Chapter 1 Introducing the PLA-400/402

Expand Your Network with the PLA-402

The PLA-402 allows you to be more flexible in expanding your network by adding the coaxial cable capability.

Figure 2 Expand Your Network with the PLA-402 over Coaxial Cable Wiring

Connect your PLA-402 to a modem, router or switch and plug it into a coaxial cable outlet in your home. Plug a second PLA-402 into another outlet and connect a computer to the PLA- 402 for Internet access. Your network can be further expanded by plugging additional PLA- 402s into other outlets in your home and connecting other computers or network devices (for example a printer) to them.

Refer to your Quick Start Guide for hardware connection information. Refer to the Appendix C on page 49 for wall mounting instructions.

1.2 Managing the PLA-400/402

Use the PLA-4xx Series Configuration Utility to manage and set up security on the PLA- 400/402 or other HomePlug AV compliant power line adapters. Although the PLA-400/402 is a “plug-and-play” network expanding solution there are situations when you might want to enable security on the power line network in your home. The reasons include:

1To ensure privacy of your communication. When you use the PLA-400/402 and other power line adapters, the electrical wiring in your home becomes an extension of your Ethernet network. Your network traffic flows freely within the electrical circuit of your home and is bounded in most cases by a power meter.

Without security (encryption) your information is accessible to anyone using a power line adapter on the same electrical circuit. In some cases, a circuit can be shared by more than one household.

To prevent compromising your network security, you can create a private network. A private network uses a secret password to make sure that only permitted power line adapters can communicate in your network. See Section 3.1.1 on page 24 for information on setting up a private network.

2To create multiple power line networks. Multiple power line networks can coexist on a single power line circuit. You might want to implement multiple power line networks in a small office environment where you have two separate Ethernet networks.

14

 

PLA-400/402 Series User’s Guide