Related Manuals for ZyXEL Communications PLA4205
Summary of Contents for ZyXEL Communications PLA4205
- Page 1 PLA4205 500 Mbps Powerline Ethernet Adapter Edition 1, 5/2011 www.zyxel.com www.zyxel.com Copyright © 2011 ZyXEL Communications Corporation...
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Page 3: About This User's Guide
In the event of problems that cannot be solved by using this manual, you should contact your vendor. If you cannot contact your vendor, then contact a ZyXEL office for the region in which you bought the device. See http://www.zyxel.com/web/contact_us.php for contact information. Please have the following information ready when you contact an office. -
Page 4: Document Conventions
Syntax Conventions • The PLA4205 may be referred to as the “PLA4205”, the “ZyXEL device”, the “device” or the “powerline adapter” in this User’s Guide. • The PLA42xx Series Configuration Utility version 5.2.0 (AG) may be referred to as the “configuration utility”... - Page 5 Document Conventions Icons Used in Figures Figures in this User’s Guide may use the following generic icons. The icons used may not be an exact representation of your device. PLA4205 Computer Internet Modem / Router Printer Notebook PLA4205 User’s Guide...
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Page 6: Safety Warnings
Your product is marked with this symbol, which is known as the WEEE mark. WEEE stands for Waste Electronics and Electrical Equipment. It means that used electrical and electronic products should not be mixed with general waste. Used electrical and electronic equipment should be treated separately. PLA4205 User’s Guide... -
Page 7: Table Of Contents
Part I: User’s Guide ..................9 Chapter 1 Introducing the PLA4205 ....................... 11 1.1 Overview ..........................11 1.2 Expand Your Network with the PLA4205 ................11 1.3 Ways to Manage the PLA4205 ....................12 1.4 Security ..........................12 1.4.1 Passwords ........................12 1.4.2 Setting Up Security .....................12 1.5 Multiple Networks .........................13... - Page 8 Chapter 6 LEDs and Troubleshooting ....................47 6.1 LEDs ............................47 6.2 Power and Light Problems ....................48 6.3 Configuration Utility Problems ....................50 6.4 Powerline Problems ......................50 6.5 ENCRYPT Button Problems ....................51 Appendix A Legal Information....................53 Index ............................57 PLA4205 User’s Guide...
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Page 9: Part I User's Guide
User’s Guide... -
Page 11: Introducing The Pla4205
Figure 1 Expand Your Network with the PLA4205 Connect your PLA4205 to an Internet gateway such as a modem and plug it into an ordinary power outlet in your home. Plug a second PLA4205 into another power outlet and connect a computer to the PLA4205 for Internet access. -
Page 12: Ways To Manage The Pla4205
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 PLA4205. See Section 2.2 on page 14 for instructions on installing the utility. -
Page 13: Multiple Networks
It’s easy and only requires you to change a network name. It’s a good idea to ensure privacy of your communication. When you use the PLA4205 and other powerline adapters, the electrical wiring in your home becomes an extension of your Ethernet network. -
Page 14: Installing The Utility
H A PT ER Installing the Utility This chapter guides you through the installation of the configuration utility for your PLA4205. 2.1 Overview of the Installation Process The installation of the configuration utility does the following: Checks for and installs Microsoft’s .NET Framework version 2.0 software on your computer. This software is necessary for the installation of the PLA42xx Series Configuration Utility. - Page 15 Figure 3 .NET Framework Installation Process 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. Figure 4 InstallShield Wizard Start Screen PLA4205 User’s Guide...
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Page 16: Low Power Mode
2.3 Low Power Mode Your PLA4205 is a certified green product. It goes into Low Power mode when there is no Ethernet connection. PLA4205 User’s Guide... - Page 17 Chapter 2 Installing the Utility When you plug the PLA4205 into an electric socket, it waits for an Ethernet connection. When no connection is detected after sixty (60) seconds, the Power LED blinks indicating that it is going into Low Power mode.
- Page 18 Chapter 2 Installing the Utility PLA4205 User’s Guide...
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Page 19: Part Ii: Technical Reference
Technical Reference... -
Page 21: Chapter 3 The Encrypt Button
Note: Because your PLA4205 goes into Low Power mode, it must be connected to a networking equipment for the ENCRYPT button to work. Refer to Section 2.3 on... - Page 22 Repeat step in this section for the other powerline device you wish to connect. This must be done within 120 seconds of pressing the ENCRYPT button on the PLA4205. Note: Check the lights on the two powerline devices. The power ( ) and HomePlug ( lights should be blinking while the devices are connecting.
