ZyXEL Communications PLA-401 Series User manual

www.zyxel.com
www.zyxel.com
PLA-401 Series
Powerline Ethernet Adapter
Copyright © 2010
ZyXEL Communications Corporation
Edition 1, 11/2010

About This User's Guide
PLA-401 Series User’s Guide 3
About This User's Guide
Intended Audience
This manual is intended for people who want to configure the PLA-401 Series
using the PLA-4xx Series Configuration Utility version 3.3.4. You should have your
basic Internet access or home network already set up.
Related Documentation
•QuickStartGuide
The Quick Start Guide is designed to help you get up and running right away. It
contains information on making your hardware connections.
• Supporting Disc
Refer to the included CD for support documents.
• ZyXEL Web Site
Please refer to www.zyxel.com for additional support documentation and
product certifications.
User Guide Feedback
Help us help you. Send all User Guide-related comments, questions or suggestions
for improvement to the following address, or use e-mail instead. Thank you!
The Technical Writing Team,
ZyXEL Communications Corp.,
6 Innovation Road II,
Science-Based Industrial Park,
Hsinchu, 300, Taiwan.
E-mail: [email protected]om.tw

About This User's Guide
PLA-401 Series User’s Guide
4
Customer Support
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.
• Product model and serial number.
•WarrantyInformation.
• Date that you received your device.
Brief description of the problem and the steps you took to solve it.

Document Conventions
PLA-401 Series User’s Guide 5
Document Conventions
Warnings and Notes
These are how warnings and notes are shown in this User’s Guide.
Warnings tell you about things that could harm you or your device.
Note: Notes tell you other important information (for example, other things you may
need to configure or helpful tips) or recommendations.
Syntax Conventions
• The PLA-401 Series may be referred to as the “PLA-401 Series”, the “ZyXEL
device”, the “device” or the “powerline adapter” in this User’s Guide.
• The PLA-4xx Series Configuration Utility version 3.3.4(AG) may be referred to
as the “configuration utility” or the “utility” in this User’s Guide.
• Product labels, screen names, field labels and field choices are all in bold font.
• A key stroke is denoted by square brackets and uppercase text, for example,
[ENTER] means the “enter” or “return” key on your keyboard.
• “Enter” means for you to type one or more characters and then press the
[ENTER] key. “Select” or “choose” means for you to use one of the predefined
choices.
• A right angle bracket ( > ) within a screen name denotes a mouse click. For
example, Maintenance > Log > Log Setting means you first click
Maintenance in the navigation panel, then the Log sub menu and finally the
Log Setting tab to get to that screen.
• Units of measurement may denote the “metric” value or the “scientific” value.
For example, “k” for kilo may denote “1000” or “1024”, “M” for mega may
denote “1000000” or “1048576” and so on.
• “e.g.,” is a shorthand for “for instance”, and “i.e.,” means “that is” or “in other
words”.

Document Conventions
PLA-401 Series User’s Guide
6
Icons Used in Figures
Figures in this User’s Guide may use the following generic icons. The PLA-401
Series icons used may not be an exact representation of your device.
PLA-401 Series Computer Internet
Modem / Router Printer Notebook
TV

Safety Warnings
PLA-401 Series User’s Guide 7
Safety Warnings
• 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 things on the device.
• Do NOT install, use, or service this device during a thunderstorm. There is a remote risk
of electric shock from lightning.
• Connect ONLY suitable accessories to the device.
• Do NOT open the device or unit. Opening or removing covers can expose you to
dangerous high voltage points or other risks. ONLY qualified service personnel should
service or disassemble this device. Please contact your vendor for further
information.Make sure to connect the cables to the correct ports.
• Place connecting cables carefully so that no one will step on them or stumble over them.
• Always disconnect all cables from this device before servicing or disassembling.
• Use ONLY an appropriate power adapter or cord for your device.
• Connect the power adapter or cord to the right supply voltage (for example, 110V AC in
North America or 230V AC in Europe).
• Do NOT allow anything to rest on the power adapter or cord and do NOT place the
product where anyone can walk on the power adapter or cord.
• Do NOT use the device if the power adapter or cord is damaged as it might cause
electrocution.
• If the power adapter or cord is damaged, remove it from the power outlet.
• Do NOT attempt to repair the power adapter or cord. Contact your local vendor to order a
new one.
• Do not use the device outside, and make sure all the connections are indoors. There is a
remote risk of electric shock from lightning.
• Do NOT obstruct the device ventilation slots, as insufficient airflow may harm your
device.
• If you wall mount your device, make sure that no electrical lines, gas or water pipes will
be damaged.
• This power unit is intended to be correctly orientated in a vertical or floor mount position.
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.

