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ZyXEL Communications PLA-4xx Series manual

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Table of contents for the manual

  • Page 1

    www .zyxel.com PLA-4xx Series Powerline Ethernet Adapter Se ries (PLA-400/400 v2/401/402/470) User ’ s Guide V ersion 3.00 10/2007 Edition 1[...]

  • Page 2

    [...]

  • Page 3

    About This User's Guide PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 3 About This User's Guide Intended Audience This manual is intended for people who want to configure the PLA -400, PLA-400 v2, PLA- 401, PLA-402 and PLA-470 us ing the PLA-4xx Series Conf iguration Utility version 3.0.0(AG). Y ou should have your ba sic Internet access or hom e network[...]

  • Page 4

    Document Conventions PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 4 Document Conventions W arnings and Notes These are how warnings and notes are shown in this User ’ s Guide. 1 W arnings tell you about things that could harm you or your device. " Notes tell you other import ant information (for example, other things yo u may need to configure or help ful [...]

  • Page 5

    Safety Warnings PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 5 Safety Warnings 1 For your safety , be sure to re ad 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 thin gs on the d[...]

  • Page 6

    Safety Warnings PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 6 This product is recyclable . Dispose of it properly .[...]

  • Page 7

    Table of Contents PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 7 Table of Contents About This User's Guide ........................................... ............................................................. .. 3 Document Conventions.................................................................. ......................................... .4 Safety War[...]

  • Page 8

    Table of Contents PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 8 3.3 Configuration Screen ............. ............. ................ ............. ................ ............. ............. ..... ..... 28 3.4 Firmware Screen ................... ................ ............. ............. ................ ............. ................ . ...... 30 3.5 Network[...]

  • Page 9

    List of Figures PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 9 List of Figures Figure 1 Expand Y our Network with the PLA-4xx ..... .......... ................ ............. ............. ............. ........... .. 15 Figure 2 .NET Framework Installa tion Prompt ................ ............. ............. ................ ............. ............ .... 20 Fig[...]

  • Page 10

    List of Figure s PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 10[...]

  • Page 11

    List of Tables PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 11 List of Tables T able 1 Password Summary .................. ............. ................ ............. ................ ............. ............. ............. 16 T able 2 Configuration Screen ................... ................ ............. ................. ................ ............. .... [...]

  • Page 12

    List of Tables PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 12[...]

  • Page 13

    13 P ART I Introduction Introducing the P LA-4xx (15) Installing the Utility (19)[...]

  • Page 14

    14[...]

  • Page 15

    PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 15 C HAPTER 1 Introducing the PLA-4xx 1.1 Overview This chapter introduces the ma in applications and features of the PLA-4xx HomePlug A V compliant powerline adapter . See Appendix A on page 55 for detailed product specifications. In this User ’ s Guide the e lectrical wiring netw ork and coaxial cable network are b[...]

  • Page 16

    Chapter 1 Introducing the PLA-4xx PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 16 1.3 Ways to Manage the PLA-4xx Use the PLA-4xx Series Configuration Utility (or utility , for short) to manage the PLA-4xx. See Section 2.2 on page 1 9 for instructions on installing the utility . " This User ’ s Guide describes the latest version utility . This utility is on[...]

  • Page 17

    Chapter 1 Introducing the PLA-4xx PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 17 T o prevent compromising your network secu rity , you ca n create a private network. A private network uses a secret password to make sure that only permitted powerline adapters can communicate in your network. See Section 3.3 on page 28 for information on setting up a private netwo[...]

  • Page 18

    Chapter 1 Introducing the PLA-4xx PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 18[...]

  • Page 19

    PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 19 C HAPTER 2 Installing the Utility This chapter guides you through the installation of the configur ation utility for your PLA-4xx. 2.1 Overview of the Installation Process The installation of the configur ation utility does the following: 1 Checks for and installs Microsoft’ s .NET Framew ork version 1.1 software [...]

  • Page 20

    Chapter 2 Installing the Utility PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 20 Figure 2 .NET Framework Installation Prompt 2 Review Microsoft’ s License Agreement , select I agree and click Install to proceed. Figure 3 Microsoft’ s Agreement 3 The next screen allows you to s ee the progress of the installation.[...]

  • Page 21

    Chapter 2 Installing the Utility PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 21 Figure 4 .NET Framework Installation Process 4 Click OK to complete the installation process. Figure 5 Microsoft’ s Agreement 5 The Setup utility runs automatically . Click Ye s or Next to continue through the initial screen. Click Cancel only if you want to abort the installation.[...]

  • Page 22

    Chapter 2 Installing the Utility PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 22 6 Fill in the User Name and Company Name fields (optional). If you want the utility to be only available to the curren tly logged in user , select Only for me(...) . Otherwise, click Next to continue and allow all user s to use the configuration utility . Figure 7 Customer Info rmati[...]

