Netgear XAV2501 XAV2501 User Manual - Page 14

XAV2501 Powerline AV+200 Adapter User Manual Understanding Powerline Network Security A Powerline network consists of two or more Powerline adapters using the same encryption key. Securing your network is crucial. By encrypting the information you send over the Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter, you help to keep it secure from hackers. If you do not set up security, the XAV2501 adapter encrypts the Powerline packets by default encryption key, "HomePlugAV". This is especially important in places where people live close to one another, such as apartment buildings, office buildings, and dorm rooms. Powerline devices connected to the same network must use an identical encryption key. The security used by Powerline AV Ethernet Adapters is similar to the SSID and encryption keys used in wireless networks, but you do not need software to configure Powerline AV Ethernet Adapters. There are two ways to secure your Powerline network. • Use the Powerline AV+ 200 Adapter Security button located on the adapter to automatically generate a random encryption key. See "Changing the Default Encryption" on page 1-8. • Use the NETGEAR Powerline Utility to configure your Powerline network with an encryption key that you specify. If you are already using Powerline or HomePlug devices then you will need to use the NETGEAR Powerline Utility. If not already installed, the NETGEAR Powerline Utility is located on your Resource CD, and should be installed on your computer. See "Security" on page 2-9. For information about using the XAV2501 NETGEAR Powerline Utility to configure Powerline security or to prioritize Powerline network traffic using the Quality of Service (QoS) feature, see Chapter 2, "Using the NETGEAR Powerline Utility. Note: To return the XAV2501 Powerline AV+ 200 Adapter to its factory default settings, see "Resetting to Factory Defaults" on page 2-16. Installation and Basic Configuration 1-7 v1.0, December 2009