ZyXEL PLA4201 PLA4201-EU0201F Benutzerhandbuch

 Chapter 1 Introducing the PLA4201

PLA4201 User’s Guide

It’s easy and only requires you to change a network name.

It’s a good idea to ensure privacy of your communication. When you use the PLA4201 and other 
powerline 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 powerline 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 (Network Name) to make sure that only permitted powerline 
adapters can communicate in your network. See 

 for information on setting 

up a private network.

You may need to change the Network Name to create multiple powerline networks. See the next 
section for more information on how to set up a multiple network.

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

Connect one powerline adapter to a router or switch on the first Ethernet network and assign a 
Network Name (for example “Password1”) to this powerline adapter. Add additional powerline 
adapters to your network by plugging them into your powerline outlets and assigning them 
“Password1”. This completes the configuration of your first powerline network.

Connect another powerline adapter to a router or switch on the second Ethernet network and 
assign a different Network Name (for example “Password2”) to this powerline adapter. Again, add 
additional powerline adapters and assign them “Password2”.

You now have two private networks on your powerline circuit. Information is not shared between 
the two networks as only powerline adapters with the same Network Name can communicate with 
each other.