ZyXEL PLA4215 User Guide

ZyXEL PLA4215 Manual

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  • ZyXEL PLA4215 | User Guide - Page 1
    PLA4215 500Mbps Powerline Pass-Thru Gigabit Ethernet Adapter Edition 1, 9/2011 www.zyxel.com www.zyxel.com Copyright © 2011 ZyXEL Communications Corporation
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    About This User's Guide About This User's Guide IMPORTANT! READ CAREFULLY BEFORE USE. KEEP THIS GUIDE FOR FUTURE REFERENCE. Intended Audience This manual is intended for people who want to configure the PLA4215 using the PLA42xx Series Configuration Utility version 5.2.0. You should have your basic
  • ZyXEL PLA4215 | User Guide - Page 4
    may be referred to as the "PLA4215", 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
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    Document Conventions 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. PLA4215 Computer Internet Modem / Router Printer Notebook TV PLA4215 User's Guide 5
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    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 ( and electronic equipment should be treated separately. 6 PLA4215 User's Guide
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    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 PLA4215 User's Guide 7
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    42 5.6 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 8 PLA4215 User's Guide
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    PART I User's Guide 9
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    10
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    chapter introduces the main applications and features of the PLA4215 HomePlug AV compliant powerline adapter. This chapter introduces the main applications and features of the PLA4215 HomePlug AV compliant powerline adapter. In this User's Guide the electrical wiring network is referred to as the
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    Series Configuration Utility (or utility, for short) to manage the PLA4215. See Section 2.2 on page 14 for instructions on installing the utility. Note: This User's Guide describes the latest version utility. This utility is only compatible with a PLA4215 which has the latest firmware installed
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    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. PLA4215 User's Guide
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    latest firmware installed. If you don't already have them, download the latest firmware and utility from the ZyXEL website. 2.2 Installing the Utility Follow the steps below to install .NET Framework version 2.0 and the PLA42xx Series Configuration Utility on your computer. PLA4215 User's Guide 14
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    progress of the installation. Figure 3 .NET Framework Installation Process 3 The Setup utility runs automatically. Click Yes or Next to continue through the initial screen. Click Cancel only if you want to abort the installation. Figure 4 InstallShield Wizard Start Screen PLA4215 User's Guide 15
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    user, select Only for me(...). Otherwise, click Everyone to allow all users to use the configuration utility. Click Next to install the utility the PLA42xx Series Configuration Utility to your computer. launch the utility until after a restart of your computer. 2.3 Low Power Mode Your PLA4215 is a
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    2 Installing the Utility When you plug the PLA4215 into an electric socket, it waits for an Ethernet connection. When no connection is detected after sixty (60) seconds, the Power LED blinks indicating that it is going into Low Power mode. The same process occurs when you disconnect the PLA4215 from
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    Chapter 2 Installing the Utility 18 PLA4215 User's Guide
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    PART II Technical Reference 19
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    20
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    below to set up your HomePlug AV Network: 1 Press the ENCRYPT button at the rear of your powerline device for more than 10 seconds until the power ( ) light flashes. This resets the network name to a random value and removes your device from any network it may belong to. PLA4215 User's Guide 21
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    2 and 3 in this section. If that doesn't work, see the Troubleshooting in Section 6.5 on page 51 for suggestions. 4 To add more powerline devices to your network, press the ENCRYPT button on device C (shown below) for more than 10 seconds until the power ( ) light flashes. 22 PLA4215 User's Guide
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    device) in step of this section, you can now reconnect them. This sets up your powerline network between your powerline devices. 3.3 Setting Up Multiple Networks You can use the ENCRYPT button to set up multiple powerline networks using your existing powerline network. PLA4215 User's Guide 23
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    on both (A) and (C). When the power ( ) and HomePlug ( ) lights stop blinking and the power ( ) light shines steadily, the devices are connected. Figure 10 Two Separate Powerline Networks B A C 24 PLA4215 User's Guide