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Page 23: Setting Up Multiple Networks
This sets up your powerline network between your powerline devices. 3.3 Setting Up Multiple Networks You can use the ENCRYPT button to set up multiple powerline networks using your existing powerline network. PLA4205 User’s Guide... - Page 24 Click the ENCRYPT button on (A) for more than 10 seconds until the power ( ) light flashes. This disconnects (A) from (B). Click the ENCRYPT button on (A) and (C) for 1~2 seconds and within two minutes of each other. Wait for about one minute while (A) and (C) connect. PLA4205 User’s Guide...
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Page 25: Encrypt Button Behavior
See Troubleshooting in Chapter 6 on page 51 for suggestions on problems with the ENCRYPT button and the lights. PLA4205 User’s Guide... -
Page 26: The Configuration Utility
This chapter shows you how to use the Configuration Utility (or Utility) to secure, manage and set up Quality of Service (QoS) on your powerline network. The PLA4205 is designed as a plug-and-play network expanding solution. This means that once you complete your hardware connections, the PLA4205s in your network (without additional configuration) are able to communicate with each other by sending and receiving information over your home’s electrical wiring (A). -
Page 27: Device Access Key (Dak)
Use the Configuration screen to see which devices are recognized by your powerline network, to configure your PLA4205 and to set up a secure powerline network by changing the powerline network name. This screen opens up when you launch the utility. - Page 28 MAC Address This is a read-only field which shows the MAC address of the powerline adapter you are configuring. You can find the MAC address of your PLA4205 displayed on a sticker on the bottom of your device. DAK Password DAK (Device Access Key) password is used to verify that you are authorized to perform changes on a remote device.
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Page 29: Firmware Screen
Parameter Information Block (PIB) is similar to firmware. It contains the most basic operating instructions for the PLA4205 such as how to power up and how to load the firmware. You can check the ZyXEL website for firmware upgrades for your PLA4205. -
Page 30: Network Info Screen
Firmware Screen Figure 14 4.5 Network Info Screen Use the Network Info screen to see the rates at which a specific PLA4205 is communicating with other powerline adapters on your powerline network. Network Info Screen Figure 15... -
Page 31: Advanced Screen
It consists of six pairs of hexadecimal characters (hexadecimal characters are “0-9” and “a-f”). In the case of the PLA4205, this label is on the bottom of the device. Transmit Rate... - Page 32 For example, when you surf the Internet, your computer sends requests to open web pages. • Device D is a modem attached to the Internet. It should receive a high priority setting if you want faster downloading through your network. PLA4205 User’s Guide...
- Page 33 • Although device E receives audio or movie files, it does not send a lot of traffic, so the powerline adaptor attached to it can be set to a low priority. Figure 16 Priority Settings Use this screen to configure priority settings for traffic from the powerline adapters on your network. Figure 17 Advanced Screen PLA4205 User’s Guide...
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Page 34: About Screen
MAC Address This is a read-only field which shows the MAC address of the powerline adapter you are configuring. You can find the MAC address of your PLA4205 displayed on a sticker on the bottom of your device. Priority Select a priority setting from the drop-down box for traffic FROM your selected device. - Page 35 520, meaning this is firmware version 5.2.0. Released This field displays the date when the firmware was released. Close Click the button in upper right corner to close the About window. PLA4205 User’s Guide...
- Page 36 Chapter 4 The Configuration Utility PLA4205 User’s Guide...
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Page 37: Powerline Network Setup Tutorial
After setting up your first home powerline network (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 adding additional powerline adapters. This tutorial shows you the following. -
Page 38: Accessing Your Powerline Adapter
Figure 20 Connect Your Powerline Adapter to a Computer Open the PLA42xx Series Configuration Utility on your computer. Go to Start > (All) Programs > ZyXEL PLA42xx Series Configuration > PLA42xx Series Configuration Utility, or click on the icon on your desktop shown below. -
Page 39: Adding A Powerline Adapter
Local (A). Check the Local adapter’s MAC address (B). It should match the MAC address listed on the label on the back of your powerline adapter. Figure 23 Adding a New Adapter PLA4205 User’s Guide... -
Page 40: Setting Up A New Network With A New Adapter
The figure below shows two powerline networks in a house. The first network (1) shows the home computer connected to a printer and access to the Internet. The second network (2) has no PLA4205 User’s Guide... - Page 41 Chapter 5 Powerline Network Setup Tutorial Internet access but with a media adapter such as the ZyXEL DMA-1100P you can use your TV to watch movies and play games which are stored on a computer. Figure 26 Add New Adapters to Make a Second Network Connect your new powerline adapter and open the configuration utility as shown in Section 5.0.5 on...