  • Page 23

    Chapter 2 Installing the Utility PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 23 Figure 9 Restart Screen 9 The following pop-u p appears. Click Ye s to restart your computer , or click No to restart your computer later . " If you select “No, I will rest art my computer later”, you will not be able to launch the utility until af ter a rest art of your com[...]

  • Page 24

    Chapter 2 Installing the Utility PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 24[...]

  • Page 25

    25 P ART II Using the PLA-4xx Managing Y o ur PLA-4xx (27) Powerline Network Setup T utorial (37) LEDs and T roubleshooting (47)[...]

  • Page 26

    26[...]

  • Page 27

    PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 27 C HAPTER 3 Managing Your PLA-4xx This chapter shows you how to use the utility to manage security and update software on the PLA-4xxs in your po werline network. 3.1 Overview The PLA-4xx is designed as a plu g-and-play network expan ding solution. This means tha t once you complete your hardware co nnectio ns, the P[...]

  • Page 28

    Chapter 3 Managing Your PL A-4xx PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 28 3.1.1 Powerline Network Security When the PLA-4xxs communicate with each ot her , they use encryption to protect the information that is sent in the powerline network. Encryption is like a secret code. If you do not know the secret code, you cannot understa nd the message. The Ho meP[...]

  • Page 29

    Chapter 3 Managing Your PLA-4xx PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 29 " Use the icon to view online help informa tion in each screen of the utility . Figure 12 Configuration Scre en The following table describes the labels in this screen. T a ble 2 Configuration Screen LABEL DESCRIPTION Network T o pology Use this to select which powerline network [...]

  • Page 30

    Chapter 3 Managing Your PL A-4xx PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 30 3.4 Firmware Screen " T o upgrade to the latest firmware, use the firmware upgrade tool available from the ZyXEL website (www .zyxel.com). Make sure you also upgrade the PL A-4xx Series Configuration Utility if you do so, as older version utilities are not comp atible with PLA-4[...]

  • Page 31

    Chapter 3 Managing Your PLA-4xx PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 31 Figure 13 Firmware Scre en 3.5 Network Info Screen Use the Network Info screen to see the rate s at which a specific PLA-4xx is communicating with other powerline adapters on yo ur powerline network. Figure 14 Network Info Screen[...]

  • Page 32

    Chapter 3 Managing Your PL A-4xx PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 32 The following table describes the labels in this screen. 3.6 Advanced Screen " This feature is only available with the latest version utility . Go to the ZyXEL website to download the latest utility and firmwa re for your ZyXEL HomePlug A V adapter . T a ble 3 Network Info Scree[...]

  • Page 33

    Chapter 3 Managing Your PLA-4xx PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 33 Y ou can configure the powerline adapte rs on your network to give priority to network traf fic depending on its importanc e. When you set th e priority of a powerline adapter, you set how quickly messages FROM your powerline adapte r are sent in your powerline network. T ransmissions[...]

  • Page 34

    Chapter 3 Managing Your PL A-4xx PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 34 Figure 15 Priority Settings Use this screen to configure priority settings for traf fic from the power line adapters on your network. Figure 16 Advanced Screen Internet C A B D E[...]

  • Page 35

    Chapter 3 Managing Your PLA-4xx PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 35 The following table describes the labels in this screen. 3.7 About Screen Use the About screen to view informa tion regarding the configuration utility and firmware version of the PLA-4xx you are connected to. Clic k the icon in the top right corner of the utility to view the About sc[...]

  • Page 36

    Chapter 3 Managing Your PL A-4xx PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 36[...]

  • Page 37

    PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 37 C HAPTER 4 Powerline Network Setup Tutorial Use this tutorial to expand your existing powerline network. 4.0.1 Overview After setting up your first home powerline networ k (instructions for that are in the Quick Start Guide for your ZyXEL powerline adapter) you may want to extend the network or create a new one by a[...]

  • Page 38

    Chapter 4 P owerline Netw ork Setup Tutorial PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 38 4.0.2 Import ant T erms 4.0.3 Accessing Y our Powerline Adapter 1 Attach the power cord that came in th e package to your powerline adapter . 2 Plug the power cord o f the powerline adapter you want to ad d to your network into a power socket and, if needed, switch the po[...]

  • Page 39

    Chapter 4 Powerline Network Setup Tutorial PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 39 Figure 20 Click on the PLA-4xx Series Configuration Utility Icon 6 Y ou are now ready to extend your power lin e network or set up a second network. • See Section 4.0.4 on page 39 to add a new powerline adapter to your network. • See Section 4.0.5 on page 41 to set up a[...]

  • Page 40

    Chapter 4 P owerline Netw ork Setup Tutorial PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 40 Figure 22 Adding a New Adapter 3 Select your adapter by selecting Local and type the network name for your existing network in the Network Na me field ( C ). Figure 23 Adding an Adapter to an Existing Network 4 Click Save and click OK on the pop-up. Figure 24 Network Name[...]

