How do I add additional lan ports to my wireless router?

Answer 1

You need a hub or a switch. If it is a home network, you would be fine with a hub. You can get a new one on newegg.com or another retailer, or you can find a used on on eBay (I've always had good luck with used network equipment).

I think Netgear is the best brand as they've never given me any trouble. Something like either of these (or you can just google or eBay "netgear hub"):

http://cgi.ebay.com/NETGEAR-8-PORT-DUAL-SPEED-HUB-10-100-MBPS-MODEL-DS108_W0QQitemZ230082009192QQihZ013QQcategoryZ11180QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817111501

The hub or switch will have an uplink button. Use a patch cable ("a regular, plain-old network cable") to connect the hub to your router. Then push the uplink button until the port light lights up. Then you'll be all set.

Answer 2

Just connect a switch to the LAN port on the router. If the switch has an uplink port, connect a straight through cable between the uplink port and the LAN port on the router.

If the switch doesn't have an uplink port, it's most likely auto-MDI and you can connect any switch port to the router with a straignt through cable.

You don't need to make any changes to your IP settings on the router. Inexpensive switches are all layer 2 devices and are not IP aware.

Answer 3

in your wireless router, there is a ethernet port and labelled LAN. you can use a straight cable and plud it in there and connect that to a switch. make sure that th wireless router's DHCP mode is on, or you have to configure the switch to make it in the subnet mask settings of the router.