Chapter 5 The Configuration Utility

The following table describes the labels in this screen.

Table 5 Network Info Screen

LABEL

DESCRIPTION

Adapter

This field identifies which powerline network information is displayed. Different

 

powerline networks are identified by the Ethernet interface (network card) connected

 

directly to the PLA-4xx. Typically there is only one connection, however, if your

 

computer has two network cards and both are connected to a PLA-4xx, then you have

 

two powerline networks.

 

 

Central

The Central Coordinator of the powerline network is the powerline adapter which

Coordinator

keeps track of which devices are part of the network as well as synchronizes

MAC

communication within the powerline network. If the Central Coordinator is removed

 

from the powerline network then another powerline adapter takes its place. This field

 

displays the MAC address of the PLA-4xx which is the Central Coordinator of the

 

powerline network. The powerline adapters in your powerline network automatically

 

select the Central Coordinator.

 

 

The information provided in the following table reflects transmission rate information about the powerline adapters which communicate in your powerline network.

The powerline adapters listed in this table are all the powerline adapters in your powerline network except the powerline adapter selected in the Configuration page of the configuration utility. In other words, if the Local powerline adapter is selected in the Configuration screen, then this table will display the rates of transmission from the powerline adapter connected to the computer running the configuration utility to all the Remote powerline adapters.

Site

This field displays:

 

• Local, if it is the PLA-4xx directly connected to the computer running the

 

configuration utility.

 

• Remote, if it is a PLA-4xx in your powerline network but not directly connected to

 

the computer running the configuration utility.

 

 

MAC Address

This field displays the MAC address of your powerline adapter. The MAC address of

 

your powerline adapter can be found by looking at the label on your device. It consists

 

of six pairs of hexadecimal characters (hexadecimal characters are “0-9” and “a-f”). In

 

the case of the PLA-4xx, this label is on the bottom of the device.

 

 

Transmit Rate

This field displays how fast information is sent from the powerline adapter selected in

(Mbps)

the Configuration screen to this powerline adapter. The rate is given in the following

 

format: “application data transmission rate / raw data transmission rate”. Application

 

data reflects more accurately how fast devices are transmitting application relevant

 

traffic (for example Internet Protocol (IP) traffic). Raw data refers to the whole payload

 

of the packets transmitted across the powerline network.

 

 

Receive Rate

This field displays how fast information is received from the powerline adapter

(Mbps)

selected in the Configuration screen to this powerline adapter. The rate is given in

 

the following format: “application data transmission rate / raw data transmission rate”.

 

Application data reflects more accurately how fast devices are transmitting application

 

relevant traffic (for example Internet Protocol (IP) traffic). Raw data refers to the whole

 

payload of the packets transmitted across the powerline network.

 

 

5.6Advanced Screen

"This feature is only available with the latest version utility. Go to the ZyXEL website to download the latest utility and firmware for your ZyXEL HomePlug AV adapter.

46

 

PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide