PLA-400/402 PowerLine Ethernet Adapter Series User’s Guide Version 1.00 11/2006 Edition 1 www.zyxel.
About This User's Guide About This User's Guide Intended Audience This manual is intended for people who want to configure the PLA-400/402 using the PLA4xx Series Configuration Utility. You should have your basic Internet access or home network already set up. 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. • Supporting Disk Refer to the included CD for support documents.
Document Conventions Document Conventions Warnings and Notes These are how warnings and notes are shown in this User’s Guide. 1 " Warnings tell you about things that could harm you or your device. Notes tell you other important information (for example, other things you may need to configure or helpful tips) or recommendations. Syntax Conventions • The PLA-400 and PLA-402 may be referred to as the “PLA-400/402”, the “device” or the “ethernet adapter” in this User’s Guide.
Safety Warnings Safety Warnings 1 For your safety, be sure to read and follow all warning notices and instructions. • Do NOT use this product near water, for example, in a wet basement or near a swimming pool. • Do NOT expose your device to dampness, dust or corrosive liquids. • Do NOT store things on the device. • Do NOT install, use, or service this device during a thunderstorm. There is a remote risk of electric shock from lightning. • Connect ONLY suitable accessories to the device.
Safety Warnings This product is recyclable. Dispose of it properly.
Table of Contents Table of Contents About This User's Guide .......................................................................................................... 3 Document Conventions............................................................................................................ 4 Safety Warnings........................................................................................................................ 5 Table of Contents........................................................
Table of Contents Appendix A Product Specifications ................................................................................... 35 Appendix B Setting up Your Computer’s IP Address ........................................................ 37 Appendix C Wall-mounting Instructions ............................................................................ 49 Appendix D Legal Information...........................................................................................
List of Figures List of Figures Figure 1 Expand Your Network with the PLA-400 .................................................................................. 13 Figure 2 Expand Your Network with the PLA-402 over Coaxial Cable Wiring ........................................ 14 Figure 3 .NET Framework Installation Prompt ....................................................................................... 18 Figure 4 Microsoft’s Agreement .................................................................
List of Figures 10 PLA-400/402 Series User’s Guide
List of Tables List of Tables Table 1 Password Summary .................................................................................................................. 15 Table 2 Configuration Screen ................................................................................................................ 25 Table 3 Firmware Screen ....................................................................................................................... 27 Table 4 Network Info Screen ..................
List of Tables 12 PLA-400/402 Series User’s Guide
CHAPTER 1 Introducing the PLA-400/402 This chapter introduces the main applications and features of the PLA-400 and PLA-402 HomePlug AV compliant power line adapters. It also introduces how to manage the PLA-400/ 402. 1.1 Overview The HomePlug AV (Audio/Video) standard specifies how network devices communicate using standard electrical wiring. This section shows you typical applications for your PLA-400 and PLA-402 PowerLine Ethernet Adapters.
Chapter 1 Introducing the PLA-400/402 Expand Your Network with the PLA-402 The PLA-402 allows you to be more flexible in expanding your network by adding the coaxial cable capability. Figure 2 Expand Your Network with the PLA-402 over Coaxial Cable Wiring Connect your PLA-402 to a modem, router or switch and plug it into a coaxial cable outlet in your home. Plug a second PLA-402 into another outlet and connect a computer to the PLA402 for Internet access.
Chapter 1 Introducing the PLA-400/402 Connect one power line adapter to a router or switch on the first Ethernet network and assign a password (for example “Password1”) to this power line adapter. Add additional power line adapters to your network by plugging them into your power line outlets and assigning them “Password1”. This completes the configuration of your first power line network.
Chapter 1 Introducing the PLA-400/402 16 PLA-400/402 Series User’s Guide
CHAPTER 2 Installing the Configuration Utility This chapter guides you through the installation of the configuration utility for your PLA-400/ 402. 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 1.1 software on your computer. This software is necessary for the installation of the PLA-4xx Series Configuration Utility. If you already have .NET Framework version 1.
Chapter 2 Installing the Configuration Utility Figure 3 .NET Framework Installation Prompt 2 Review Microsoft’s License Agreement, select I agree and click Install to proceed. Figure 4 Microsoft’s Agreement 3 The next screen allows you to see the progress of the installation.
Chapter 2 Installing the Configuration Utility Figure 5 .NET Framework Installation Process 4 Click OK to complete the installation process. Figure 6 Microsoft’s Agreement 5 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.
