Owner's Manual

Chapter 1 Introducing the PLA4215

PLA4215 User’s Guide

Connect your PLA4215 to an Internet gateway such as a modem and plug it into an ordinary power

outlet in your home. Plug a second PLA4215 into another power outlet and connect a computer to

the PLA4215 for Internet access. Your network can be further expanded by plugging additional

PLA4215s into other outlets in your home and connecting other computers or network devices (for

example, a printer) to them. With a power socket, the PLA4215 can provide power to another

device or connect to a power strip that allows more electrical devices, such as a printer or computer

to be plugged.

Refer to your Quick Start Guide for hardware connection information.

1.3 Ways to Manage the PLA4215

Use the ENCRYPT button to add powerline devices to your powerline network if they have this

button. See Chapter 3 on page 21 for instructions on using the ENCRYPT feature.

Use the PLA42xx Series Configuration Utility (or utility, for short) to manage the PLA4215. See

Section 2.2 on page 14 for instructions on installing the utility.

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

with a PLA4215 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 PLA4215.

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 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 27.

DAK (Data Access

Key) Password

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).