LevelOne PLI-4251 User manual

LevelOne
User Manual
PLI-4251
500Mbps Powerline 4-Port Gigabit Switch
Ver. 1.0

Table of Contents
Chapter 1 – Introduction................................................................................................................. 2
1.1 Overview........................................................................................................................... 2
1.2 Specification ..................................................................................................................... 2
1.3 Casing Details................................................................................................................... 3
1.4 Package Contents.............................................................................................................. 5
1.5 System Requirements........................................................................................................ 5
Chapter 2 – Installation & Uninstallation....................................................................................... 6
2.1 Installing Powerline Device.............................................................................................. 6
2.2 Installation of Powerline Utility........................................................................................ 7
2.3 Uninstallation of Configuration Utility........................................................................... 14
3.1 Main Tab......................................................................................................................... 15
3.2 Privacy Screen ................................................................................................................ 20
3.3 Diagnostics Screen.......................................................................................................... 21
3.4 About Screen................................................................................................................... 22
Chapter 4 – Individual HomePlug AV Network Stup(Optional................................................... 24
4.1 Creating a new individual HomePlug AV(networkAB)................................................. 24
4.2 Adding Bridge C to existing Network AB (Network ABC)........................................... 25
4.3 Removing Bridge B from Bridge A & C Network and join with Bridge D & E (Network
BDE) ..................................................................................................................................... 26
4.4 Troubleshooting .............................................................................................................. 27

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Safety
FCC
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with Part 15 Class B of the FCC
Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) This device may not cause harmful interference
(2) This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may
cause undesired operation.
CE
This equipment is in compliance with the requirements of the following regulations: CE
Mark, 89/336/EEC
RoHS
This product is RoHS compliant.

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Chapter 1 – Introduction
1.1 Overview
The LevelOne PLI-4251 operates on HomePlug AV standard, providing up to 500Mbps data
speed over the existing household power supply. This Product is cost-effective, easy to create a
home network without spending time and money to run expensive CAT5 cabling. Powerline
Device is the best solution for no-new-wire networking in the house or office.
1.2 Specification
Main Chipset Qualcomm Atheros AR7400
Computer Interface IEEE802.3; IEEE802.3u; IEEE802.3ab; IEEE1901/HomePlugAV
Data PHY Rate Up to 500Mbps
Standards HomePlug AV
Network Interface Four RJ-45 (10/100/1000Base-T Ethernet) support 500Mbps
Power Line Port
Security 128-bit AES Link Encryption with Key Management
Frequency Band 2- 50Mhz
Modulation Schemes OFDM Symbol Modulation on Line synchronization
1024/256/64/16/8—QAM, QPSK, BPSK, ROBO Carrier
Modulation
Additional Protocols Mix of TDMA and CSMA/CA channel access scheme; CO device
generates a periodic beacon carrier for channel access scheme
Operation Range Estimated range of 300 meters in wall power lines
Cabling Cat. 5 UTP Cable
Operating Temperature 0°C to 40°C ambient temperature
Storage Temperature -20°C to 70°C ambient temperature
Humidity 10% to 90% maximum (non-condensing)
Power Input 100 ~ 240V @ 50/60Hz Internal
Housing Plastic (105mm x 76mm x 33mm)

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Status Lights Power: On/Off
PLC(power line) Link: Red/Orange/Green/Off
Ethernet Link (Port 1 to 4): Solid/Blinking/Off
Certifications HomePlugAV power line Certification
IEEE1901, FCC Class B / CE Mark
1.3 Casing Details
The front casing contains 3 types of status lights: Power, PLC Link, and Ethernet Link
Port 1 ~ 4..
Status Lights
Power
On: This HomePlug Ethernet Bridge is receiving electrical power
Off: Power off
PLC Link
The PLC (power line) Link light will indicate the overall speed of your network with 3
colors:
Red: Minimum connection indicates weak signal and slower network speed: less than
50Mbps
Orange: Normal signal with standard network speed: 50-100Mbps
Green: Excellent signal with optimal network speed: 100Mbps+
Off: No activity. This HomePlug Ethernet Bridge is not connected
Power Light
PLC Link Light
4 Ethernet Link

