plc(1)

📦
version 0.0.6+git20250712.46c3506 · 2 versions
  • 0.0.6+git20250712.46c3506 · debian bookworm, debian trixie, ubuntu noble, ubuntu questing, ubuntu resolute, ubuntu stonking (latest)
  • 0_git20250712 · alpine 3.24
, in debian bookworm, debian trixie, ubuntu noble, ubuntu questing, ubuntu resolute, ubuntu stonking

💖 plc — Qualcomm Atheros Open Powerline Toolkit 💖

okay so bestie, welcome to plc(1) — the Qualcomm Atheros Powerline Toolkit ✨ it's a whole squad of tools to manage and control HomePlug 1.0 and HomePlug AV devices, and honestly? it ate. let's get into it 🫶

✨ NAME ✨

plc — Qualcomm Atheros Powerline Toolkit: tools to manage and control HomePlug 1.0 and HomePlug AV devices 💅

📜 SYNOPSIS 📜

A summary of Qualcomm Atheros Powerline Toolkit commands.

(yes, that's the whole synopsis. it's giving "table of contents" energy and we respect it 🌸)

🌈 DESCRIPTION 🌈

okay so HomePlug 1.0 and HomePlug AV are industry standard protocols for powerline communications, periodt. Qualcomm Atheros makes a whole family of chipsets that conform to these standards, and they've got various USB, PCI, Ethernet, MII, SPI and UART host interfaces. iconic honestly 👑

The HomePlug 1.0 protocol is based on IEEE-802.3, has ethertype 0x887B and uses special message formats. 💫

The HomePlug AV protocol is also based on IEEE-802.3, has ethertype 0x88E1 and special message formats. now here's the tea: a subset of those message formats is left unspecified on purpose, so chipset vendors can define message formats for their own products. QCA vendor specific management message formats are described in the QCA HomePlugAV Firmware Technical Reference Manual. This toolkit uses these messages to communicate with QCA powerline devices. Customers may use the toolkit to send these messages, explore device behavior and develop their own applications. it's giving "build your own adventure" 🔥

Each program in the toolkit deals with a narrow aspect of QCA powerline device management, but bestie, you can call them from shell scripts to perform complex tasks. With them, one can identify chipset hardware and firmware version, reset devices, flash devices, identify other QCA network devices, validate *.pib and *.nvm files, sniff HomePlug AV Ethernet frames, send generic Ethernet frames and so on. the range?? unmatched 😭

The source code is designed to demonstrate and educate and may be modified without obligation to Qualcomm Atheros. The QCA Application Engineering Team would appreciate feedback concerning changes that improve the usability, reliability or efficiency. Just keep in mind that these tools are supposed to be small and simple. no bloat, no drama, we keep it cute 💖

🎀 TOOLS 🎀

There are many independent programs in this package. Significant ones are listed below. See html/overview.html for more information about the Atheros Powerline Toolkit.

ampboot

A command line utility to start, and optionally flash, newer Atheros Powerline Devices. It is an alternative to program int6kboot that may have additional options specific to the AR7400. 🦋

amphost

An example embedded host emulator that responds to VS_HST_ACTION messages sent from a flash-less device to a local host processor. It can be used to investigate and verify device-to-host interaction. The Atheros embedded API can perform similar functionality in a production environment. 🧚

ampsnif

A command line utility to enable or disable sniffer mode on an Atheros Powerline Device. 👀

amptest

A command line utility to download and execute a sequence of test applets to the local powerline device.

⚠️ not for general use, bestie. there are no interlocks to prevent loading images designed for other platforms or loading images in illogical order. it will simply not stop you. 😭

It is an alternative to, and replacement for, program int6ktest.

amptool

A basic device manager used to inspect and control Atheros powerline devices connected to the local host. It is similar to int6k but is specific to the AR7400 chipsets. 💅

ampwait

A command line utility used to pause shell scripts at critical points where a device must be in a known state before proceeding. Typical cases involve waiting for device power off or reset, power on or restart and network device association. it's the "wait for it…" of the toolkit ⏳

ar8236mdioblock

Produce an MDIO block from Atheros AR8236 special register instructions. The output is suitable for downloading to INT6x00 and AR7x00 powerline devices. ✨

ar8236regedit

Insert values into Atheros AR8236 special registers. 🛠️

chknvm

A command line utility that validates NVM files based on internal header information, filesize, checksums and other general characteristics. Optionally, it can be used to display all image headers within an NVM file or the firmware revision contained in the file. ⭐

chkpib

A command line utility that validates PIB files based on internal header information, filesize, checksum, and other general characteristics. It can also be used to produce a text catalog of PIB files contained in a directory. 📁

coqos_add

CoQoS stream utility. No description.

