ZyXEL Communications PLA4205 User manual

www.zyxel.com

PLA4205

500 Mbps Powerline Ethernet Adapter

ZyXEL Communications Corporation

Edition 1, 5/2011

About This User's Guide

PLA4205 User’s Guide 3

About This User's Guide

Intended Audience

This manual is intended for people who want to configure the PLA4205 using the PLA42xx Series

Configuration Utility version 5.2.0. 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.

•SupportingDisc

Refer to the included CD for support documents.

•ZyXELWebSite

Please refer to www.zyxel.com for additional support documentation and product certifications.

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.

• Warranty Information.

• Date that you received your device.

Brief description of the problem and the steps you took to solve it.

Document Conventions

PLA4205 User’s Guide

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 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” 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

PLA4205 User’s Guide 5

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

Safety Warnings

PLA4205 User’s Guide

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.

Table of Contents

PLA4205 User’s Guide 7

Table of Contents

About This User's Guide..........................................................................................................3

Document Conventions ...........................................................................................................4

Safety Warnings........................................................................................................................6

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

Chapter 2

Installing the Utility.................................................................................................................14

2.1 Overview of the Installation Process ....................................................................................14

2.2 Installing the Utility ...............................................................................................................14

2.3 Low Power Mode .................................................................................................................16

Part II: Technical Reference...................................................................19

Chapter 3

The ENCRYPT Button.............................................................................................................21

3.1 ENCRYPT Button Overview .................................................................................................21

3.2 Set Up a HomePlug AV Network with ENCRYPT ................................................................21

3.3 Setting Up Multiple Networks ...............................................................................................23

3.4 ENCRYPT Button Behavior .................................................................................................25

Chapter 4

The Configuration Utility........................................................................................................26

4.1 Overview ..............................................................................................................................26

4.1.1 Powerline Network Security ........................................................................................26

Table of Contents

PLA4205 User’s Guide

4.1.2 Device Access Key (DAK) ..........................................................................................27

4.2 Starting the Configuration Utility ...........................................................................................27

4.3 Configuration Screen ..........................................................................................................27

4.4 Firmware Screen .................................................................................................................29

4.5 Network Info Screen ............................................................................................................30

4.6 Advanced Screen .............................................................................................................31

4.7 About Screen .......................................................................................................................34

Chapter 5

Powerline Network Setup Tutorial.........................................................................................37

5.0.1 Overview .....................................................................................................................37

5.0.2 Important Terms ..........................................................................................................37

5.0.3 Accessing Your Powerline Adapter .............................................................................38

5.0.4 Adding a Powerline Adapter .......................................................................................39

5.0.5 Setting Up a New Network with a New Adapter .........................................................40

5.0.6 Splitting a Network into Two Networks .......................................................................42

5.1 Troubleshooting ...................................................................................................................44

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

PART I

User’s Guide

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