Introducing The Pl100; Overview; Expand Your Network With The Pl100; Managing The Pl100 - ZyXEL Communications PowerLine PL100 User Manual

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H A P T E R
This chapter introduces the main applications and features of the PL100 power line Ethernet
adapter. It also introduces how to manage the PL100.

1.1 Overview

The PL100 is a HomePlug 1.0.1 compliant power line Ethernet adapter. The HomePlug 1.0.1
standard specifies how network devices communicate using standard electrical wiring. The
following section shows you a typical application for your PL100. See
for detailed product specifications.

1.1.1 Expand Your Network with the PL100

The PL100 connects to 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.
Connect your PL100 to a modem, router or switch and connect the PL100's power cord to an
ordinary power outlet in your home. Plug a second PL100 into another power outlet and
connect a computer to the PL100 for Internet access. Your network can be further expanded by
plugging additional PL100s into other outlets in your home and connecting other computers or
network devices (for example a printer) to them.
Refer to your Quick Start Guide for hardware connection information.

1.2 Managing the PL100

Use the PL100 Configuration Utility to manage and set up security on the PL100 or other
HomePlug 1.0 or 1.0.1 compliant power line adapters. Although the PL100 is a "plug-and-
play" network expanding solution there are situations when you might want to enable security
on the power line network in your home. The reasons include:
1 To ensure privacy of your communication. When you use the PL100 and other power
line 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 power
line adapter on the same electrical circuit. In some cases, a circuit can be shared by more
than one household.
PL100 User's Guide

Introducing the PL100

1
Appendix A on page 35
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