ZyXEL Communications Computer Accessories Powerline Ethernet Adapter Series Manuale Utente

Chapter 5 The Configuration Utility

PLA-4xx Series User’s Guide

The following table describes the labels in this screen. 

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Table 5   Network Info Screen

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-4xx. Typically there is only one connection, however, if your 

computer has two network cards and both are connected to a PLA-4xx, then you have 

two powerline networks. 

Central 

Coordinator 

MAC

The Central Coordinator of the powerline network is the powerline adapter which 

keeps track of which devices are part of the network as well as synchronizes 

communication 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-4xx which is the Central Coordinator of the 

powerline network. The powerline adapters in your powerline network automatically 

select the Central Coordinator. 

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-4xx directly connected to the computer running the 

configuration utility.

•

Remote, if it is a PLA-4xx in your powerline network but not directly connected to 

the computer running the configuration utility.

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 “0-9” and “a-f”). In 

the case of the PLA-4xx, this label is on the bottom of the device. 

Transmit Rate 

(Mbps)

This field displays how fast information is sent 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.

Receive Rate 

(Mbps)

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.