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    to another powerline device or a powerline network. The HomePlug ( ) light blinks red one time and then turns off when it disconnects from the powerline network. See Troubleshooting in Chapter 6 on page 51 for suggestions on problems with the ENCRYPT button and the lights. PLA4215 User's Guide 25
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    hardware connections, the PLA4215s in your network (without additional configuration) are able to communicate with each other by sending and receiving information over your home's electrical wiring (A). Figure 11 Example Network Setup A All HomePlug AV compliant powerline adapters within range can
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    4.3 Configuration Screen Use the Configuration screen to see which devices are recognized by your powerline network, to configure your PLA4215 and to set up a secure powerline network by changing the powerline network name. This screen opens up when you launch the utility. PLA4215 User's Guide 27
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    network but not directly connected to the computer running the configuration utility. This is a read-only field which shows the MAC address of the powerline adapter you are configuring. You can find the MAC address of your PLA4215 displayed on a sticker on the bottom of your device. DAK (Device
  • ZyXEL PLA4215 | User Guide - Page 29
    the selected powerline adapter before you can make changes to it. 4.4 Firmware Screen Use the Firmware screen to update the firmware on the PLA4215 directly connected to the computer running the configuration utility. Firmware is the software which is embedded in the PLA4215. This software contains
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    wrong model firmware may damage your device. Figure 14 Firmware Screen 4.5 Network Info Screen Use the Network Info screen to see the rates at which a specific PLA4215 is communicating with other powerline adapters on your powerline network. Figure 15 Network Info Screen 30 PLA4215 User's Guide
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    to download the latest utility and firmware for your ZyXEL HomePlug AV adapter. You can configure the powerline adapters on your network to give priority to network traffic depending on its importance. When you set the priority of a powerline adapter, you set how quickly PLA4215 User's Guide 31
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    Chapter 4 The Configuration Utility messages FROM your powerline adapter are sent in your powerline network. Transmissions TO your powerline adapter do not receive any priority. For example, if you high priority setting if you want faster downloading through your network. 32 PLA4215 User's Guide
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    does not send a lot of traffic, so the powerline adaptor attached to it can be set to a low priority. Figure 16 Priority Settings C D E B A Use this screen to configure priority settings for traffic from the powerline adapters on your network. Figure 17 Advanced Screen PLA4215 User's Guide 33
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    this to apply your changes. The new Priority setting is applied to the selected powerline adapter. 4.7 About Screen Use the About screen to view information regarding the configuration utility and firmware version of the PLA4215 you are connected to. Click the icon in the top right corner of the
  • ZyXEL PLA4215 | User Guide - Page 35
    following table describes the labels in this screen. Table 7 About Screen LABEL Utility version: Firmware version DESCRIPTION This field displays the software version of the configuration utility. This field displays the firmware version of the device you selected in the Device Selection field of
  • ZyXEL PLA4215 | User Guide - Page 36
    Chapter 4 The Configuration Utility 36 PLA4215 User's Guide
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    find this software. Follow the instructions provided by the software to install it on your computer. See the product specifications in the User's Guide for a list of hardware and software compatible with the utility. Note: The PLA4215 in this tutorial is an example only. Your powerline adapter may
  • ZyXEL PLA4215 | User Guide - Page 38
    Series Configuration Utility Icon 5 You are now ready to extend your powerline network or set up a second network. • See Section 5.3 on page 39 to add a new powerline adapter to your network. • See Section 5.4 on page 40 to set up a second network with your new adapters. 38 PLA4215 User's Guide
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    configuration tab. On this screen in the Site column your new powerline adapter should appear as Local (A). Check the Local adapter's MAC address (B). It should match the MAC address listed on the label on the back of your powerline adapter. Figure 23 Adding a New Adapter A B PLA4215 User's Guide
  • ZyXEL PLA4215 | User Guide - Page 40
    powerline adapters to set up a new powerline network separate to your existing network. The figure below shows two powerline networks in a house. The first network (1) shows the home computer connected to a printer and access to the Internet. The second network (2) has no 40 PLA4215 User's Guide
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    Network Setup Tutorial Internet access but with a media adapter such as the ZyXEL DMA-1100P you can use your TV to watch movies and play games which are stored on a computer. Figure 26 Add New Adapters to Make a Second Network 1 Connect your new powerline adapter and open the configuration utility
