Does a powerline network act like a switch

Justin_ATX · May 5, 2016

Under the following setup, if IP Device 1 creates a persistent TCP connection to IP Device 2, does the flow of traffic remain within the Powerline network, or does it flow all the way up to the switch?

Thank you.

Modem/Router
-> Switch
-> Powerline Adapter 1
-> Powerline Adapter 2 -> IP Device 1
-> Powerline Adapter 3 -> IP Device 2

kanewolf · May 5, 2016

I believe it has to go to the switch because powerline acts at layer 1 (PHY) and your connection is at layer 2 or higher.

Good question though.

bill001g · May 5, 2016

It has been a while since I saw the details and I have not kept up with newer homeplug standards so they may have changed things. It used to work almost like a stupid hub using a collision avoidance detection method. They then went to a time based solution and lately I have seen things about mimo.

It is likely closer to a wireless network than a switch in how it works. The traffic is in effect is broadcast out and all node see it and discard any traffic that does not go to a device that is behind it.

I know there are ways discussed in the newer home plug standards to make multiple point to point networks but I don't know which actual device on the market really do this.

The traffic though will appear to directly between the 2 devices. It is easy to test run a ping between the machines and unplug the main powerline adapter.

Justin_ATX · May 5, 2016

kanewolf :

I believe that the current standards for powerline (HomePlug AV and AV2) have both a PHY and MAC aspect to it. So it's not strictly Layer 1. Maybe if I slow down and more thoroughly read the following link, the answer may be in there somewhere.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/network-switch-guide,4047.html

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Does a powerline network act like a switch

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