coqos_info

CoQoS stream utility. No description.

coqos_man

CoQoS stream utility. No description.

coqos_mod

CoQoS stream utility. No description.

coqos_rel

CoQoS stream utility. No description.

(yeah, the CoQoS girlies are mysterious. we don't know her. she said "no description" and we respect her privacy 🙈)

efsu

A utility to send freeform Ethernet frames. Frames are defined as text files containing hexadecimal byte codes having optional comments and whitespace. Comments and white space are stripped from the input file and the hexadecimal byte codes are transmitted as Ethernet frames. 🌈

ethcat

Send one or more files to a remote UART-enabled powerline device using IEEE 802.2 Ethernet frames. Transmitted frames are assembled into a serial data stream and forwarded to the local host by the remote device. 💫

fp

A command line utility that prints the SHA256 digest for one or more files based on their content. Output can be used to compare files or identify files based solely on their content despite any filename changes. no cap, content is the only personality that matters here 💅

getpib

A command line utility for extracting data from a valid PIB file based on data offset, length and format. It is a companion to program setpib. Both programs are intended for use in shell scripts. Users must have some knowledge about the data they are extracting — this one is not gonna hold your hand, bestie 🫶

hpav

A basic packet sniffer that displays incoming HomePlug AV protocol frames addressed to the host as they arrive. The program may be run in the background as a daemon. 👀✨

hpavkey

A HomePlug AV key generator. HomePlug AV devices use keys for various purposes. This program converts one or more pass phrases, entered on the command line, to either DAKs, NMKs or NIDs. It is similar to hpavkeys but converts a limited number of pass phrases at one time. 🔑

hpavkeys

A HomePlug AV key generator. This program is similar to hpavkey but converts large number of pass phrases, read from stdin, and converts them to either DAKs, NMKs or NIDs. batch mode, we love her 🌸

int6k

A basic device manager used to inspect and control Atheros INT6x00 devices connected to the local host. It is similar to amptool and plctool but is implemented for INT6000, INT6300 and INT6400 devices only.

heads up: some options work on newer chipsets but others do not. 💀

int6kbaud

A command line utility to configure UART settings on a UART-enabled Atheros powerline device using the ATBR serial line command. 🎀

int6kboot

A command line utility used to bootstrap powerline devices having no flash memory, blank flash memory or corrupted memory. It interacts with the Atheros BootLoader to configure SDRAM then download runtime firmware and PIB and start firmware execution. It can also be used to force flash blank or corrupted flash memory. the rescue mission queen 👑

int6keth

A command line utility to read and write device Ethernet PHY settings. 🌐

int6kf

A basic flash utility used to initialize INT6300 devices having no flash memory, blank flash memory or corrupted memory. It interacts with the Atheros Boot Loader to download SDRAM configuration, runtime firmware and PIB. It can also be used to force flash blank or corrupted flash memory. ⚡

int6khost

A example embedded host emulator that responds to VS_HST_ACTION messages sent from a flash-less device to a local host processor. It can be used to investigate and verify device-to-host interaction. The Atheros embedded API can perform similar functionality in a production environment. 🧚

int6khost64

An updated version of int6khost that omits the need for an external SDRAM configuration file. It takes advantage of the memctl applet included in the newer *.nvm files. the glow-up is real ✨

int6kid

A command line utility to print the DAK or NMK read from one or more devices. It can be used in shell scripts to dynamically obtain device key values and insert them on the command line of other programs. 🔐

int6km

A basic memory read utility used to inspect INT6x000 accessible SDRAM memory locations and mapped registers.

