2-1
v1.1, September 2009
Chapter 2
Securing and Configuring Your Powerline Network
This chapter describes Powerline network security, and describes how to use the XAV1004
Powerline Utility. You can use the Powerline Utility to configure encryption for your Powerline
network and to check the link rate of traffic passing through the Powerline network.
Understanding Powerline Network Security
Powerline devices on the same network must use an identical encryption key. The Powerline AV
Ethernet Adapter default encrypted password is
HomePlugAV
. If you do not set up security,
anyone nearby with a Powerline network can use this password to gain access to your network.
Use the Security button on the Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter to change the Powerline encryption
key.
Encryption of the information you send over the Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter helps keep it
secure. This is especially important in locations with many people, such as apartment buildings.
A Powerline network consists of Powerline adapters with the same network encryption key. The
security used by Powerline AV Ethernet Adapters is similar to the SSID and encryption keys used
in wireless networks, but you do not need software to configure your Powerline AV Ethernet
Adapters.
There are two ways to secure your Powerline network.
•
Use Push 'N' Secure to automatically generate the encryption on each device in your Powerline
network. See the following section,
Changing the Default Encryption Key using Push 'N'
Secure
.”
•
Use the XAV1004 Powerline Utility, on your
Resource CD
, to configure your Powerline
network with a network encryption key that you specify. If you are already using HomePlug
devices then you might need to use this utility. See
“Running the Powerline Utility” on
page 2-6
.
Note:
If you need to return the Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter to its factory default
settings, use the Reset button or the NETGEAR XAV1004 Configuration Utility on
your
Resource CD
.
