pla-util

A power line adapter utility

Overview

The purpose of this program is to allow Linux users to manage HomePlug AV2 compliant power line adapters that use a Broadcom system-on-a-chip (SoC) such as the BCM60500 or BCM60333.

Compatible Power Line Adapters

The following power line adapters have been used with pla-util:

• D-Link DHP-700AV (uses BCM60500)
• NETGEAR PLP1000 (uses BCM60333)
• NETGEAR PLP2000 (uses BCM60500)
• Tenda PH3 (uses BCM60355)
• TP-Link TL-PA7017 (uses BCM60355)
• TP-Link TL-PA9020 (uses BCM60500)

Binary Packages

Binary packages and repositories for the latest pla-util release are available for multiple Linux distributions and architectures. Instructions for adding repositories and installing binary packages can be found on the download page.

For additional information, see the Binary Packages page on the wiki.

Development Environment

The following software is being used to develop pla-util on openSUSE Leap:

• GNU Ada Compiler (GNAT)
• GNU Make
• GPRbuild
• Alire
• GNAT Studio
• Git
• libpcap

If your Linux distribution does not provide a package for GPRbuild, you can use make and gnatmake to build. Another option is to use Alire's alr command-line tool, which will download a GNU Ada Compiler (GNAT) and GPRbuild when alr builds a project for the first time.

Hardware

During development, pla-util is tested with D-Link DHP-700AV adapters from a D-Link DHP-701AV PowerLine AV2 2000 Gigabit Starter Kit.

Software

The libpcap package(s) are required to build and run pla-util.

ℹ️ Note:

• See the Dependencies page on the wiki for software packages that should be installed before attempting to build.

How to Build and Install the Program with make and gnatmake

1. Use git to clone this repository.
2. In a terminal, go to the working directory (the newly created pla-util directory with the Makefile file).
3. Run make.
4. Run sudo make prefix=/usr install.

If the build is successful, the pla-util executable will be in the bin subdirectory.

How to Build and Install the Program with GPRbuild

1. Use git to clone this repository.
2. In a terminal, go to the working directory (the newly created pla-util directory with the pla-util.gpr file).
3. Run gprbuild -P pla_util.gpr. However, if the build fails with object directory "obj" not found messages, retry the build by running gprbuild -p -P pla_util.gpr.
4. Run sudo gprinstall -P pla_util.gpr -p --prefix=/usr.

If the build is successful, the pla-util executable will be in the bin subdirectory.

How to Build the Program with Alire

In a terminal, run:

1. alr get pla_util
2. cd $(alr get --dirname pla_util)
3. alr build --release

How to Build the Program with GNAT Studio

1. Use git to clone this repository.
2. Launch gnatstudio, select Open existing project, and browse to the pla_util.gpr project file.
3. Use GNAT Studio's Build All toolbar button to build the project, or try Build > Project > Build All.

If the build is successful, the pla-util executable will be in the bin subdirectory.

How to Build a Docker Image

1. Use git to clone this repository.
2. In a terminal, go to the working directory (the newly created pla-util directory with the pla-util.gpr file).
3. Run docker build -t pla-util ..

If the build is successful, the new pla-util minimal runtime image can be run with Docker. For example,

docker run -i -t --network=host pla-util

How to Grant the Program Permission to use Packet Sockets

If you do not intend to run pla-util as root, then before you can use the program, you will need to grant pla-util permission to use packet sockets. Otherwise, you may see the following error message when you run the program:

pla-util: You don't have permission to capture on that device

Use the filecap command to set the net_raw capability on pla-util. If pla-util was installed in /usr/bin, you can use the following command:

sudo filecap /usr/bin/pla-util net_raw

How to Run the Program

Running pla-util --help displays the following information:

pla-util 2.1.2
A utility for power line adapters with Broadcom chipsets

Usage:
  pla-util [options] <command> [arguments]
  pla-util -h | --help                      Display help and exit
  pla-util -V | --version                   Display version and exit

Options:
  -i, --interface=<name>   Network interface to use (e.g., eth0)
  -p, --pla=<mac-address>  Power line adapter at unicast MAC address
  -t, --timeout=<ms>       Network timeout in milliseconds [default: 500]

Commands:
  check-dak <pla-passphrase>         Check device access key
  check-nmk <passphrase>             Check network membership key
  discover                           Discover power line adapters on subnet
  get-capabilities                   Get capabilities
  get-discover-list                  Get discovered PLAs and networks
  get-hfid ( manufacturer | user )   Get human-friendly id [default: user]
  get-id-info                        Get identification info
  get-network-info ( any | member )  Get network information [default: member]
  get-network-stats                  Get average PHY data rates
  get-station-info                   Get power line adapter information
  reset                              Factory reset power line adapter
  restart                            Restart / reboot power line adapter
  set-hfid <id>                      Set user human-friendly id
  set-nmk <passphrase>               Set network membership key

If you don't use the --interface option, the program will use the first running, non-loopback network interface that it finds.

If you don't use the --pla option, the program will send request packets to the "closest" power line adapter, which is typically an adapter that is accessible via Ethernet cabling rather than electrical wiring.

Bash Completion

A bash completion file for the pla-util command is available at completions/pla-util in this project. If you download and install a binary package or use GPRbuild to build and install, the bash completion file is installed as /usr/share/bash-completion/completions/pla-util for the 2.1.0 release or later.

ℹ️ Note:

• After the 2.1.0 release, the bash completion file was renamed from pla-util.bash to pla-util.

Manual Installation

The pla-util completion file depends on the bash-completion package, which is installed by default in many Linux distributions. As noted in the bash-completion FAQ, the completion file can be put into in one of the following directories:

• $BASH_COMPLETION_USER_DIR/completions
• $XDG_DATA_HOME/bash-completion/completions, if BASH_COMPLETION_USER_DIR is not set
• ~/.local/share/bash-completion/completions, if BASH_COMPLETION_USER_DIR and XDG_DATA_HOME are not set

License

This program is licensed under the GNU General Public License Version 3 or later.