Flowire clusters

Two Flowire clusters, each with one central FCDC1 Flowire Unit and one central Power Supply Unit (PSU). Cross talk must be prevented between the clusters.

When there are several Flowire clusters in an installation, the different clusters must be separated to avoid crosstalk between the clusters. When crosstalk is present, a Flowire unit on one cluster might "jump over" to the other cluster, causing errors in the communication.

Cluster separation can be achieved in two ways:

Separation by Network Management Key (NMK) (recommended)
Physical separation

Separation by Network Management Key (NMK)

The recommended way is to separate clusters by using different Network Management Key. The NMK is a kind of a encryption key used by the communication between Flowire units. When implementing different NMKs, it will not be possible for a Flowire unit to "jump" to another cluster with a different NMK.

All Flowires within the same cluster must have same NMK in order to communicate with each other.

Setting the NMK

The NMK is set by logging on to the Flowire unit using a web browser. The Flowire units are automatically assigned an IP address from the network if there is a DHCP server present. You can use the IMT tool to discover the IP addresses of the Flowire units.

The IMT tool can be used to discover Flowire units

If there is no DHCP server on the network, the Flowire units will have a static IP address 169.254.1.10. In order to access the web interface you need to isolate the Flowire units one by one, and access it via 169.254.1.10. Although it is not necessary for the Flowire to perform its function, it is good practice to change the static IP to something unique at the same time, for easier maintenance in the future.

When you have accessed the web interface, it will show you some device information, including the current NMK Password and the software version. Check that the Flowire unit has the latest software, else it should be upgraded. The easiest way to do a software upgrade, is from the IMT tool.

To set a new NMK, select the button "Upgrade form", and enter a new Flowire NMK:

Setting a new NMK

It is good practice to label the Flowire unit with the new NMK.

The default NMK is HomePlugAV0123.

Physical separation

Both the Flowire units, the power cable, and the link cable must have have a certain distance between them. Minimum distance is 5 cm. Crosstalk might appear if for instance the cables for two different clusters are running on each side of a wall.

Physical separation of Flowire clusters

Setting the NMK in and TFIX installation

If there is a DHCP server in the network, there is no need to isolate the clusters, as the all the Flowires will have a unique IP address. The IMT will discover all Flowires. Then you can log on to each of them via a web browser.

Here is one TFIX and two Flowires found by IMT in the 10.5.102.x subnet. Double-click the IP address, and your browser will open a connection to that IP address:

Change the NMK Password in the TFIX units first, and finally change the password in the central Flowire unit.

NOTE!! You must write down the new password! We recommend to stick a label with the NMK inside TFIX unit. If the central Flowire fails in the future, and you don't know the password of the TFIX Flowire, you will not be able to access the TFIX unit any longer and it will be permanently out of service.

If there is no DHCP server, you first need to isolate on of the central Flowires (disconnect the line to the TFIXs), and access it via 169.254.1.10, and change its IP address to something different, say 169.254.1.11. Leave the NMK Password to the default value. Then connect one TFIX to the line, and access it at 169.254.1.10. Change the IP address to something not default, say 169.254.1.12, and access it on the new address and set a new NMK Password. Now connect the second TFIX and access it by 169.254.1.10, and follow the same procedure. Change IP address first, then the NMK Password. Give it the same NMK password as the first TFIX. Do the same with the remaining TFIX units. Finally log on to the central Flowire unit (e.g. 169.254.1.11) and change to the new NMK Password.