Safety Warnings
PLA-401 Series User’s Guide
8

Table of Contents
PLA-401 Series User’s Guide 9
Table of Contents
About This User's Guide..........................................................................................................3
Document Conventions............................................................................................................5
Safety Warnings........................................................................................................................7
Table of Contents......................................................................................................................9
Part I: Introduction................................................................................. 13
Chapter 1
Introducing the PLA-401 Series.............................................................................................15
1.1 Overview .............................................................................................................................. 15
1.2 Expand Your Network with the PLA-401 Series .................................................................. 15
1.3 Ways to Manage the PLA-401 Series .................................................................................. 16
1.4 Security ................................................................................................................................ 17
1.4.1 Passwords .................................................................................................................. 17
1.4.2 Setting Up Security .................................................................................................... 17
1.5 Multiple Networks ................................................................................................................ 18
1.6 PLA Compatibility ................................................................................................................ 19
Chapter 2
Installing the Utility.................................................................................................................21
2.1 Overview of the Installation Process .................................................................................... 21
2.2 Installing the Utility ............................................................................................................... 21
2.3 Low Power Mode ................................................................................................................. 24
Part II: Managing the PLA-401 Series .................................................. 25
Chapter 3
Firmware Tool..........................................................................................................................27
3.1 Overview .............................................................................................................................. 27
3.2 Firmware Upgrade Tool ....................................................................................................... 27
Chapter 4
The ENCRYPT Button.............................................................................................................29

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PLA-401 Series User’s Guide
10
4.1 ENCRYPT Button Overview ................................................................................................ 29
4.2 Set Up a HomePlug AV Network with ENCRYPT ................................................................ 29
4.3 Setting Up Multiple Networks ..............................................................................................31
4.4 ENCRYPT Button Behavior ................................................................................................. 34
Chapter 5
The Configuration Utility........................................................................................................35
5.1 Overview .............................................................................................................................. 35
5.1.1 Powerline Network Security ....................................................................................... 35
5.1.2 Device Access Key (DAK) .......................................................................................... 36
5.2 Starting the Configuration Utility .......................................................................................... 36
5.3 Configuration Screen .......................................................................................................... 37
5.4 Firmware Screen ................................................................................................................ 38
5.5 Network Info Screen ........................................................................................................... 40
5.6 Advanced Screen ............................................................................................................ 41
5.7 About Screen ....................................................................................................................... 44
Chapter 6
The OS X Configuration Utility ..............................................................................................47
6.1 Overview .............................................................................................................................. 47
6.1.1 System Requirements ................................................................................................ 47
6.1.2 Start the Configuration Utility ...................................................................................... 48
6.1.3 Add a Device .............................................................................................................. 48
6.1.4 Change Network Name .............................................................................................. 48
6.1.5 Change Nickname ...................................................................................................... 49
6.1.6 QoS Settings .............................................................................................................. 49
6.1.7 Set HomePlug Light Color .......................................................................................... 51
6.1.8 Link Information .......................................................................................................... 52
6.1.9 Download Firmware ................................................................................................... 54
6.2 Firmware Detection Tool ...................................................................................................... 54
6.3 Firmware Upgrade Tool ....................................................................................................... 56
6.3.1 Notes on Upgrading Firmware ................................................................................... 56
6.3.2 Procedure to Upgrade Firmware ................................................................................ 56
Chapter 7
Powerline Network Setup Tutorial.........................................................................................61
7.0.1 Overview .................................................................................................................... 61
7.0.2 Important Terms ......................................................................................................... 62
7.0.3 Accessing Your Powerline Adapter ............................................................................ 62
7.0.4 Adding a Powerline Adapter ....................................................................................... 63
7.0.5 Setting Up a New Network with a New Adapter ......................................................... 65
7.0.6 Splitting a Network into Two Networks ....................................................................... 67
7.1 Troubleshooting ................................................................................................................... 70