  • ZyXEL PLA4215 | User Guide - Page 42
    all powerline adapters you wish to add to your network. • Look for the DAK Password on a label on your powerline adapter. The DAK Password lets you access the adapter. • Select the Remote adapter you want to add (A) and type the DAK Password in the DAK Password field (B). 42 PLA4215 User's Guide
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    Chapter 5 Powerline Network Setup Tutorial • Then type the new network name in the Network Name field. Figure 29 Adding an Adapter to Your New Network A B 4 Click Save. • If you do not type the DAK entered the DAK Password, click OK on the pop-up. Figure 31 Correct DAK PLA4215 User's Guide 43
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    using the PLA42xx Series Configuration Utility, change the Network Name on your local adapter to the network name for the network you want to access. The adapters on that network will then display in the adapter table, allowing you to select and configure each one. 5.6 Troubleshooting The HomePlug
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    Chapter 5 Powerline Network Setup Tutorial • Check you have entered the correct network name for your network. • Check your powerline adapter is connected to the same electrical circuit as other powerline adapters on your network. PLA4215 User's Guide 45
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    Chapter 5 Powerline Network Setup Tutorial 46 PLA4215 User's Guide
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    . 6.1 LEDs The following sections describes the lights on the PLA4215. The following figure is the front panel of the PLA4215. Use the lights to determine if the PLA4215 is behaving normally or if there are some problems on your powerline network. Figure 34 PLA4215 Lights PLA4215 User's Guide 47
  • ZyXEL PLA4215 | User Guide - Page 48
    another powerline adapter. The ETHERNET port is on and ready and the PLA4215 detects a device connected to it. The PLA4215 is communicating with a networking device connected to it. The PLA4215 does not detect any devices connected to its ETHERNET port. 6.2 Power and Light Problems The PLA4215
  • ZyXEL PLA4215 | User Guide - Page 49
    with the latest firmware cannot communicate with PLA4215s using earlier versions of the firmware. Go to Section 4.4 on page 29 for instructions on installing the latest firmware. 2 Use the PLA42xx Series Configuration Utility to detect all other HomePlug devices on your powerline network. Make sure
  • ZyXEL PLA4215 | User Guide - Page 50
    on page 47 for troubleshooting LED related problems. • Check all ZyxEL HomePlug AV devices on your network have the latest firmware installed. The latest utility cannot communicate with PLA4215s using earlier versions of the firmware. Go to Section 4.4 on page 29 for instructions on installing the
  • ZyXEL PLA4215 | User Guide - Page 51
    powerline signals. Move the adapters further away from such electrical devices. 4 Your wiring may be old and/or low quality or with a long wiring path. 6.5 ENCRYPT Button Problems This section applies only to PLA4215s devices were not on the same electrical circuit before. PLA4215 User's Guide 51
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    Chapter 6 LEDs and Troubleshooting The POWER lights on both devices blink, then many lights blink and the HomePlug on. The HomePlug light is on, indicating it is still connected to another powerline device. Try again, pressing the ENCRYPT button for more than 10 seconds. 52 PLA4215 User's Guide
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    applicable laws, and will bear the consequences of any infringements thereof. ZyXEL bears NO responsibility or liability for your use of the download service feature. Make sure all data and programs on the PLA4215 are also stored elsewhere. ZyXEL is not responsible for any loss of or damage to any
  • ZyXEL PLA4215 | User Guide - Page 54
    that may cause undesired operations. This device has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. user's authority to operate the equipment. 54 PLA4215 User's Guide
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    vendor. You may also refer to the warranty policy for the region in which you bought the device at http://www.zyxel.com/web/ support_warranty_info.php. Registration Register your product online to receive e-mail notices of firmware upgrades and information at www.zyxel.com. PLA4215 User's Guide 55
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    Appendix A Legal Information 56 PLA4215 User's Guide
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    11, 26 ETHN LED 47 PLA4215 User's Guide F FCC interference statement 53 firmware 29 H HomePlug AV standard 11 I installation overview 14 vs. remote adapter 28 M MAC address 28 management multiple networks 13 overview 26 managing the device using the web configurator. See web configurator. 57
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    product 55 related documentation 3 S safety warnings 6 security 12, 13, 26 passwords 12 starting the utility 27 syntax conventions 4 T trademarks 53 transfer rates 11 transmit rate 30 troubleshooting 47 U utility launching 27 W warranty 55 note 55 web configurator 12 58 PLA4215 User's Guide
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www.zyxel.com
www.zyxel.com
PLA4215
500Mbps Powerline Pass-Thru Gigabit Ethernet Adapter
Copyright © 2011
ZyXEL Communications Corporation
Edition 1, 9/2011