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Ethernet Link 1, 2, 3,4
Solid Green: 10/100/1000Mbps port linked
Blinking: 10/100/1000Mbps port transmitting or receiving
Off: Ethernet Link not active
Bottom Casing
The bottom casing contains 4 Ethernet ports
Left Casing and Buttons
The left casing contains a recessed Reset button, a Security button.
Security
This button is designed to generate an individual HomePlug AV network group under
multiple nodes environment. Please refer to the optional Individual HomePlug AV
Network Setup section below for more details.
Security button
Ethernet Ports
Reset button

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Reset
This button is used to clear ALL data and restoreALL settings to the factory default
values.
Note: The HomePlugAV Ethernet Bridge must be plugged in to restore it to factory
defaults. Using a small object like a paper clip, depress and hold the Reset button until
the status lights begin to flash. The Reset button will need to be depressed for about
2 to 3 seconds for the reset to occur.
LED Indicators
The Powerline Ethernet Adaptor has three LEDs indicator:
PWR Turn on when connected to AC power supply.
PL
Turn on when detected and connected with another HomePlug adaptor
within the network.
1~4 Turn on
when connected to the Ethernet card of the computer or
Ethernet Hub / Switch.
1.4 Package Contents
Make sure that you have the following items:
- PLI-4251
- RJ-45 Ethernet LAN cable
- Quick Installation Guide
- CD User Manual / QIG/Utility
1.5 System Requirements
- Powerline Ethernet Adaptor can support any Operation System. But the Powerline Utility can
only support Windows 2000/XP/Vista/Windows 7.
- Pentium III 300 MHz or above
- Powerline device
- AC power outlet

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Chapter 2 – Installation & Uninstallation
Connection of Powerline Ethernet Adapter
2.1 Installing Powerline Device
1. If you have the SINGLE PACKAGE of Powerline,Connect the supplied RJ45 Ethernet cable
from your PC's Ethernet port to the Powerline Ethernet Adapter's LAN Ports or connect the
supplied RJ45 Ethernet cable from your xDSL/Cable Modem's Ethernet port to the Powerline
Ethernet Adapter's LAN Ports.
2. If you have the TWIN PACKAGE of Powerline, connect the supplied RJ45 Ethernet cable
from your PC's Ethernet port to the Powerline Ethernet Adapter's LAN Ports and connect the
supplied RJ45 Ethernet cable from your xDSL/Cable Modem's Ethernet port to the Powerline
Ethernet Adapter's LAN Ports.
3. Connect the Powerline Ethernet Adapter to your wall-mounted power outlet.
4. Check if the PLC LED of Powerline Ethernet Adapter is ON, the Powerline Ethernet Adapter
is connected and suitable for Internet Connections.
5. Check if the PLC LED is OFF, the Powerline Ethernet Adapter isn’t connected and suitable
for Internet Connections. Please follow next step to have it connected and suitable for
Internet Connections.
Ethernet Cable (RJ-45)
Powerline
Room 1 Room 2
ADSL / Cable Modem
PC
Notebook
Internet

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2.2 Installation of Powerline Utility
The Configuration Utility enables the users to identify HomePlug devices on the Powerline
network; measures data rate performance, ensures privacy and performs diagnostics by setting
user defined secure Powerline networks.
Users are requested to verify that no other Encryption Management Utilities are installed prior to
the installation of this utility. Other utilities should be uninstalled before installing this utility.
1. In order to install, insert Configuration Utility CD-ROM into the computer’s CD-ROM drive.
The program shall run automatically. Alternatively this can also be done manually by double
clicking the autorun.exe file on the CD.
2. For Windows 7 / Vista User only, for Security reasons Windows 7 / Vista requires the
installer program to have administrator privileges so the new policy called " User Account
Control " has been introduced in Windows 7 / Vista. If UAC is enabled Windows pops up a
window " User Account Control " Windows need your permission to continue. User needs
to click " Yes / Allow " to continue.
3. Please click “ Utility” button to continue.

