A Router's Ethernet Ports Explained

Рет қаралды 32,142

Күн бұрын

The video above is included in the following blog post on network-from-home.com:
network-from-home.com/router-...
0:00 Intro
0:24 Ethernet ports on a router
0:56 WAN ethernet port explanation
1:44 How to connect to the WAN port
3:19 LAN ethernet ports explanation
4:03 How to connect to the LAN ports
6:01 Summary
This post contains affiliate links. This means I may earn a commission should you choose to sign up for a program or make a purchase using my link.
The router I used in the above video is a TP-Link Archer A7 router: amzn.to/3MJ2K3E
You can find two different types of ethernet ports on a router:
-WAN port: a router’s WAN (wide area network) port is used to provide the router with a connection to the internet. In other words, this ethernet port is used to connect a modem with an active internet connection to the router. This allows the router to broadcast the internet connection it receives from a modem over a wireless network. This is what makes WiFi possible in your home.
-LAN ports: most router’s come with four LAN (local area network) ports. These ethernet ports are meant to provide devices with a wired connection to the internet. Wired internet connections are more reliable than wireless internet connections, and they also experience less latency. This means that wired internet connections are useful for applications where a strong connection and limited delay is desired (like during online gaming and video streaming over Skype or Zoom).
Standard configuration:
-The majority of routers will have one WAN port and four LAN ports. The four LAN ports are identical, and it doesn’t matter which one is used to provide a device with a wired internet connection; All devices will have the same internet experience regardless of the LAN port it’s connected to.
Conclusion:
If you have any questions about your router’s ethernet ports, please leave a comment below, or check out the blog post I linked to above for more information.

Пікірлер: 48

@jimrhodes3487 10 ай бұрын

From an old guy.... Thank you.. I'm getting ready to work from home and need to set up an office in my den and wasn't sure if what port to use and if I could use more than one LAN ports as I will have 2 pc's wired up from my router. Also wanted to make sure LAN (yellow port) was OUTGOING internet . You've answered my questions. Again, thanks so much. Oh, and Go Wildcats! :)

@network-from-home 10 ай бұрын

@jimrhodes I'm glad you found this video helpful! Your feedback is much appreciated and this is exactly why I made this channel in the first place: to help folks like you. Thank you for reaching out. Go Nova!

@jaimerwallings2397 21 күн бұрын

Simple and easy to understand thanks so much ❤

@network-from-home 15 күн бұрын

You’re welcome! Thanks for checking out the video!

@ameizing_cx9806 2 ай бұрын

5:25 is what you came here for

@dorothyedge2747 9 ай бұрын

Google assistant brought me here. I'm considering getting a Roku doorbell and it said the base is attached to the ethernet ; didn't know what they were talking about. Lol thank you.

@network-from-home 9 ай бұрын

Hey @dorothyedge2747! It looks like with Roku doorbells there is a base device that communicates with the doorbell itself. This base device looks like it needs to be connected to your router at all times with an ethernet cable (via one of your router's LAN ports). I found this video that might give you some more clarity here: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/sKiFoc2BzM2dqH0.html. I hope this helps!

@dorothyedge2747 8 ай бұрын

@@network-from-home ty. 👋

@network-from-home 8 ай бұрын

No problem@@dorothyedge2747!

@digitaldynastyjohn 6 ай бұрын

Thank you, this is very informative.

@network-from-home 6 ай бұрын

@Olakstech thank you for checking out the video! I'm glad you found it helpful.

@Creepo_J 2 ай бұрын

Thank you

@network-from-home 2 ай бұрын

@Creepo_J no problem!

@chrisferrell2663 8 ай бұрын

Have a question for you about the Internet/WAN port - how is it electrically or programmatically (in the firmware of the router I assume) different from the LAN ports, because it clearly is. I used a wireless router essentially as a wireless access point when I program PLCs in factories. My PC has the PLC programming software on it, and having that connection be wireless lets me walk all around the machine and be online with the PLC so I can see what the machine is doing. I connect a cable from one of the WAN ports on the router into one of the ports on the unmanaged switch that the PLC is connected to. One time, I made this connection between the unmanaged switch and the router by plugging into the WAN port on the router side. I wasn't able to reach any of the devices, including the PLC, from my PC. As soon as I moved the connection from the WAN port to a LAN port, it worked again. Can you explain?

