ZyXEL Communications PLA SERIES User Manual

Chapter 4 The Configuration Utility

PLA Series User’s Guide

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.

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.

DAK Password

DAK (Device Access Key) password is used to verify that you are authorized to perform 
changes on a remote device. You can find the DAK password printed on a sticker on the 
bottom of your PLA. 

Select the remote powerline adapter you want to manage by clicking the MAC address 
which corresponds to it in the MAC Address column. Enter the DAK Password value and 
click Save.

Note: You must enter the DAK Password value exactly as it is printed on the label (all caps 

and with dashes “-”).

Network Name 
(NMK)

The default network name (sometimes called a network password or network membership 
key (NMK)) of the PLA is “HomePlugAV”. HomePlug compatible devices use the same 
network name to recognize and communicate with each other over the powerline network. 
If you change the network name of one device on the network, it will no longer be 
recognized as part of that network.

If you change the network name, make sure you change the network name for all of the 
powerline adapters that you want to be part of your powerline network.

The network name can be from 8 to 64 characters in length, using “A”~”Z”, “a”~”z”, 
“0”~”9”; spaces are not allowed.

Set NMK to this 
device

Select this to apply the NMK (entered in the field above) as the network name for the 
powerline adapter directly connected to the computer running the configuration utility.

Set NMK to all 
devices

Select this to apply the NMK (entered in the field above) as the network name for all 
powerline adapter detected by the utility. 

Write

Click this to apply your changes. The new Network Name is applied to the selected 
powerline adapter. 

Note: You must enter the correct DAK password for the selected remote powerline adapter 

before you can make changes to it. 

Configuration Screen (continued)