Firm looks to plug in power-line networks

Start-up Asoka is looking to help companies quickly set up remote or small-office LANs without stringing Category 5 cabling everywhere or configuring a Wi-Fi network and security settings.

The company this week is launching its PlugLAN network outlet, based on technology called power-line communications (PLC) that uses standard home or office power cabling as a LAN infrastructure.

PLC plugs a PC with a standard Ethernet network interface card into a PLC device, which transforms Ethernet packets into HomePlug 1.0 standard signaling. These signals are sent over the power-line infrastructure in a home or office and are picked up by other PLC-based devices attached to AC outlets. The result is a 14M bit/sec shared LAN environment, similar to a 10Base-T hub, with a range of up to 1,500 feet between nodes.

Unlike previous PLC equipment, which was plugged into a wall outlet, Asoka's PlugLAN integrates a PLC adapter into a standard AC wall jack. It includes an AC plug and an RJ-45-based plug for connecting networked devices. In addition to sending data at 14M bit/sec speeds, the device secures LAN traffic with 54-bit DES transmissions.

Power-line networking is not new, as X-10, CEBus and LonWorks date back to the 1970s and 1980s. These technologies were used mostly in home or industrial automation networks, and had very low bandwidth - less than 500K bit/sec.

Asoka also released an IP camera based on PLC technology. The PlugLink IP Camera can be plugged into any AC outlet and communicate with other PLC-attached PCs. The camera can be managed via a Web interface, which makes the device accessible over the Internet, according to the company.

While possibly a good LAN offering for remote offices, small businesses or non-tech-savvy organizations, observers say the enterprise PLC gear won't appeal to most business IT shops, where Cat 5/6 cable plants already exist, and where Wi-Fi networks are becoming more abundant and easy to set up.

Asoka competes with Belkin, Linksys, NetGear and Siemens, among others, in the PLC HomePlug market.

Asoka's PlugLAN costs $99, and the PlugLink IP Camera starts at $400.

Read more about lans & wans in Network World's LANs & WANs section.