How to Hook Up a NETGEAR FS108

By Jason Artman

An Ethernet switch often has an "Uplink" port, allowing you to connect your broadband modem and share an Internet connection with multiple computers. The Netgear FS108 lacks an Uplink port; this may contribute to confusion when you install it. However, the FS108 lacks this port because it has the ability to automatically detect the port that the broadband modem or hardware firewall is connected to. Connect one device to each port on the back of the FS108 switch to network your computers together and share your Internet connection.

Step 1

Connect the power cable to the back of the FS108 and to a power outlet. The switch turns on.

Step 2

Connect one end of an Ethernet cable to the port on the back of your broadband modem, and connect the other end to one of the ports on the back of the Netgear FS108. If your broadband modem is connected to a computer, remove the Ethernet cable from the back of the computer and connect it to the FS108. You may find it helpful to connect the cable for the broadband modem to the eighth port on the FS108 to separate it from the cables for the networked computers.

Step 3

Connect Ethernet cables to the ports on each of the computers that you want to connect to the FS108, and connect the other end of each cable to the ports on the back of the switch. Each time you connect a cable to a port on the switch, the indicator light above the port should turn on. If it does not, use a different cable.

Step 4

Restart the computers connected to the FS108, and then open a Web browser on each computer to confirm that all computers have Internet connectivity.

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