How do I connect an unmanaged switch to a router to add more network connections?

Question

Lets say I have an internet router, maybe something from linksys or d-link. I basically wish said router had more ports, so I buy an unmanaged switch to add more ports. How do I connect to two together so that the ports on the unmanaged switch have internet access? Can it be as simple as running an ethernet cable from one of the router ports to one of the unmanaged switch ports? Will the switch just automatically know what I want to happen?

Answer 1

You answered your question. Run a straight CAT 5 cable from router LAN port to an unused network switch port and plug the other LAN devices into it.

You want an unmanaged switch.

You can go "3 levels deep" with this. That means that the router's built in LAN switch and the new switch constitute 2 levels; you can add one more switch to the new switch in the future if you need to.

Answer 2

Yes, just plug it in and it should work.