ZyXEL PLA4231 User Guide - Page 30

Chapter 5 Using the Powerline Configuration Utility

PLA4231 User’s Guide

30

5.4

Firmware Screen

Use the

Firmware

screen to update the firmware on the PLA4231 directly connected to the

computer running the configuration utility.

Firmware is the software which is embedded in the PLA4231. This software contains processing

instructions for how the PLA4231 sends and receives information in a secure way.

Parameter Information Block (PIB) is similar to firmware. It contains the most basic operating

instructions for the PLA4231 such as how to power up and how to load the firmware.

You can check the ZyXEL website for firmware upgrades for your PLA4231.

Note: If you have upgraded the firmware, make sure you also upgrade the

PLA42xx

Series Configuration Utility

. Older version utilities are not compatible with

PLA4231s using the latest firmware.

DAK Password

DAK (Device Access Key) password is used to verify that you are authorized to perform

changes on a remote device. You can find the DAK password printed on a sticker on the

bottom of your PLA4231.

Select the remote powerline adapter you want to manage by clicking the MAC address

which corresponds to it in the

MAC Address

column. Enter the

DAK Password

value and

click

Save

.

Note: You must enter the DAK Password value exactly as it is printed on the label (all caps

and with dashes “-”).

Network Name

(NMK)

The default network name (sometimes called a network password or network membership

key (NMK)) of the PLA4231 is “

HomePlugAV

”. HomePlug compatible devices use the same

network name to recognize and communicate with each other over the powerline network.

If you change the network name of one device on the network, it will no longer be

recognized as part of that network.

If you change the network name, make sure you change the network name for all of the

powerline adapters that you want to be part of your powerline network.

The network name can be from 8 to 64 characters in length, using “A”~”Z”, “a”~”z”,

“0”~”9”; spaces are not allowed.

Set NMK to this

device

Select this to apply the NMK (entered in the field above) as the network name for the

powerline adapter directly connected to the computer running the configuration utility.

Set NMK to all

devices

Select this to apply the NMK (entered in the field above) as the network name for all

powerline adapter detected by the utility.

Save

Click this to apply your changes. The new

Network Name

is applied to the selected

powerline adapter.

Note: You must enter the correct DAK password for the selected powerline adapter before

you can make changes to it.

Table 3

Configuration Screen (continued)

LABEL

DESCRIPTION

Section	Page
PLA4231	1
Table of Contents	3
Introduction	7
Introducing the PLA4231	9
1.1 Overview	9
1.2 Expand Your Network with the PLA4231	9
1.3 Ways to Manage the PLA4231	10
1.4 Good Habits for Managing the PLA4231	10
1.5 Powerline Security	10
1.5.1 Powerline Passwords	11
1.5.2 Setting Up Powerline Security	11
1.6 Multiple Networks	12
1.7 Resetting the PLA4231	12
1.7.1 Procedure to Use the Reset Button	12
The WPS Button	13
2.1 WPS Overview	13
2.2 How to Use the WPS Button	13
The RESET/ENCRYPT Button	15
3.1 RESET/ENCRYPT Button Overview	15
3.2 Set Up a HomePlug AV Network with ENCRYPT	15
3.3 Setting Up Multiple Networks	17
3.4 RESET/ENCRYPT Button Behavior	19
Configuration Utility	21
Installing the Powerline Configuration Utility	23
4.1 Overview of the Installation Process	23
4.2 Installing the Utility	23
Using the Powerline Configuration Utility	27
5.1 Overview	27
5.1.1 Powerline Network Security	27
5.1.2 Device Access Key (DAK)	28
5.2 Starting the Configuration Utility	28
5.3 Configuration Screen	29
5.4 Firmware Screen	30
5.5 Network Info Screen	31
5.6 Advanced Screen	32
5.7 About Screen	35
Powerline Network Setup Tutorial	37
6.1 Overview	37
6.2 Important Terms	37
6.3 Accessing Your Powerline Adapter	38
6.4 Adding a Powerline Adapter	39
6.5 Setting Up a New Network with a New Adapter	40
6.6 Splitting a Network into Two Networks	42
6.7 Troubleshooting	44
Web Configurator	47
Introducing the Web Configurator	49
7.1 Overview	49
7.2 Accessing the Web Configurator	49
7.2.1 Login Screen	49
7.2.2 Password Screen	51
7.3 Navigating the Web Configurator	52
7.3.1 Title Bar	53
7.3.2 Navigation Panel	53
7.3.3 Main Window	54
Dashboard	55
8.1 The Dashboard Screen	55
Monitor	59
9.1 Overview	59
9.2 What You Can Do	59
9.3 Log	59
9.4 Packet Statistics	60
9.5 WLAN Station Status	61
Wireless LAN	63
10.1 Overview	63
10.2 What You Can Do	63
10.3 What You Should Know	64
10.3.1 Wireless Security Overview	64
10.4 General Wireless LAN Screen	66
10.5 Wireless Security	67
10.5.1 No Security	67
10.5.2 WEP Encryption	68
10.5.3 WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK	70
10.6 MAC Filter	71
10.7 Wireless LAN Advanced Screen	73
10.8 Quality of Service (QoS) Screen	73
10.9 WPS Screen	74
10.10 WPS Station Screen	76
10.11 Scheduling Screen	76
LAN	79
11.1 Overview	79
11.2 What You Can Do	79
11.3 What You Need To Know	79
11.3.1 LAN TCP/IP	80
11.3.2 IP Alias	80
11.4 LAN IP Screen	80
11.5 IP Alias Screen	81
HomePlug	83
12.1 Overview	83
12.2 What You Can Do	83
12.3 HomePlug Screen	83
Maintenance	87
13.1 Overview	87
13.2 What You Can Do	87
13.3 General Screen	87
13.4 Password Screen	88
13.5 Time Setting Screen	88
13.6 Firmware Upgrade Screen	90
13.7 Configuration Backup/Restore Screen	92
13.8 Restart Screen	93
13.9 Language Screen	93
LEDs and Troubleshooting	95
14.1 LEDs	95
14.2 Power and Light Problems	96
14.3 Configuration Utility Problems	98
14.4 Powerline Problems	98
14.5 RESET/ENCRYPT Button Problems	99
14.6 Wireless Connection Problems	100
14.7 PLA4231 Access and Login Problems	101
Pop-up Windows, JavaScript and Java Permissions	105
Legal Information	115

ZyXEL PLA4231 User Guide - Page 30

Firmware Screen, PLA42xx, Series Configuration Utility

Page 30 highlights