User manual ZYXEL PLA4215

[. . . ] PLA4215 500Mbps Powerline Pass-Thru Gigabit Ethernet Adapter Edition 1, 9/2011 www. zyxel. com www. zyxel. com Copyright © 2011 ZyXEL Communications Corporation About This User's Guide About This User's Guide IMPORTANT!Intended Audience This manual is intended for people who want to configure the PLA4215 using the PLA42xx Series Configuration Utility version 5. 2. 0. You should have your basic Internet access or home network already set up. Related Documentation · Quick Start Guide The Quick Start Guide is designed to help you get up and running right away. · Support Disc Refer to the included CD for support documents. PLA4215 User's Guide 3 Document Conventions Document Conventions Warnings and Notes These are how warnings and notes are shown in this User's Guide. Warnings tell you about things that could harm you or your device. Note: Notes tell you other important information (for example, other things you may need to configure or helpful tips) or recommendations. Syntax Conventions · The PLA4215 may be referred to as the "PLA4215", the "ZyXEL device", the "device" or the "powerline adapter" in this User's Guide. [. . . ] Raw data refers to the whole payload of the packets transmitted across the powerline network. This field displays how fast information is received from the powerline adapter 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. Transmit Rate (Mbps) Receive Rate (Mbps) 4. 6 Advanced Screen Note: 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. 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 PLA4215 User's Guide 31 Chapter 4 The Configuration Utility messages FROM your powerline adapter are sent in your powerline network. 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. On the other hand, a powerline adapter attached to a printer should have a low priority setting since the slow delivery of messages will not affect the print job. Similarly, if you want to prioritize any downloads from the Internet, set the priority on the powerline adapter attached to your Internet gateway to High. Table 5 Priority Settings PRIORITY LEVEL High Medium Normal Low APPLICATION Voice Application Video and Audio Applications Data Applications Data Applications The figure below shows an example powerline home network connected to the Internet. · Device A is a printer and does not handle traffic with high importance, so the powerline adapter connected to it can be set to low priority. · Device B is a file server, delivering audio or movie files to other users on the network. · Device C, a home computer which connects to the Internet, can receive a normal priority setting as it usually sends simple requests for data. For example, when you surf the Internet, your computer sends requests to open web pages. It should receive a high priority setting if you want faster downloading through your network. 32 PLA4215 User's Guide Chapter 4 The Configuration Utility · Although device E receives audio or movie files, it does not send a lot of traffic, so the powerline adaptor attached to it can be set to a low priority. Figure 16 Priority Settings C D E B A Use this screen to configure priority settings for traffic from the powerline adapters on your network. Figure 17 Advanced Screen PLA4215 User's Guide 33 Chapter 4 The Configuration Utility The following table describes the labels in this screen. Table 6 Advanced Screen LABEL Adapter DESCRIPTION This field identifies which powerline network information is displayed. Different powerline networks are identified by the Ethernet interface (network card) on your computer which is connected directly to a powerline adapter. However, if your computer has two network cards and both are connected to a powerline adapter, then you have two powerline networks. This field displays: · · Local, if it is the PLA4215 directly connected to the computer running the configuration utility. [. . . ] Operation is subject to the following two conditions: · This device may not cause harmful interference. PLA4215 User's Guide 53 Appendix A Legal Information · This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operations. This device has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This device generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy, and if not installed and used in accordance with the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. [. . . ]