ZyXEL PLA450 v2 User Guide - Page 60

Chapter 6 Wireless LAN

PLA450 User’s Guide

60

If your AP does not provide a local user database and if you do not have a RADIUS server,

you cannot set up user names and passwords for your users.

Unauthorized devices can still see the information that is sent in the wireless network, even if

they cannot use the wireless network. Furthermore, there are ways for unauthorized wireless

users to get a valid user name and password. Then, they can use that user name and password

to use the wireless network.

Local user databases also have an additional limitation that is explained in the next section.

6.2.4

Encryption

Wireless networks can use encryption to protect the information that is sent in the wireless

network. Encryption is like a secret code. If you do not know the secret code, you cannot

understand the message.

The types of encryption you can choose depend on the type of user authentication. (See

Section 6.2.3 on page 59

for information about this.)

For example, if the wireless network has a RADIUS server, you can choose

WPA

or

WPA2

.

If users do not log in to the wireless network, you can choose no encryption,

Static WEP

,

WPA-PSK

, or

WPA2-PSK

.

Usually, you should set up the strongest encryption that every wireless client in the wireless

network supports. For example, suppose the AP does not have a local user database, and you

do not have a RADIUS server. Therefore, there is no user authentication. Suppose the wireless

network has two wireless clients. Device A only supports WEP, and device B supports WEP

and WPA. Therefore, you should set up

Static WEP

in the wireless network.

It is recommended that wireless networks use

WPA-PSK

,

WPA

, or stronger

encryption. WEP encryption is better than none at all, but it is still possible for

unauthorized devices to figure out the original information pretty quickly.

It is not possible to use

WPA-PSK

,

WPA

or stronger encryption with a local user database. In

this case, it is better to set up stronger encryption with no authentication than to set up weaker

encryption with the local user database.

When you select

WPA2

or

WPA2-PSK

in your PLA450, you can also select an option (

WPA

Compatible

) to support WPA as well. In this case, if some wireless clients support WPA and

some support WPA2, you should set up

WPA2-PSK

or

WPA2

(depending on the type of

wireless network login) and select the

WPA Compatible

option in the PLA450.

Table 10

Types of Encryption for Each Type of Authentication

NO AUTHENTICATION

RADIUS SERVER

Weakest

No Security

WPA

Static WEP

WPA-PSK

Strongest

WPA2-PSK

WPA2

Section	Page
PLA450 Series	1
User’s Guide	1
About This User's Guide	3
Document Conventions	4
Safety Warnings	6
Contents Overview	9
Table of Contents	11
List of Figures	15
List of Tables	19
Introduction	21
Getting to Know Your PLA450	23
1.1 Overview	23
1.1.1 Wireless LAN Application	23
1.1.2 HomePlug AV	23
1.2 Ways to Manage the PLA450	24
1.3 Good Habits for Managing the PLA450	24
1.4 LEDs	25
The WPS Button	27
2.1 Overview	27
2.2 Push Button Configuration	27
The ENCRYPT Button	29
3.1 ENCRYPT Button Overview	29
3.2 Set Up a HomePlug AV Network with ENCRYPT	29
3.3 Setting Up Multiple Networks	31
3.4 ENCRYPT Button Behavior	32
Introducing the Web Configurator	35
4.1 Web Configurator Overview	35
4.2 Accessing the Web Configurator	35
4.3 Resetting the PLA450	37
4.3.1 Procedure to Use the Reset Button	37
4.4 Navigating the Web Configurator	37
4.4.1 The Status Screen	37
4.4.2 Navigation Panel	40
4.4.3 Summary: Packet Statistics	41
4.4.4 Summary: Wireless Station Status	42
4.4.5 Summary: My HomePlug Network Status	42
Wireless Tutorial	47
5.1 Example Parameters	47
5.2 Configuring the PLA450	47
5.3 Configuring the Wireless Client	49
5.3.1 Connecting to a Wireless LAN	49
5.3.2 Creating and Using a Profile	52
Network	55
Wireless LAN	57
6.1 Wireless Network Overview	57
6.2 Wireless Security Overview	59
6.2.1 SSID	59
6.2.2 MAC Address Filter	59
6.2.3 User Authentication	59
6.2.4 Encryption	60
6.3 Roaming	61
6.3.1 Requirements for Roaming	62
6.4 Quality of Service	62
6.4.1 WMM QoS	63
6.5 WPS Overview	63
6.5.1 WPS Setup Using a PIN	64
6.5.2 How WPS Works	65
6.5.3 Limitations of WPS	67
6.6 General Wireless LAN Screen	68
6.6.1 No Security	69
6.6.2 WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK	70
6.7 MAC Filter	71
6.8 Wireless LAN Advanced Screen	72
6.9 Quality of Service (QoS) Screen	74
6.9.1 Application Priority Configuration	76
6.10 WPS Screen	77
6.11 WPS Station Screen	78
LAN	81
7.1 LAN Overview	81
7.1.1 Factory LAN Defaults	81
7.1.2 IP Address	81
7.1.3 IP Address and Subnet Mask	82
7.2 LAN IP Screen	82
HomePlug AV	85
8.1 Overview	85
8.2 Privacy and Powerline Adapters	86
8.2.1 Setting Up a Private Powerline Network	87
8.2.2 Setting Up Multiple Powerline Networks.	87
8.3 Configuring Your HomePlug AV Devices	88
8.4 HomePlug AV QoS	91
8.4.1 QoS Based on IP or MAC Address	91
8.4.2 Mapping other QoS Priority Settings to HomePlug AV QoS	91
8.4.3 QoS Based on Traffic Type	92
Maintenance and Troubleshooting	95
System	97
9.1 System General Screen	97
9.2 Time Setting Screen	98
Logs	101
10.1 View Log	101
10.2 Log Settings	102
Tools	105
11.1 Firmware Upload Screen	105
11.2 Configuration Screen	107
11.2.1 Backup Configuration	107
11.2.2 Restore Configuration	107
11.2.3 Back to Factory Defaults	108
11.3 Restart Screen	109
Configuration Mode	111
Language	113
13.1 Selecting Language	113
Troubleshooting	115
14.1 Power, Hardware Connections, and LEDs	115
14.2 PLA450 Access and Login	116
14.3 Internet Access	117
14.4 Resetting the PLA450 to Its Factory Defaults	118
14.5 Wireless Troubleshooting	119
14.6 HomePlug AV Troubleshooting	119
14.7 ENCRYPT Button Problems	120
14.8 Advanced Features	121
Product Specifications and Wall- Mounting Instructions	123
Appendices and Index	127
Pop-up Windows, JavaScripts and Java Permissions	129
IP Addresses and Subnetting	135
Setting up Your Computer’s IP Address	143
15.0.1 Verifying Settings	158
Wireless LANs	159
Common Services	173
Legal Information	177
Customer Support	181

ZyXEL PLA450 v2 User Guide - Page 60

Encryption, Static WEP, WPA-PSK, Compatible

Page 60 highlights