There are several test configurations that can be used to experiment with Atheros powerline communication devices. Configurations vary based on the powerline communications devices you have available to work with. All configurations described here require at least one computer with an Ethernet card and the Open Powerline Toolkit installed. Most configurations require two Atheros powerline devices.
Open Powerline Toolkit programs let the user specify which Ethernet interface card to use when sending and receiving Ethernet frames. This means that a computer with two interface cards installed can emulate two computers provided there are not internal routing conflicts. To avoid routing conflicts, Atheros recommends that you start with two computers until your are ready for more sophisticated experimentation.
Open Powerline Toolkit programs default to eth0 . This allows the computer to be connected to the normal network on eth0 and connected to the powerline network on eth1. To over-ride the default powerline interfaces, set environment variable PLC to the desired interface name. All configurations assume that the Ethernet card is installed, the Ethernet driver for that card is loaded and the correct interface is enabled.
Atheros powerline communication devices radiate across powerline or coax at radio frequencies. If two devices are connected, in any way, without intermmediate filters or isolation, they will attempt to commicate. Additionally, they will attempt to circumvent certain types of powerline noise or competing frequencies which can cause reduce data rates. Atheros recomends that devices under test (DUT) take their power from a shared but isolated power source like an isolation power strip or an uninterruptable power supply.
( ... explain about powerline isolation ... ) The power strip should have no filtering, surge protectors or electronic cirtuits inside.
---> [ATTENUATOR] ---> [POWER_STRIP] ---> [POWERLINE_DEVICE] --->
Typical configurations are:
This is the simplest configuration. It establishes an Ethernet connection between the host and one powerline device. It can be used to test or program a single powerline device.
It requires
One host computer with an Ethernet interface card
One CAT-5 Ethernet cable with an RJ-45 connector at either end.
One Atheros powerline device with RJ-45 connector.
An isolated power source
[LOCAL_HOST] ---/ ethernet /-----> [POWERLINE_DEVICE] ---/ powerline /----->
Connect the local host to the powerline device with an ordinary CAT-5 Ethernet cable. Apply power to the powerline device. The local host cannot ping the powerline device because it functions at the data link layer. The local host can interrogate and control the powerline device using int6k or int6k2 programs.
Type "int6k -r" and note the hardware and firmware revision.
Type "int6k -I" and note the device MAC, DAK and NMK.
Type "int6k -m" and confirm that the device detects no other devices indicating proper powerline isolation.
This configuration is the simplest powerline network configuration. It expands the previous configuration by creating a simple powerline network having two powerline devices. One device, the "local device", is connected to the host via Ethernet. A second device, the "remote device", is connected to the first via powerline.
It requires
One host computer with an Ethernet interface card
One CAT-5 Ethernet cable with an RJ-45 connector at either end.
Two Atheros powerline devices, one with RJ-45 connector.
An isolated power source.
[LOCAL_HOST] ---/ ethernet /-----> [POWERLINE_DEVICE] ---/ powerline /----->
[POWERLINE_DEVICE] ---/ powerline /----->
Configure the previous network then plug a second powerline device into the same power source as the first powerline device. The local host still cannot ping any Ethernet network devices because there are no remote Ethernet devices to ping but it can interrogate and control both powerline devices.
This configuration is the simplest Ethernet network configuration. It expands the previous network by connecting the second powerline device to an existing Ethernet network through an Ethernet switch.
It requires
Two host computers, each with an Ethernet interface card
Two CAT-5 Ethernet cables with RJ-45 connectors at either end.
Two Atheros powerline devices, each with RJ-45 connector.
An isolated power source.
[LOCAL_HOST] ---/ ethernet /-----> [POWERLINE_DEVICE] ---/ powerline /----->
[REMOTE_HOST] ---/ ethernet /-----> [POWERLINE_DEVICE] ---/ powerline /----->
Configure the previous network then plug the second powerline device into an Ethernet switch connected to an exiting Ethernet network. The local host can now ping other Ethernet network devices on the.