@network-from-home 8 ай бұрын

Hey @chrisferrell2663, the best way to explain this difference is by using the OSI model (for reference to the OSI model, use this link: www.splunk.com/en_us/blog/learn/osi-model.html?_bk=&_bt=657063425256&_bm=&_bn=g&_bg=149493693980&device=c&gclid=CjwKCAjwp8OpBhAFEiwAG7NaEmV5sajHb39_jjgyZiygdWWk06ZSrCi3wsgbaVvfnPIc0sxXrjDpfxoClPQQAvD_BwE). The bottom line is, the LAN ports on the router are Layer 2 ports, while the WAN port is a Layer 3 port. At a high level, the WAN port communicates with the larger internet, and therefore needs to incorporate more layer 3 capabilities. On the other hand, the LAN ports operate at layer 2 of the OSI model because they directly connect devices on the local network with each other. Here is a forum that touches on this as well: www.splunk.com/en_us/blog/learn/osi-model.html?_bk=&_bt=657063425256&_bm=&_bn=g&_bg=149493693980&device=c&gclid=CjwKCAjwp8OpBhAFEiwAG7NaEmV5sajHb39_jjgyZiygdWWk06ZSrCi3wsgbaVvfnPIc0sxXrjDpfxoClPQQAvD_BwE My best guess is the unmanaged switch (layer 2) that you connected to the WAN port of your router (layer 3) created a routing issue. I hope this helps! Please let me know if you have any more questions about this. Thanks Chris!

@joshpit2003 8 ай бұрын

Thanks for the video. Is it possible to setup / configure one of the LAN ports (for example Port #3) to be a guest-network? That way I could run ethernet from that port, to another router, allowing a guest the use of both wired and wireless connection to a guest-network.

@network-from-home 8 ай бұрын

Hey @joshpit2003, thanks for checking out the video. Although you may be able to accomplish this using a technical configuration like VLANs, I think you might be better off just providing a wireless connection to a guest network. Unless the guests in your network have specific requirements to upload data to the internet, it's probably safer (and much easier) to just provide a wireless network. I hope this helps. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Thank you.

@user-rw1ds7du1x 8 ай бұрын

I have cable internet and tried extending my service to my grandparents houses because they set too far from the road to get decent service. I set up a wireless bridge to their main house and their guest house. Essentially I have the wireless bridges connected to the ethernet ports off my router. The guest house works no problem but the main house won't connect to internet. Any ideas what the problem could be? I can ping the main house receive antenna so I know the bridge is connected. Can you help?

@network-from-home 8 ай бұрын

I can't say I have a lot of experience with wireless bridges, but based upon what you are describing it sounds like there might be something technically wrong with the connection between the router and main house. I would start with rebuilding that connection and seeing if there is anything that sticks out. Maybe even try switching the locations that each port is connected (i.e. swap the main house and guest house ports on your router) to as well to see if that gives you any hints. Good luck!

@engrlapuk9763 7 ай бұрын

Can i use the wireless Internet while using the lan cable at the same time? Because there's more than 4 devices in the room

@network-from-home 7 ай бұрын

@engrlapuk9763 yes, you can have devices connected via LAN cable and over WiFi at the same time. Your router can handle connections with multiple devices simultaneously

@GCbfan 3 ай бұрын

Not super Internet savvy, so I'd appreciate some explanation on something. I have a modem/router combo provided to me by my ISP. My modem has 1 WAN port and 4 LAN ports. I just bought a new WiFi 6e compatible router to hook up to my modem. Using an ethernet cable, I plugged one end to the modem's WAN port and the other end to the Router's WAN port. This didn't allow internet functionality on my router, so I switched the Modem's end from the WAN port to one of the LAN ports, and then the router's internet proceed to work. My question is, what is the purpose of the WAN port on the Modem?