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4. Click “Setup” button to continue.
5. Click “Next”button to continue.

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6. Click “Next ” button to continue.
7. Click “I Agree” button to continue

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8. Click “Install ” button to continue.
9. Click “Flish ” button to continue.

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10. Click “Next ” button to continue.
11. Click “I Agree & Next ” button to continue.

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12. Click “Next ” button to continue.
13. Click “Next ” button to continue.

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14. Click “Close ” button to exit
15. nnected lo
16. You can see your device working well. The top panel of the screen shot shows a Homeplug
device connected locally to your computer. The bottom panel shows one device connected
remotely to the computer running the utility.

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2.3 Uninstallation of Configuration Utility
1. To uninstall the Configuration Utility, go to the “Control Panel” of your system.
2. Open the “Add/Remove Programs”.
3. Select and double click on the “Powerline Utility” in the Add/Remove Programs
Properties.
4. Follow the on screen instructions to uninstall the Powerline Utility.

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Chapter 3 – Configuration Utility Setup
Introduction
The Configuration Utility enables the users to identify HomePlug devices on the powerline
network, measures data rate performance, ensures privacy and performs diagnostics by setting
user defined secure powerline networks.
The Utility will use a Graphical User Interface (GUI) with limited user selectable options.
3.1 Main Tab
In order to start the utility, double-click the utility icon on desktop. Figure 3-1 shows
the main screen of the Configuration Utility. The top panel of the screen shot shows a HomePlug
AV device connected locally to the host computer. The bottom panel shows four devices
connected remotely to the computer running the utility.
Figure 3-1: Main Screen with HomePlug AV device Local

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The Main screen provides a list of all powerline devices logically connected to the computer
when the utility is running.The top panel shows all local HomePlug devices connected to the
computer’s NIC (Network Interface Card). In most cases, only one device will be seen. In
situations where there are more than one local device being connected, such as a USB or an
Ethernet adapter, the user can select the local device by clicking on it and then click the Connect
button to its right. The status area above the button indicates that your PC is connected to that
same device. Once connected to the local device, the utility will automatically scan the power line
periodically for any other HomePlug devices. If no local HomePlug devices are discovered, the
status area above the connect button will indicate with a message ‘NO HOMEPLUG ADAPTERS
DETECTED’.
Figure 3-2 illustrates the presence of two local devices connected locally to the computer.
Figure 3-2: Multiple Local Device Connection
The lower panel displays all the HomePlug remote devices, discovered on the current logical
network. The total number of remote devices connected on the same network can be found on
top of the Remote device panel. The Network type (Public or Private) is also displayed based on
the network status of the local device. The scan status option is displayed on the top right corner

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above the Remote devices panel showing whether the Autoscan functionality is turned ON or
OFF. The following information is displayed for all devices that appear in the lower panel.
Device Name column shows the default device name, which may be user re-defined. A user can
change the name by either using the rename button or by clicking on the name and editing
in-place. An icon is usually shown with the name. By default, the icon is always accompanied by
a device name.
MAC Address column shows the Remote device’s MAC address.
Password column by default is blank and ‘Enter Password’ button can be used to enter it.
To set the Password of the device (required when creating a private network), first select the
device by clicking on its name in the lower panel and then click on the Enter Password button. A
dialog box will appear as shown in Figure 3-3 to type the password. The selected device name is
shown above the password field and the password can be verified by hitting the OK button. The
Password field accepts the Device password in any case formats, with or without dashed
between them. If a device was not found, the user will be notified along with the suggestions to
resolve common problems. This process might take a few seconds to get completed.
Figure 3-3: Set Device Password

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Add button is used to add a remote device to the existing network by entering the device
password of the device. A dialog box will appear as shown below in Figure 3-4. The dialog box
allows the user to enter both a device name and the password. If a device was not found, the
user will be notified and suggestions to resolve common problems will be presented.
Figure 3-4: Add Remote Device
Note: The device must be present on the power line (plugged in) in order for the password to be
confirmed and added to the network. If the device could not be located, a warning message will
be shown.