Chapter 2 Installing the Configuration Utility 6 Fill in the User Name and Company Name fields (optional). If you want the utility to be only available to the currently logged in user, select Only for me(...). Otherwise, click Next to continue and allow all users to use the configuration utility. Figure 8 Customer Information Input 7 Click Next to install the utility to the default folder, or click Change to specify a different location on your computer.
Chapter 2 Installing the Configuration Utility Figure 10 Install Begin Screen 9 When the installation is finished, a screen appears to confirm the InstallShield Wizard has successfully installed the PLA-4xx Series Configuration Utility to your computer. Click Finish to exit the wizard and restart your computer. Figure 11 Restart Screen " 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.
Chapter 2 Installing the Configuration Utility 22 PLA-400/402 Series User’s Guide
CHAPTER 3 Managing Your PLA-400/402 This chapter shows you how to use the configuration utility to manage security and update software on the PLA-400/402s in your power line network. 3.1 Overview The PLA-400/402 is designed as a plug-and-play network expanding solution.
Chapter 3 Managing Your PLA-400/402 3.1.1 Power Line Network Security When the PLA-400/402s communicate with each other, they use encryption to protect the information that is sent in the power line network. Encryption is like a secret code. If you do not know the secret code, you cannot understand the message. The HomePlug AV standard uses 128-bit AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) to safely transmit data between power line adapters.
Chapter 3 Managing Your PLA-400/402 " Use the Figure 14 icon to view online help information in each screen of the utility. Configuration Screen The following table describes the labels in this screen. Table 2 Configuration Screen LABEL DESCRIPTION Network Topology Use this to select which power line network information is displayed. Different power line networks are identified by the Ethernet interface (network card) connected directly to the PLA-400/402.
Chapter 3 Managing Your PLA-400/402 Table 2 Configuration Screen (continued) LABEL DESCRIPTION DAK Password DAK (Device Access Key) password is used to verify that you are authorized to perform changes on a remote device. You can find the DAK password printed on a sticker on the bottom of your PLA-400/402. Select the remote power line adapter you want to manage by clicking the MAC address which corresponds to it in the MAC Address column. Enter the DAK Password value and click Save.
Chapter 3 Managing Your PLA-400/402 Figure 15 Firmware Screen The following table describes the labels in this screen. Table 3 Firmware Screen LABEL DESCRIPTION Adapter This field identifies which PLA-400/402 is displayed. The power line adapter is identified by the Ethernet interface (network card) connected directly to the PLA-400/ 402. The displayed information is the model name of the network card.
Chapter 3 Managing Your PLA-400/402 3.5 Network Info Screen Use the Network Info screen to see the rates at which a specific PLA-400/402 is communicating with other power line adapters on your power line network. Figure 16 Network Info Screen The following table describes the labels in this screen. Table 4 Network Info Screen LABEL DESCRIPTION Adapter This field identifies which power line network information is displayed.
Chapter 3 Managing Your PLA-400/402 Table 4 Network Info Screen (continued) LABEL DESCRIPTION MAC Address This field displays the MAC address of your power line adapter. The MAC address of your power line adapter can be found by looking at the label on your device. It consists of six pairs of hexadecimal characters (hexadecimal characters are “0-9” and “a-f”). In the case of the PLA-400/402, this label is on the bottom of the device.
Chapter 3 Managing Your PLA-400/402 30 PLA-400/402 Series User’s Guide
CHAPTER 4 LEDs and Troubleshooting This chapter describes the LED behavior and offers some suggestions to solve problems you might encounter. 4.1 LEDs The following figure is the front panel of the PLA-400/402. Use the LEDs to determine if the PLA-400/402 is behaving normally or if there are some problems on your power line network. Figure 18 LEDs The following table describes the LED behavior. Table 6 LEDs LED STATUS DESCRIPTION PWR On The PLA-400/402 is on and receiving power.
Chapter 4 LEDs and Troubleshooting 4.2 Power and LED Problems V The PLA-400/402 does not turn on. None of the LEDs turn on. 1 Make sure you are using the power adaptor included with the PLA-400/402. 2 Make sure the power adaptor is connected to the PLA-400/402 and plugged in to an appropriate power source. Make sure the power source is turned on. 3 Disconnect and re-connect the power adaptor to the PLA-400/402. 4 If the problem continues, contact the vendor. V The ETHN LED does not turn on.
Chapter 4 LEDs and Troubleshooting V The PLA-4xx Series Configuration Utility does not display all or any of my devices. 1 Make sure all the power line adapters you are using are HomePlug AV compliant. 2 Inspect the LEDs on your PLA-400/402 and make sure that the ETHN and LINK LEDs are on or blinking. See Section 4.2 on page 32 for troubleshooting LED related problems.