ngl, not all locations or registers are accessible. that's just the deal. 🫠

int6kmdio

Insert values into MDIO PHY address registers using an VS_MDIO_COMMAND message. 🛠️

int6kmod

A command line utility that downloads raw modules using a sequence of VS_MODULE_OPERATION messages. 📦

int6kprobe

A command line utility that detects and reports neighbor networks using the VS_DIAG_PROBE message. it's giving nosy neighbor (affectionate) 👀

int6krate

A command line utility that reports computed PHY rates for a single device or all devices on a logical network. Output is designed for import into a spread sheet. 📊

int6krule

A command line utility used to format and send classification rules to a device. Classification rules are specified using symbolic names for actions, options, conditions and frame fields. 💅

int6kstat

A command line utility that prints device link statistics on stdout in a relatively undecorated format. Output is designed for easy interpretation by other programs. no frills, just numbers, and honestly? iconic 🎀

int6ktest

A command line utility to download and execute a series of test applets to the local powerline device.

⚠️ again: not for general use. there are no interlocks to prevent loading images designed for other platforms or loading images in illogical order. you have been warned, bestie. 😭

int6kuart

A command line utility to send serial line commands to a UART-enabled Atheros Powerline device. This program eliminates the need for terminal emulation software and can be used to download PIB and firmware files to a device over the serial line interface. 🔌✨

int6kwait

A command line utility used to pause shell scripts at critical points where a device must be in a known state before proceeding. Typical cases involve waiting for device power off or reset, power on or restart and network device association. ⏳

and that's the tools section bestie… but we're not done yet, there's more coming 💖

  • mac2pw — a device password generator that spits out a whole range of MAC addresses and user passwords straight onto stdout. It's an alternative to the Atheros Production Test System (PTS) DBBuilder Utility. 💖
  • mac2pwd — same energy, different plumbing: it reads MAC addresses from one or more input files and prints the addresses plus passwords on stdout. Also an alternative to the Atheros Production Test System (PTS) DBBuilder utility.
  • mdioblock — produces an MDIO block out of generic MDIO register instructions. The output is built to be downloaded to INT6x00 and AR7x00 powerline devices. ✨
  • mdiodump — takes a binary MDIO program file and shows it in human readable form. It's giving translator.
  • mdiogen — generates a binary MDIO program file from a series of instruction macros. Heads up: this one is for folks who know what they are doing. It has no man page or instructions for use. 😭 Good luck bestie.
  • mdustats — collects and displays various MDU traffic statistics using the VS_MDU_TRAFFIC_STATS message.
  • modpib — a basic command line PIB editor used to change the MAC, DAK and/or NMK of an existing PIB file. It can also be used to change the manufacturer string, network name and username strings. ✨ little multitasker.
  • mrgpib — a command line utility to copy PIB settings from one PIB file to another where the PIB files have different PIB versions. Lowkey iconic for that.
  • nvmmerge — a command line utility to merge multiple applets or NVM files into a single NVM file.
  • nvmsplit — the reverse vibe: splits an NVM file into multiple NVM files, each containing one image. And the original NVM file is preserved, so nothing gets deleted. 🫶
  • odc — an offset-driven hex compare utility for analyzing the difference between two files having a fixed structure. An offset definition file is required for proper use. It has been superseded by program pibcomp.
  • odd — an offset-driven hex dump utility for analyzing any binary file that has a fixed structure, such as an INT6000 PIB file or an INT5500 CFG file. An offset definition file is required for proper use. It has been superseded by program pibdump.
  • odx — an offset-driven XML generator used to convert an offset definition file (the kind used by programs odc and odd) to an XML edit definition file used by program pxe.
  • pibdump — reads a Qualcomm Atheros powerline parameter file and prints an object driven dump on stdout. This program requires an object definition file.
  • pibcomp — reads and compares two Qualcomm Atheros powerline parameter files and prints an object driver dump for only those objects that are different. This program requires an object definition file.
  • pibruin — a classifier rule input utility used to insert multiple classifier rules into a pib file. Use program pibrump to read rules from another PIB file, or create a rule file manually with any text editor. This program is an alternative to program int6krule.
  • pibrump — a classifier rule dump utility used to read rules from a PIB file and print them in a format similar to the input for program int6krule. The output can be read directly by program pibruin. ✨ the pipeline is pipelining.
  • plcboot — a command line utility to start, and optionally flash, Qualcomm Atheros Powerline Devices. It's a newer version of program ampboot having options specific to the QCA6410, QCA7000 and AR7420 chipsets. 👑
  • plchost — an example embedded host emulator that responds to VS_HST_ACTION messages sent from a flash-less device to a local host processor. It can be used to investigate and verify device-to-host interaction. The Atheros embedded API can perform similar functionality in a production environment.
  • plcmod — a command line utility that downloads raw modules using a sequence of VS_MODULE_OPERATION messages. This version can handle multiple module writes and modules exceeding 1400 bytes.
  • plcnets — a powerline network enumerator that searches all host network interfaces for powerline devices and their neighbors. Not me doing recon on the whole house 💀
  • plctool — okay so bestie, this one is literally listed with no description at all. Just the name, vibes only, mysterious main character energy. 🎀
  • plctest — a command line utility to download and execute a sequence of test applets to the local powerline device.
It is not for general use — there are no interlocks to prevent loading images designed for other platforms or loading images in illogical order. Fr fr, read that twice. 🙈

