HomePlug Adapter Pairing and Net Management
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Copyright 2013, LEA Networks LLC. All rights reserved. LEA Networks, NetPlug, NetSocket, SoftPlug, and LEA logos are
registered trademarks. Information is subject to change without notice. Rev.073013
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HomePlug AV Terms and Explanations
Secured Pairing (Group) Button- a user accessed button on all HomePlug AV adapters. When held until all the status
lights blink off, and then released (~10 seconds), the adapter is enabled into secured network mode with a new secure
network membership key. If an adapter is already in secured mode, pressing for 2 seconds and releasing tells the
adapter to broadcast its key and allow other secured mode adapters to join its network.
Network Name- a text name for the HomePlug network (secured or unsecured). This allows the user to identify the
adapters in their network when others are present (as in a multi-unit household).
Network Membership Key (NMK)- adapters in secured network mode use a private network password key between
each other. This prevents any other adapters from gaining access to the secured network. The key is only known to the
secured adapters themselves.
Reset Button- a user accessed button on all HomePlug AV adapters. This button is recessed in a hole to prevent
accidental actuation. When pressed for 1 second and released, the adapter is reset to factory defaults (unsecured
network mode and default network name such as “HomePlug AV”).
Sleep Mode- most adapters will go into a standby low power mode if no Ethernet signal is detected (after 2-10 minutes
of inactivity). The power light will blink slowly. The device will wake back up once a signal is detected, or the unit is
power cycled (unplug, then replug into outlet).
SoftPlug- LEA Network’s network management software. This allows the user to see the status of all HomePlug AV
adapters in their network (not just LEA Networks versions), change the network name, reset or reboot the adapters, etc.
It can be downloaded from LEA Network’s support page
here
.
Secured Network Mode- adapters can be set into a secured mode. This uses a randomly generated private network
membership key that can only be shared between adapters after the user enables the device to broadcast it. This
prevents accidental and purposeful access to the devices on the network.
Unsecured Network Mode- the default mode for adapters is unsecured networking. Any HomePlug AV compliant
adapter plugged in will automatically connect to other adapters in the network. Unless security or adjacent network
issues occur, it’s best to leave the adapters in this mode. Communications between the adapters is still encrypted.