Table of Contents
PLA-401 Series User’s Guide 11
Chapter 8
LEDs and Troubleshooting....................................................................................................71
8.1 LEDs .................................................................................................................................... 71
8.2 Power and Light Problems ..................................................................................................73
8.3 Configuration Utility Problems .............................................................................................74
8.4 Powerline Problems ............................................................................................................. 75
8.5 ENCRYPT Button Problems ................................................................................................ 76
Part III: Appendices and Index.............................................................. 79
Appendix A Product Specifications.........................................................................................81
Appendix B Legal Information................................................................................................85
Index.........................................................................................................................................89

Table of Contents
PLA-401 Series User’s Guide
12

13
PART I
Introduction
Introducing the PLA-401 Series (15)
Installing the Utility (21)

14

PLA-401 Series User’s Guide 15
CHAPTER 1
Introducing the PLA-401 Series
1.1 Overview
This chapter introduces the main applications and features of the PLA-401 Series
HomePlug AV compliant powerline adapter. See Appendix A on page 81 for
detailed product specifications.
In this User’s Guide the electrical wiring network is referred to as the “powerline
network”. The HomePlug AV standard specifies how network devices communicate
using standard electrical wiring.
1.2 Expand Your Network with the PLA-401
Series
The PLA-401 Series plugs into an ordinary power 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.
Devices can securely communicate with each other at high data transfer rates.
(See Appendix A on page 81 for speeds currently supported by the PLA-401

Chapter 1 Introducing the PLA-401 Series
PLA-401 Series User’s Guide
16
Series.) The PLA-401 Series uses 128-bit Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) to
ensure safe transfer of information.
Figure 1 Expand Your Network with the PLA-401 Series
Connect your PLA-401 Series to an Internet gateway such as a modem and plug it
into an ordinary power outlet in your home. Plug a second PLA-401 Series into
another power outlet and connect a computer to the PLA-401 Series for Internet
access. Your network can be further expanded by plugging additional PLA-401
Seriess 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. Refer to
Appendix A on page 81 for wall mounting instructions.
1.3 Ways to Manage the PLA-401 Series
Use the ENCRYPT button to add powerline devices to your powerline network if
they have this button. See Chapter 4 on page 29 for instructions on using the
ENCRYPT feature.
Use the PLA-4xx Series Configuration Utility (or utility, for short) to manage
the PLA-401 Series. See Section 2.2 on page 21 for instructions on installing the
utility.
Use the firmware upgrade tool to upgrade to the latest firmware. Because the
latest PLA-401 Seriess are only compatible with other powerline devices with the
latest HomePlug AV firmware, as well as the latest version Utility, these tool is
available to help you upgrade. You can download this tool from the ZyXEL website
(www.zyxel.com.tw). See Chapter 3 on page 27 for information in using these
tools.

Chapter 1 Introducing the PLA-401 Series
PLA-401 Series User’s Guide 17
Note: This User’s Guide describes the latest version utility. This utility is only
compatible with a PLA-401 Series which has the latest firmware installed. If you
don’t already have them, download the latest firmware and utility from the
ZyXEL website.
1.4 Security
Since your powerline network may extend outside your premises, it is important
to set up security on your PLA-401 Series.
1.4.1 Passwords
You use two types of passwords in the HomePlug AV powerline network. The
following table describes the differences between the passwords.
1.4.2 Setting Up Security
The ENCRYPT feature automatically sets up security on your powerline network.
Use this feature if your powerline devices have the ENCRYPT button.
If your devices do not have the ENCRYPT button, use the PLA-4xx Series
Configuration Utility to set up security on the PLA-401 Series. Although the
PLA-401 Series is a “plug-and-play” network expanding solution there are several
reasons for enabling security on the powerline network in your home.
1It’s easy and only requires you to change a network name.
Table 1 Password Summary
PASSWORD DESCRIPTION
Network Name All powerline adapters that follow the HomePlug AV
standard are shipped with the same powerline network
name “HomePlugAV”. Change the network name via the
PLA-4xx Series Configuration Utility to create a private
network. See Section 5.3 on page 37.
DAK (Data
Access Key)
Password
In order to manage the powerline adapters on your
powerline network you must enter the adapters’ DAK
password in the PLA-4xx Series Configuration Utility.
This password is printed on the powerline adapter itself.
You don’t need to add the password for the powerline
adapter directly connected to the computer running the
configuration utility (local powerline adapter), you only
have to add the remote powerline adapters’ passwords
(those on your circuit, but not directly connected to your
computer).

