Chapter 1 Introducing the PLA4231
PLA4231 User’s Guide
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expanded by plugging additional PLA4231s into other outlets in your home and connecting other
computers or network devices (for example, a printer) to them.
Refer to your Quick Start Guide for hardware connection information.
1.3 Ways to Manage the PLA4231
•Use the RESET/ENCRYPT button to add powerline devices to your powerline network if they
have this button. See Chapter 3 on page 15 for instructions on using the ENCRYPT feature.
•Use the PLA42xx Series Configuration Utility (or utility, for short) to manage the PLA4231.
See Chapter 4 on page 23 for instructions on installing the utility.
Note: This User’s Guide describes the latest version utility. This utility is only compatible
with a PLA4231 which has the latest firmware installed. If you don’t already have
them, download the latest firmware and utility from the ZyXEL website.
• Use the Web Configurator for everyday management of the PLA4231 using a (supported) web
browser. See Section 7.2 on page 53 for instructions on accessing the Web Configurator.
• WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) button. You can use the WPS button or the WPS section of the Web
Configurator to set up a wireless network with your PLA4231. See Section on page 13 for
instructions on using the WPS button.
1.4 Good Habits for Managing the PLA4231
Do the following things regularly to make the PLA4231 more secure and to manage the PLA4231
more effectively.
• Change the password. Use a password that’s not easy to guess and that consists of different
types of characters, such as numbers and letters.
• Write down the password and put it in a safe place.
• Back up the configuration (and make sure you know how to restore it). Restoring an earlier
working configuration may be useful if the device becomes unstable or even crashes. If you
forget your password, you will have to reset the PLA4231 to its factory default settings. If you
backed up an earlier configuration file, you would not have to totally re-configure the PLA4231.
You could simply restore your last configuration.
1.5 Powerline Security
Since your powerline network may extend outside your premises, it is important to set up security
on your PLA4231.
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