Chapter 4 The Configuration Utility
The following table describes the labels in this screen.
Table 9 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. Typically there is only one connection, however, if your computer has two network |
| cards and both are connected to a PLA, then you have two powerline networks. |
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Central | The Central Coordinator of the powerline network is the powerline adapter which keeps |
Coordinator | track of which devices are part of the network as well as synchronizes communication |
MAC | 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 which is the Central Coordinator of the powerline network. The powerline |
| adapters in your powerline network automatically select the Central Coordinator. |
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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 directly connected to the computer running the configuration |
| utility. |
| • Remote, if it is a PLA in your powerline network but not directly connected to the |
| computer running the configuration utility. |
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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 |
| of the PLA, this label is on the bottom of the device. |
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Transmit Rate | This field displays how fast information is sent from the powerline adapter selected in the |
(Mbps) | 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. |
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Receive Rate | This field displays how fast information is received 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. |
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4.6 Advanced Screen
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 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 have a file server on your home network to deliver music and movie files to computers in your home, you should set the priority of the powerline adapter connected to this server to Medium. If video traffic is delivered too slowly, quality problems may occur.
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PLA Series User’s Guide | |
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