Chapter 1 Introducing the PLA-401 Series
PLA-401 Series User’s Guide
18
2It’s a good idea to ensure privacy of your communication. When you use the PLA-
401 Series and other powerline 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
powerline adapter on the same electrical circuit. In some cases, a circuit can be
shared by more than one household.
To prevent compromising your network security, you can create a private network.
A private network uses a secret password (Network Name) to make sure that
only permitted powerline adapters can communicate in your network. See Section
5.3 on page 37 for information on setting up a private network.
3You may need to change the Network Name to create multiple powerline
networks. See the next section for more information on how to set up a multiple
network.
1.5 Multiple Networks
Multiple powerline networks can coexist on a single powerline circuit. You might
want to implement multiple powerline networks in a small office environment
where you have two separate Ethernet networks.
1Connect one powerline adapter to a router or switch on the first Ethernet network
and assign a Network Name (for example “Password1”) to this powerline
adapter. Add additional powerline adapters to your network by plugging them into
your powerline outlets and assigning them “Password1”. This completes the
configuration of your first powerline network.
2Connect another powerline adapter to a router or switch on the second Ethernet
network and assign a different Network Name (for example “Password2”) to this
powerline adapter. Again, add additional powerline adapters and assign them
“Password2”.
You now have two private networks on your powerline circuit. Information is not
shared between the two networks as only powerline adapters with the same
Network Name can communicate with each other.

Chapter 1 Introducing the PLA-401 Series
PLA-401 Series User’s Guide 19
1.6 PLA Compatibility
Your PLA-401 Series can work with different PLA models that have a firmware
version of at least 3.0.5 in the same powerline network.
The following table shows a quick summary of firmware and utility versions
compatible with the different powerline models.
For PLA v1 models (for example, PLA-400, PLA-401, PLA-470, PLA-491 and so on)
upgrade the firmware version from 1.4.5 to 3.0.5. Refer to the PLA-4XX series
User’s Guide for instructions on how to do this.
For PLA v2 models (for example, PLA400 v2, PLA402 v2, PLA401 v2, PLA470 v2
and so on) make sure the firmware version is 3.0.5.
Note: The PLA v2 models can be upgraded to firmware version 3.3.4. The firmware
will be available for download in ZyXEL’s website (www.zyxel.com).
At the time of writing, PLA-401 Series can only work with firmware version 3.3.4.
Use Configuration Utility version 3.3.4 to manage PLA v2 and PLA v1 models with
firmware versions 3.0.5.
Note: You cannot downgrade the PLA-401 Series’ firmware to a version earlier than
3.3.4.
Table 2 Firmware and Utility Compatibility
PLA MODEL FIRMWARE
V 3.0.5 UTLITY V 3.0.5 FIRMWARE V 3.3.4 UTILITY V 3.3.4
PLA v1 models Compatible Compatible Incompatible Compatible
PLA v2 models Compatible Compatible Compatible Compatible
PLA v3 models Incompatible Incompatible Compatible Compatible

Chapter 1 Introducing the PLA-401 Series
PLA-401 Series User’s Guide
20
This diagram below shows a Powerline network where two PLAs have an earlier
firmware that cannot be managed by the 3.3.4 Configuration Utility. You should
upgrade the firmware of these PLAs.
Figure 2 Wrong Firmware in a Powerline Network
The diagram below shows a Powerline network where each PLA has the correct
firmware. Use Configuration Utility v 3.3.4 to manage the PLAs in this Powerline
network.
Figure 3 Correct Powerline Network
3.3.4
3.0.51.4.5
1.4.5 3.3.4
3.0.5
3.3.4
3.3.43.0.5
3.0.5 3.0.5
3.3.4
Configuration
Utility v 3.3.4