  • Page 41

    Chapter 4 Powerline Network Setup Tutorial PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 41 4.0.5 Setting Up a New Ne twork with a New Adapter This section shows you h ow to use your new powerline adapters to set up a new powerline network separate to your ex isting network. The figure below shows two p owerline networks in a house. The first network ( 1 ) shows t[...]

  • Page 42

    Chapter 4 P owerline Netw ork Setup Tutorial PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 42 Figure 26 Making a New Network with the New Adapter 3 After you have set up a new network, you ar e ready to connec t each powerline adapter on your new network to devices, for ex ample, a computer or a games console. 4.0.6 S p litting a Netw ork into T wo Networks This s[...]

  • Page 43

    Chapter 4 Powerline Network Setup Tutorial PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 43 3 T o set up a new powerline network, type the DAK Password and change the Netw ork Name on all powerline adapters you wish to add to your network. • Look for the DAK Password on a label on your powerline adapter . The DAK Password lets you access the adapter . • Select[...]

  • Page 44

    Chapter 4 P owerline Netw ork Setup Tutorial PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 44 Figure 31 An Adapter on Y our New Network 6 Go back to step 3 in this section to set the same, new Network Name for all remote adapters you want to a dd to your new network. 7 Check you have added the adapters correc tly by changing the password for the local adapter . Al[...]

  • Page 45

    Chapter 4 Powerline Network Setup Tutorial PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 45 • Check your powerline adapter is connected to the same electrical circuit as other powerline adapters on your n etwork.[...]

  • Page 46

    Chapter 4 P owerline Netw ork Setup Tutorial PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 46[...]

  • Page 47

    PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 47 C HAPTER 5 LEDs and Troubleshooting This chapter describes the behavior of the LEDs ( lights) and offers some suggestions to solve problems you might encounter . 5.1 LEDs The following sections describes the lights on the PLA-400, PLA-400 v2 and PLA-402, the PLA-401, and the PLA-470. 5.1.1 PLA-401 The following figu[...]

  • Page 48

    Chapter 5 LEDs and Troubl eshooting PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 48 5.1.2 PLA-400/400 v2/402 The following figure is the front panel of the PLA-400, PLA-400 v2 and PLA-402. Use the lights to determine if your PLA-4xx is behaving normally or if there are some problems on your powerline network. Figure 34 PLA-400/402 Light s The following tables des[...]

  • Page 49

    Chapter 5 LEDs and Troubleshooting PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 49 . 5.1.3 PLA-470 The following figure is the front panel of the PLA-470. Use the lights to determine if the PLA- 470 is behaving normally or if there are some problems on your powerline network. Figure 35 PLA-470 Light s T a ble 9 PLA-400 v2 Lights LIGHTS ICON COLOR ST ATUS DESCRIPT[...]

  • Page 50

    Chapter 5 LEDs and Troubl eshooting PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 50 The following table describes the lights’ behavior . 5.2 Power and Light Problems V The PLA-4xx does not turn on. None of the lights turn on. 1 Make sure you are using the power cord included with the PLA-4xx. 2 Make sure the power cord is connected to the PLA-4xx and pl ugged i[...]

  • Page 51

    Chapter 5 LEDs and Troubleshooting PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 51 V The LINK light does not turn on. 1 Check all PLA-4xxs on y our network have the latest firmw are installed. PLA- 4xxs with the latest firmware cannot communicate with PLA-4xxs using earlier versions of the firmware. Go to Section 3.4 on page 30 for instructions on inst alling the[...]

  • Page 52

    Chapter 5 LEDs and Troubl eshooting PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 52 V The PLA-4xx Series Configuration Utility does not display all or any of my devices. • Inspect the LEDs on your PLA-4xx and ma ke sure that the ETHERNET and LINK LEDs are on or blinking. See S e ction 5.2 on page 50 for troublesho oting LED related problems. • Check all ZyxEL[...]

  • Page 53

    53 P ART III Appendices and Index Product Specification s (55) Customer Support (59) Legal Information (65) Index (69)[...]

  • Page 54

    54[...]

  • Page 55

    PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 55 A PPENDIX A Product S pecifications The following tables summarize the PLA-4 xx’ s hardware and firmware features. Ta b l e 11 Hardware Specifications Dimensions (W x D x H) PLA-400/400 v2/402 1 12 (L) mm x 106 (D) mm x 28.5 (H) mm PLA-470 162 (L) mm x 1 18 (D) mm x 40 (H) mm Power Input 100 - 240 V AC, 50/60 Hz, [...]