It is a newer version of program amptest.

  • pskey — print the SHA256 digest for the amplitude make stored in a PIB file. The digest can be used as a fingerprint or signature for the prescaler set.
  • psin — read a prescaler file from stdin and replace the amplitude map stored in a PIB file.
  • psout — read a PIB file and print a prescaler file suitable for input using psin or the Windows Device Manager.
  • rkey — a command line utility to generate distinct HomePlug AV compliant keys from a user defined keyfile that seeds the hash algorithm. It can be used to dynamically generate distinct keys inside shell scripts, or to create long lists of unique keys for use by other programs. 🌈 key factory.
  • setnvm — a command line utility to modify selected header parameters for all image within a given NVM file. This program can be used to translate legacy NVM files to contemporary NVM file and vice verse.
  • setpib — a command line utility to insert arbitrary values into a PIB file based on data offset, length and format, then compute a new PIB checksum. This program is a general purpose program intended for use in shell scripts, but it requires detailed knowledge of PIB structure. So, bestie: powerful, but do your homework first. 📚
  • ttycat — a command line utility to write one or more files to a serial device. This program is a convenient tool for testing Atheros UART-enabled powerline devices. 🐈 yes it's basically cat but for tty, slay.
  • weeder — a command line utility to set the programmable attenuators build into the Atheros Production Test System (PTS).

There may be other programs added, from time to time, that are not listed here. So like, keep an eye out. 👀

💜 SEE ALSO 💜

amphost(1), ampinit(1), plcmod(1), amptest(1), amptool(1), ar8236regedit(1), chkpib(1), chknvm(1), coqos_add(1), coqos_info(1), coqos_man(1), coqos_mod(1), coqos_rel(1), efsu(1), efbu(1), getpib(1), hpav(1), hpavkey(1), hpavkeys(1), int6k(1), int6kbaud(1), int6kboot(1), int6keth(1), int6kf(1), int6khost(1), int6khost64(1), int6kid(1), int6km(1), int6kmdio(1), int6kmod(1), int6kprobe(1), int6krate(1), int6krule(1), int6kstat(1), int6ktest(1), int6kuart(1), int6kwait(1), mac2pw(1), mac2pwd(1), mdiodump(1), modpib(1), mrgpib(1), nvmmerge(1), nvmsplit(1), odc(1), odd(1), odx(1), pibdump(1), pibcomp(1), pibruin(1), pibrump(1), plcboot(1), plchost(1), plcmod(1), plcinit(1), plctest(1), plctool(1), plcrate(1), plcrate(1), plcwait(1), psin(1), pskey(1), psout(1), rkey(1), setnvm(1), setpib(1), ttycat(1), ttyrecv(1), ttysend(1), weeder(1)

(and yes, plcrate(1) is listed twice in there — we keep it exactly as the page says, no edits, periodt 💅)

🌸 CREDITS 🌸

Shoutout to the absolute icons who built this:

  • Alex Vasquez
  • Andy Barnes
  • Bill Wike
  • Charles Maier
  • John Byron
  • Mathieu Olivari
  • Nathaniel Houghton
  • Marc Bertola

And that's the whole page, bestie! 🫶 This one came from open-plc-utils-0.0.3, dated November 2013, and it's the plc(1) manual page. Go forth and powerline, you've got this. ✨💖🎀

📦 where this page comes from