

4.1 Configuration Utility Main Screen .......................................................................29

4.2 Privacy Screen ...................................................................................................32

4.3 Diagnostics Screen ............................................................................................33

4.4 About Screen .....................................................................................................35

5.1 Using LEDs to Diagnose a Problem ...................................................................37

5.1.1 PWR LED is Off ........................................................................................37

5.1.2 LINK LED is Off ........................................................................................37

5.1.3 ETHN LED is Off .......................................................................................37

Index........................................................................................................................ 53

10 Table of Contents

PL-100 User’s Guide

List of Figures

Figure 1 Connecting the PL-100 to a Broadband Modem.................................................... 22

Figure 2 Connecting the PL-100 to a Computer ................................................................. 23

Figure 3 PL-100 Top View With LED Lights ........................................................................ 24

Figure 4 InstallShield Wizard Start Screen .......................................................................... 25

Figure 5 Customer Information Input .................................................................................. 26

Figure 6 Install Destination Folder ...................................................................................... 26

Figure 7 Install Begin Screen .............................................................................................. 27

Figure 8 Install Process Screen .......................................................................................... 27

Figure 9 Installation Confirmation Screen ........................................................................... 28

Figure 10 PL-100 Configuration Utility Main ...................................................................... 29

Figure 11 Add Device .......................................................................................................... 31

Figure 12 Naming and Passwords ...................................................................................... 31

Figure 13 Privacy Screen .................................................................................................... 32

Figure 14 Diagnostics Screen ............................................................................................. 33

Figure 15 About Screen ...................................................................................................... 35

Figure 16 WIndows 95/98/Me: Network: Configuration ....................................................... 42

Figure 17 Windows 95/98/Me: TCP/IP Properties: IP Address ........................................... 43

Figure 18 Windows 95/98/Me: TCP/IP Properties: DNS Configuration .............................. 44

Figure 19 Windows XP: Start Menu .................................................................................... 45

Figure 20 Windows XP: Control Panel ................................................................................ 45

Figure 21 Windows XP: Control Panel: Network Connections: Properties ......................... 46

Figure 22 Windows XP: Local Area Connection Properties ................................................ 46

Figure 23 Windows XP: Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties ........................................... 47

Figure 24 Windows XP: Advanced TCP/IP Properties ........................................................ 48

Figure 25 Windows XP: Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties ........................................... 49

Figure 26 Macintosh OS 8/9: Apple Menu .......................................................................... 50

Figure 27 Macintosh OS 8/9: TCP/IP .................................................................................. 51

Figure 28 Macintosh OS X: Apple Menu ............................................................................. 51

Figure 29 Macintosh OS X: Network ................................................................................... 52

List of Figures 11

PL-100 User’s Guide

12 List of Figures

PL-100 User’s Guide

List of Tables

Table 1 LED Status of the PL-100 After Connection .......................................................... 24

Table 2 Utility Main Window Descriptions .......................................................................... 30

Table 3 Privacy Screen Choices ........................................................................................ 32

Table 4 Diagnostics Screen Items ............................................... 34

Table 5 About Screen Choices ................................................. 35

Table 6 Troubleshooting PWR LED .................................................................................... 37

Table 7 Troubleshooting LINK LED .................................................................................... 37

Table 8 Troubleshooting ETHN LED .................................................................................. 37

Table 9 Specifications ......................................................................................................... 39

Table 10 RJ-45 Connector Pin Assignments ...................................................................... 39

List of Tables 13

PL-100 User’s Guide

14 List of Tables

PL-100 User’s Guide

Preface

Congratulations on your purchase of the PL-100 PowerLine 85 Mbps Ethernet Adapter.

Note: Register your product online to receive e-mail notices of firmware upgrades and

information at
North American products.

Your PL-100 Ethernet Adapter is easy to install and configure.

About This User's Guide

This manual is designed to guide you through the configuration of your PL-100 for its various
applications.

Related Documentation

• Supporting Disk

www.zyxel.com for global products, or at www.us.zyxel.com for

Refer to the included CD for support documents.

• Quick Start Guide

The Quick Start Guide is designed to help you get up and running right away. It contains
a detailed easy-to-follow connection diagram, default settings, handy checklists and
information on setting up your network and configuring for Internet access.

• ZyXEL Glossary and Web Site

Please refer to www.zyxel.com for an online glossary of networking terms and additional
support documentation.

User Guide Feedback

Help us help you. E-mail all User Guide-related comments, questions or suggestions for
improvement to [e-mail] or send regular mail to The Technical Writing
Team, ZyXEL Communications Corp., 6 Innovation Road II, Science-Based Industrial Park,
Hsinchu, 300, Taiwan. Thank you!

Syntax Conventions

• “Enter” means for you to type one or more characters. “Select” or “Choose” means for
you to use one predefined choices.

• Mouse action sequences are denoted using a comma. For example, “In Windows, click
Start, Settings and then Control Panel” means first click the Start button, then point
your mouse pointer to Settings and then click Control Panel.

• “e.g.,” is a shorthand for “for instance”, and “i.e.,” means “that is” or “in other words”.

Preface 15

PL-100 User’s Guide

16 Preface

PL-100 User’s Guide

CHAPTER 1

Getting to Know Your PL-100

This chapter introduces the main features and applications of the PL-100.

1.1 PL-100 PowerLine 85 Mbps Ethernet Adapter Overview

Thank you for purchasing the The PL-100 PowerLine 85 Mbps Ethernet Adapter transforms a
house's existing electrical wiring into a powerful networking infrastructure. The PL-100 plugs
into an ordinary 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.

The PL-100 supports up to an 85 Mbps data rate over common power lines while providing
56-bit DES Link Encryption for a safe and secure network. Easy to install, simply plug the PL­100 into an outlet and connect it to any broadband modem or router, and then plug each PC,
home entertainment device, gaming console or network-ready printer into a power socket with
another PL-100.

1.2 Key Features

Up to an 85 Mbps Data Rate Over Power Lines

Power line communication (PLC), also called Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) or Power
Line Telecoms (PLT), is a wireline technology that is able to use the current electricity
networks for data and voice transmission. The technology allows the transfer of voice and data
by superimposing an analog signal over the standard 50 or 60 Hz alternating current (AC).

56-bit DES Link Encryption

Data Encryption Standard (DES) is a widely used method of data encryption using a secret
key. DES applies a 56-bit key to each 64-bit block of data.

No New Wiring to Install

The PL-100 works in any home with copper wiring used as for electrical lines. Since some
older houses built before 1950 might have older wiring, then it may not work in these cases.
The PL-100 signal has no problem passing through circuit breakers, but can’t pass through
power transformers (which usually feed power to a house or groups of houses). The PL-100
works with AC input of 100 ~ 240 V.

Chapter 1 Getting to Know Your PL-100 17