Chapter 4 LEDs and Troubleshooting 34 PLA-400/402 Series User’s Guide
APPENDIX A Product Specifications The following tables summarize the PLA-400/402’s hardware and firmware features. Table 7 Hardware Specifications Dimensions (W x D x H) 112 (L) mm x 106 (D) mm x 28.5 mm (H) Power Input 100 - 240 VAC, 50/60 Hz, 0.12 A Ethernet Port Auto-negotiating: 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps in either half-duplex or full-duplex mode. Auto-crossover: Use either crossover or straight-through Ethernet cables.
Appendix A Product Specifications Table 8 Firmware Specifications FEATURE DESCRIPTION Network Password Change the power line network password to only allow the ethernet adapters you specify to join your network. Firmware Upgrade Download new firmware (when available) from the ZyXEL web site and use the configuration utility to install it.
APPENDIX B Setting up Your Computer’s IP Address All computers must have a 10M or 100M Ethernet adapter card and TCP/IP installed. Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP, Macintosh OS 7 and later operating systems and all versions of UNIX/LINUX include the software components you need to install and use TCP/ IP on your computer. Windows 3.1 requires the purchase of a third-party TCP/IP application package.
Appendix B Setting up Your Computer’s IP Address Figure 20 WIndows 95/98/Me: Network: Configuration Installing Components The Network window Configuration tab displays a list of installed components. You need a network adapter, the TCP/IP protocol and Client for Microsoft Networks. If you need the adapter: 1 In the Network window, click Add. 2 Select Adapter and then click Add. 3 Select the manufacturer and model of your network adapter and then click OK.
Appendix B Setting up Your Computer’s IP Address Configuring 1 In the Network window Configuration tab, select your network adapter's TCP/IP entry and click Properties 2 Click the IP Address tab. • If your IP address is dynamic, select Obtain an IP address automatically. • If you have a static IP address, select Specify an IP address and type your information into the IP Address and Subnet Mask fields. Figure 21 Windows 95/98/Me: TCP/IP Properties: IP Address 3 Click the DNS Configuration tab.
Appendix B Setting up Your Computer’s IP Address Figure 22 Windows 95/98/Me: TCP/IP Properties: DNS Configuration 4 Click the Gateway tab. • If you do not know your gateway’s IP address, remove previously installed gateways. • If you have a gateway IP address, type it in the New gateway field and click Add. 5 Click OK to save and close the TCP/IP Properties window. 6 Click OK to close the Network window. Insert the Windows CD if prompted. 7 Turn on your Prestige and restart your computer when prompted.
Appendix B Setting up Your Computer’s IP Address Figure 23 Windows XP: Start Menu 2 In the Control Panel, double-click Network Connections (Network and Dial-up Connections in Windows 2000/NT). Figure 24 Windows XP: Control Panel 3 Right-click Local Area Connection and then click Properties.
Appendix B Setting up Your Computer’s IP Address Figure 25 Windows XP: Control Panel: Network Connections: Properties 4 Select Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) (under the General tab in Win XP) and then click Properties. Figure 26 Windows XP: Local Area Connection Properties 5 The Internet Protocol TCP/IP Properties window opens (the General tab in Windows XP). • If you have a dynamic IP address click Obtain an IP address automatically.
Appendix B Setting up Your Computer’s IP Address Figure 27 Windows XP: Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties 6 If you do not know your gateway's IP address, remove any previously installed gateways in the IP Settings tab and click OK. Do one or more of the following if you want to configure additional IP addresses: • In the IP Settings tab, in IP addresses, click Add. • In TCP/IP Address, type an IP address in IP address and a subnet mask in Subnet mask, and then click Add.
Appendix B Setting up Your Computer’s IP Address Figure 28 Windows XP: Advanced TCP/IP Properties 7 In the Internet Protocol TCP/IP Properties window (the General tab in Windows XP): • Click Obtain DNS server address automatically if you do not know your DNS server IP address(es). • If you know your DNS server IP address(es), click Use the following DNS server addresses, and type them in the Preferred DNS server and Alternate DNS server fields.
Appendix B Setting up Your Computer’s IP Address Figure 29 Windows XP: Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties 8 Click OK to close the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Properties window. 9 Click Close (OK in Windows 2000/NT) to close the Local Area Connection Properties window. 10 Close the Network Connections window (Network and Dial-up Connections in Windows 2000/NT). 11 Turn on your Prestige and restart your computer (if prompted).