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Page 42: Splitting A Network Into Two Networks
• Look for the DAK Password on a label on your powerline adapter. The DAK Password lets you access the adapter. • Select the Remote adapter you want to add (A) and type the DAK Password in the DAK Password field (B). PLA4205 User’s Guide... - Page 43 Click OK and type the DAK Password correctly in the DAK Password field. Figure 30 Incorrect DAK or No DAK • If you have correctly entered the DAK Password, click OK on the pop-up. Figure 31 Correct DAK PLA4205 User’s Guide...
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Page 44: Troubleshooting
) LED (light) should light up on your adapter when it successfully connects to other adapters on your network. If it does not, try the following measures. • Make sure the adapter is plugged in to a power socket and the power socket is turned on. PLA4205 User’s Guide... - Page 45 Chapter 5 Powerline Network Setup Tutorial • Check you have entered the correct network name for your network. • Check your powerline adapter is connected to the same electrical circuit as other powerline adapters on your network. PLA4205 User’s Guide...
- Page 46 Chapter 5 Powerline Network Setup Tutorial PLA4205 User’s Guide...
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Page 47: Leds And Troubleshooting
The following sections describes the lights on the PLA4205. The following figure is the front panel of the PLA4205. Use the lights to determine if the PLA4205 is behaving normally or if there are some problems on your powerline network. -
Page 48: Power And Light Problems
The PLA4205 does not turn on. None of the lights turn on. Make sure you are using the power cord included with the PLA4205. Make sure the power cord is connected to the PLA4205 and plugged in to an appropriate power source. Make sure the power source is turned on. - Page 49 Check the Ethernet adapter on your computer and make sure it’s enabled and working properly. If the PLA4205 is connected to an Ethernet switch or router, make sure the device is working correctly, and that the LAN network is working and configured correctly as well.
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Page 50: Configuration Utility Problems
The PLA42xx Series Configuration Utility does not display all or any of my devices. • Inspect the LEDs on your PLA4205 and make sure that the ETHERNET and HomePlug LEDs are on or blinking. See Section 6.1 on page 47... -
Page 51: Encrypt Button Problems
• The POWER light on some powerline devices do not blink as part of the ENCRYPT process. Check your powerline device is a PLA4205. • For PLA4205, you cannot use the ENCRYPT button when it is in Low Power mode. Connect the PLA4205 to a computer/router then try again. - Page 52 I pressed the ENCRYPT button for more than 10 seconds, but the HomePlug light is still on. The HomePlug light is on, indicating it is still connected to another powerline device. Try again, pressing the ENCRYPT button for more than 10 seconds. PLA4205 User’s Guide...
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Page 53: Appendix A Legal Information
This publication is subject to change without notice. Your use of the PLA4205 is subject to the terms and conditions of any related service providers. Do not use the PLA4205 for illegal purposes. Illegal downloading or sharing of files can result in severe civil and criminal penalties. - Page 54 In questo caso può essere richiesto al gestore di prendere opportune misure. Notices Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment. PLA4205 User’s Guide...
- Page 55 ZyXEL. This warranty shall not apply if the product has been modified, misused, tampered with, damaged by an act of God, or subjected to abnormal working conditions.
- Page 56 Appendix A Legal Information PLA4205 User’s Guide...
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Page 57: Index
Data Access Password, see DAK disclaimer MAC address management electrical and cable wiring multiple networks electrical circuit boundaries overview encryption 11, 26 managing the device ETHN LED using the web configurator. See web configurator. PLA4205 User’s Guide... - Page 58 PWR LED receive rate registration product related documentation safety warnings security 12, 13, 26 passwords starting the utility syntax conventions PLA4205 User’s Guide...
- Page 59 Index PLA4205 User’s Guide...
- Page 60 Index PLA4205 User’s Guide...