LevelOne PLI-1000 User manual

PLI-1000
PLI-2000
LevelOne Homeplug Utility
USER MANUAL

Introduction
The HomeplugConfiguration Utility for PLI-1000 and PLI-2000(USB & Ethernet)enables the
user to find Homeplug devices on the powerline network, measure data rate performance
and ensure privacy by setting a user defined network private password. This utility gives you
the capability to set up a network password on the local device connected to the
computer where the utility is running. It gives you as well, through the advanced option, the
capability to set up a network password remotely on other Homeplug devices through the
power line.
It is recommended that the same PC chosen for initial execution of this utility remain the PC
of choice for subsequent network encryption updates. Network setup information is stored
on the PC and is used to facilitate follow-on network encryption sessions.
Before running this utility, make sure that a Homeplug device is properly installed and
connected to your computer.
Running the utility
To run the utility, double click the Homeplug Configuration Utility icon on your desktop.
The wizard has five different dialog screens options accessible through the following tabs :
Device, Network, Security, Advanced and About. In the coming sections, we will explain
the purpose and the functionality of each of them.
NB: As a general rule that applies to dialog screens, pressing:
The OK and Cancel buttons means “ exit utility ”
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Homeplug Configuration Utility User Guide
Device dialog screen
The Device dialog screen provides a list of your Homeplug devices connected to the
computer where the utility is running and average data rate performance of your
powerline network.
Initially, the wizard starts the Device dialog screen.
Figure 1 Initial screen when wizard is started
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Homeplug Configuration Utility User Guide
Once the analysis is done, a screen similar to Figure 2 appears.
In the text list box, it reports back all Homeplug devices found that are locally connected
to the computer where the utility is running.
In most cases, one device only is listed.
In case you have more, click on one of them and hit Connect. Make sure that the State
box indicates that your PC is connected to the same device. Now you are ready to
manage the powerline network connected to this device, ensure its privacy and measure
its data rate performance.
Press Refresh button to refresh the search of the powerline devices connected to your
computer.
The progress bar will change into a status bar indicating the network average data rate.
The color of the bar reflects the average performance of the powerline network :
Green : Excellent performance
Yellow : Fair performance
Red : Poor performance
Figure 2 Device Dialog screen
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Homeplug Configuration Utility User Guide
Network dialog screen
The Network dialog screen provides detailed information about your powerline network.
The text list box shows all Homeplug devices found on your powerline network identified by
their MAC addresses. A second column indicates their data rate measurements in Mbps.
Press Scan Powerline Network button to refresh the listed information.
Figure 3 Network dialog screen
Important :
In case a Homeplug device in your home is not listed in the screen above, make sure that
its network password has not been made private previously with a different password than
your current private network password.
You can always reset a Homeplug network password to the universal one by running the
Homeplug Configuration Utility on the PC attached to this device and choose “HomePlug”
as the network password.
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Homeplug Configuration Utility User Guide
Security dialog screen
All Homeplug devices are shipped using “HomePlug” as a network password. The Security
dialog screen allows you to change this network password and set your own private
password and apply it to the Homeplug device connected to the computer where the
utility is running.
Hit Restore Default button to restore the original network password “HomePlug” and apply it
locally.
Hit Set Local button to change the network password locally.
Figure 4 Security Dialog screen
Important: Your private network password must have between 4 and 24 characters. The
password is case sensitive. The password can include any letters of the alphabet, numbers
or punctuation marks. Remember this password as it will be needed when adding other
devices to the network later.
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Homeplug Configuration Utility User Guide
Advanced dialog screen
The Advanced dialog screen allows you to set up a network password remotely on other
Homeplug devices through the powerline.
Type your private network password into the Network Password text box.
The other devices on the network with Homeplug capabilities will have a different
password printed on either the box itself or in the documentation. Find the passwords for all
devices you want to manage and type them one by one into the Device Password text
box and hit Add. This will add the passwords to Remote Passwords text list box and set them
to the currently defined Network Password.
Note: The device must be present on the powerline in order for the password to be
confirmed and added to the Remote Passwords list.
The Status indicates whether each device is successfully set to the Network Password. “OK”
indicates success while “Fail” indicates a failure.
Hit Set All to apply your private network password to all devices that are listed in the
Remote Passwords text list box and to your local device connected to the computer where
the utility is running as well.
Select a password and Hit Remove to remove it from the list.
Figure 5 Advanced dialog screen
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Homeplug Configuration Utility User Guide
About dialog screen
The About dialog screen shows the software version and provides a hot key to access the
Intellon website
Figure 6 About dialog screen
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