  • Page 56

    Appendix A Product Specifications PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 56 Distance between the centers of the holes on the device’s back. PLA-400/400 v2/402 74 mm PLA-470 11 5 0 m m Recommended type of screws for wall-mounting PLA-400/400 v2/402/47 0 M3 T ap Screw T a ble 12 Firmware Specifications FEATURE DESCRIPTION Powerline Functi onality T he HomeP[...]

  • Page 57

    Appendix A Product Specifications PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 57 The following list , which is not exhaustive, illustrates the standa rds supported in the PLA-4xx. W all-mounting Instructions Complete the following step s to hang your PLA-4xx on a wall. " See T able 1 1 on page 55 for the size of screws to use and how far ap art to place the[...]

  • Page 58

    Appendix A Product Specifications PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 58 Figure 36 W all-mounting Example Cable Pin Assignment s RJ-45 Connector Pin Assignment s Figure 37 RJ-45 Connector Pins T a ble 15 RJ-45 Conn ector Pin A ssignment s PIN NO RJ-45 SIGNAL ASSIGNMENT 1 RxD + 2 RxD - 3 TxD + 4 Not connected 5 Not connected 6 TxD - 7 Not connected 8 Not [...]

  • Page 59

    PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 59 A PPENDIX B Customer Support Please have the following information r eady when you contact customer support. Required Information • Product model and serial number . • W arranty Information. • Date that you received your de vice. • Brief description of the problem and the steps you took to solv e it. “+”[...]

  • Page 60

    Appendix B Customer Support PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 60 • Re g u l a r Ma i l : ZyXEL Communications, Czech s.r .o., Modranská 621, 143 01 Praha 4 - Modrany , Ceská Republika Denmark • Support E-mail: support@zyxel.dk • Sales E-mail: sales@zyxel.dk • T elephone: +45-39-55-07-00 • Fax: +45-39-55-07-07 • W eb: www .zyxel.dk • Re [...]

  • Page 61

    Appendix B Customer Support PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 61 India • Support E-mail: support@zyxel.in • Sales E-mail: sales@zyxel.in • T elephone: +91-1 1-30888144 to +91-1 1-30888153 • Fax: +91-1 1-30888149, +91-1 1-26810715 • W eb: http://www .zyxel.in • Re g u l a r Ma i l : India - ZyXEL T echnology Indi a Pvt Ltd. , II - F l o o r,[...]

  • Page 62

    Appendix B Customer Support PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 62 • Regular Mail: ZyXEL Communications Inc., 1 130 N. Miller St., Anaheim, CA 92806- 2001, U.S.A. Norway • Support E-mail: support@zyxel.no • Sales E-mail: sales@zyxel.no • T elephone: +47-22-80-61-80 • Fax: +47-22-80-61-81 • W eb: www .zyxel.no • Re g u l a r M a i l : ZyXEL [...]

  • Page 63

    Appendix B Customer Support PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 63 Sweden • Support E-mail: support@zyxel.se • Sales E-mail: sales@zyxel.se • T elephone: +46-31-744-7700 • Fax: +46-31-744-7701 • W eb: www .zyxel.se • Re g u l ar M ai l : ZyXEL Communications A/S, Sjö porten 4, 41764 Götebor g, Sweden Thailand • Support E-mail: support@zyx[...]

  • Page 64

    Appendix B Customer Support PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 64[...]

  • Page 65

    PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 65 A PPENDIX C Legal Information Copyright Copyright © 2007 by ZyXEL Communications Corporation. The contents of this publication may not be reprod uced in any part or as a whole, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, tran slated into any language, or transmitted in any form or by any means, el ectronic, mechanic[...]

  • Page 66

    Appendix C Legal Info rmation PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 66 If this device does cause harmful inte rference to radio/television reception, which can be determined by turning th e device off and on, the user is enc ouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: 1 Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. 2 [...]

  • Page 67

    Appendix C Legal Infor mation PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 67 ZyXEL Limited W arranty ZyXEL warrants to the original en d user (purchaser) that this product is free from any defects in materials or workmansh ip for a period of up to tw o years from the date of purchase . During the warranty period, and upon proof of purchase, should the product ha[...]

  • Page 68

    Appendix C Legal Info rmation PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 68[...]

  • Page 69

    Index PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 69 Index Symbols .NET Framework 19 A about screen 35 Advanced Encryption S tandard, see AES 15 AES 16 , 27 AES (Advanced Encryption S tandard) 15 applications 15 C cabling type 55 CE 56 certifications 56 , 65 notices 66 viewing 66 configuration screen 28 connections overview 15 contact information 59 copyright 65[...]

  • Page 70

    Index PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide 70 multiple networks 17 overview 27 managing the device using the web configurator . See web configurator . multiple networks 17 N network example 27 network information 31 network ports 55 P passw ords 28 , 29 , 30 types of 16 plug-and-play 27 power specification 55 priority settings 32 application type 33 prior[...]