How to Use a Port Switch With a DSL Modem

Although DSL modems provide computer users with faster Internet connection speeds, they are limited in the sense that they only provide one active network port for users to connect devices to. However, you can purchase a port switch from any electronics store and configure it to share the connection from the DSL modem. That way, you can connect multiple computers or other networking devices to the port switch and receive several active connections from the modem.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• DSL modem with active connection Ethernet cables Port switch

1. Connect the DSL modem and the port switch to the respective power adapters and then turn both devices on.

2. Plug an ethernet cable into the open port on the DSL modem.

3. Plug the other end of the ethernet cable into the port labeled "Data" on the port switch. The light above the port should blink to show there is an active connection to the modem.

4. Connect other ethernet cables to the ports labeled "LAN" on the port switch. These are local ports that will share the network connection from the data port.

5. Plug in the other ends of the local ethernet cables into the computers and devices you wish to connect to the network.

6. Select "DHCP" from each of the device's network settings, which will set the devices to automatically configure a connection to the port switch. All of the devices connected to the port switch should now be able to access the Internet.