Appendix B Setting up Your Computer’s IP Address Figure 30 Macintosh OS 8/9: Apple Menu 2 Select Ethernet built-in from the Connect via list. Figure 31 Macintosh OS 8/9: TCP/IP 3 For dynamically assigned settings, select Using DHCP Server from the Configure: list.
Appendix B Setting up Your Computer’s IP Address • From the Configure box, select Manually. • Type your IP address in the IP Address box. • Type your subnet mask in the Subnet mask box. • Type the IP address of your Prestige in the Router address box. 5 Close the TCP/IP Control Panel. 6 Click Save if prompted, to save changes to your configuration. 7 Turn on your Prestige and restart your computer (if prompted). Verifying Settings Check your TCP/IP properties in the TCP/IP Control Panel window.
Appendix B Setting up Your Computer’s IP Address Figure 33 Macintosh OS X: Network 4 For statically assigned settings, do the following: • From the Configure box, select Manually. • Type your IP address in the IP Address box. • Type your subnet mask in the Subnet mask box. • Type the IP address of your Prestige in the Router address box. 5 Click Apply Now and close the window. 6 Turn on your Prestige and restart your computer (if prompted).
APPENDIX C Wall-mounting Instructions Do the following to hang your PLA-400/402 on a wall. " See the product specifications appendix for the size of screws to use and how far apart to place them. 1 Locate a high position on a wall that is free of obstructions. Use a sturdy wall. 2 Drill two holes for the screws. Make sure the distance between the centers of the holes matches what is listed in the product specifications appendix.
Appendix C Wall-mounting Instructions 50 PLA-400/402 Series User’s Guide
APPENDIX D Legal Information Copyright Copyright © 2006 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.
Appendix D Legal Information If this device does cause harmful interference to radio/television reception, which can be determined by turning the device off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: 1 Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. 2 Increase the separation between the equipment and the receiver. 3 Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
Appendix D Legal Information 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.
Appendix D Legal Information 54 PLA-400/402 Series User’s Guide
APPENDIX E Customer Support Please have the following information ready when you contact customer support. Required Information • • • • 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. Corporate Headquarters (Worldwide) • • • • • • • Support E-mail: support@zyxel.com.tw Sales E-mail: sales@zyxel.com.tw Telephone: +886-3-578-3942 Fax: +886-3-578-2439 Web Site: www.zyxel.com, www.europe.zyxel.
Appendix E Customer Support Denmark • • • • • • Support E-mail: support@zyxel.dk Sales E-mail: sales@zyxel.dk Telephone: +45-39-55-07-00 Fax: +45-39-55-07-07 Web Site: www.zyxel.dk Regular Mail: ZyXEL Communications A/S, Columbusvej, 2860 Soeborg, Denmark Finland • • • • • • Support E-mail: support@zyxel.fi Sales E-mail: sales@zyxel.fi Telephone: +358-9-4780-8411 Fax: +358-9-4780 8448 Web Site: www.zyxel.
Appendix E Customer Support • • • • Telephone: +7-3272-590-698 Fax: +7-3272-590-689 Web Site: www.zyxel.kz Regular Mail: ZyXEL Kazakhstan, 43, Dostyk ave.,Office 414, Dostyk Business Centre, 050010, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan North America • • • • • • • Support E-mail: support@zyxel.com Sales E-mail: sales@zyxel.com Telephone: +1-800-255-4101, +1-714-632-0882 Fax: +1-714-632-0858 Web Site: www.us.zyxel.com FTP Site: ftp.us.zyxel.com Regular Mail: ZyXEL Communications Inc., 1130 N. Miller St.
Appendix E Customer Support • Web Site: www.zyxel.es • Regular Mail: ZyXEL Communications, Arte, 21 5ª planta, 28033 Madrid, Spain Sweden • • • • • • Support E-mail: support@zyxel.se Sales E-mail: sales@zyxel.se Telephone: +46-31-744-7700 Fax: +46-31-744-7701 Web Site: www.zyxel.se Regular Mail: ZyXEL Communications A/S, Sjöporten 4, 41764 Göteborg, Sweden Ukraine • • • • • • Support E-mail: support@ua.zyxel.com Sales E-mail: sales@ua.zyxel.
Index Index Symbols E .
Index M MAC address 25 management 14 multiple networks 14 overview 23 privacy 14 N network example 23 network information 28 network ports 35 number of devices supported 35 syntax conventions 4 T temperature, operation and storage 35 trademarks 51 transfer rates 13 trasmit rate 28 troubleshooting 31 U utility launching 24 P Parameter Information Block, see PIB 26 passwords 24, 25, 26 types of 15 PIB (Parameter Information Block) 26 plug-and-play 23 power specification 35 private network 15 problems an
