How to Increase the Ports on My Network Router
Most network routers only provide a small number of physical ports for devices to connect to. Once these are full, no more devices can be added without expanding the network. However, the internal hardware of most routers will support up to 256 devices, and by adding a switch, these devices will have a place to physically plug into.
All of the hardware needed for this task can be purchased at most major electronics stores. This is a fairly simple process that users of almost any skill level can perform. Once the proper hardware is at hand, it only takes about a minute to make the connections.
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Things You'll Need
- Router with an uplink port
- Switch
- Patch Ethernet cable
- Crossover Ethernet cable
Instructions
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1
Connect a standard patch Ethernet cable to the uplink port on the back of a networking switch. If the switch has no uplink port, use a crossover Ethernet cable instead, and plug the cable into the port labeled "1."
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2
Insert the other end of the cable into port number 1 on the back of the router. Do not plug anything into port 2, since many routers disable this port when it is functioning in uplink mode. If a device is already plugged into port 2, move it to a different port.
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3
Use the ports provided by the switch to interface with additional computers. The remaining ports on the router can still be used, as long as port 2 is left empty.
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Tips & Warnings
If a switch is unavailable, a hub may be used instead. A second router can also be used instead of a switch, although settings may have to be changed first. Consult your router's documentation for more details.