@network-from-home 3 ай бұрын

@GCbfan the purpose of the WAN port on the modem is to connect it to your router. I think what might have happened to you is that you tried to connect a modem/router combo device to another router. In a situation like this, you will need to make sure that the router portion of your modem/router combo device is turned off. Otherwise, your modem/router combo device will take care of all the networking functions needed to provide your home with an internet connection. I hope this helps. Please let me know if you have any more questions

@Overfly2829 10 күн бұрын

Sorry for the comments but i have been trying to connect my Ethernet cord to my router but its like it's not in and its not registering that its there any idea what it could be?

@network-from-home 9 күн бұрын

You might have a bad/broken RJ45 connector on the end of your ethernet cable (the plastic piece at the end of the cable that clicks when it's inserted into your router). You may want to try a different ethernet cable to see if you have better luck. If a different ethernet cable works properly, it means the cable you were using previously may be broken or faulty. Good luck!

@user-bw4ii8yo2o 4 ай бұрын

so i cant connect wlan port to pc? what is the difference if i connect it to lan port?

@network-from-home 4 ай бұрын

If you want to provide your pc with an internet connection, you'll need to connect your router to your modem through the WAN port. If you connect your pc to a LAN port, that will allow it to communicate with other devices on your router's network. If you connect your pc to the WAN port, it shouldn't be able to communicate with the other devices on your network, and your network won't have a connection to the internet. I hope this helps.

@arghomajumdar1300 20 күн бұрын

My ethernet port is not connecting with the cpu. In fact it is not making a click sound after entering. Please help

@network-from-home 15 күн бұрын

You may have a bad connector on your Ethernet cable if it doesn’t click when you connect it to your pc. Try connecting a different Ethernet cable to your pc to see if that helps

@sunsparkle8443 2 ай бұрын

Are those 4 Ethernet LAN ports, technically, ports on a switch that is part of this router? Also, if I connect more 2 or more computers to these LAN ports, will they transfer information to each other without my consent? I ask, because if one of the computers got malware on it, I wouldn't want the other computers to get this malware if they are all connected to the Ethernet ports on the same router. An answer would be most appreciated. Thank you sir.

@network-from-home 2 ай бұрын

@sunsparkle8443 yes, the 4 LAN ports on your router serve as a switch. With that said, devices connected to different LAN ports on your router shouldn't transfer data to each other without your consent unless someone takes control of your device and tells the devices to do that. In this example, if you have a printer and laptop connected to the LAN ports, if someone were to get access to your laptop (or be able to control it remotely), they would be able to print something on your printer. I hope this helps!

@sunsparkle8443 2 ай бұрын

@@network-from-home --It definitely helps. Thank you so much and peace. Great explanation.

@network-from-home Ай бұрын

@@sunsparkle8443 No problem!

@jf6720 8 ай бұрын

I was told never to use the first LAN port by my internet installer. I have never heard of this, is there a case where this is true?

@network-from-home 8 ай бұрын

@jf6720 you should be able to use all the LAN ports on your router without any issues. What your internet installer might have been referring to is the WAN port on your router. You want to make sure your modem is connected to your router using the WAN port. None of the other devices in your home network aside from your modem should be connected to your router's WAN port. I hope this helps!

@jf6720 8 ай бұрын

Thanks for your response! I have a NVG-443B Arris, and I think it is a combination modem and router. I am talking about the 4 yellow ports (sorry dont' know the difference between LAN and WAN.@@network-from-home

@user-wu7xh1fc2q 4 ай бұрын

what if i connect the laptop to the modem?

@network-from-home 4 ай бұрын

You should never connect a laptop directly to your modem. This is a massive security risk to your devices and home network.

@codyjordan6822 5 ай бұрын

Are the LAN ports POE?

@network-from-home 5 ай бұрын

@codyjordan6822 most routers for home networks do not have PoE ethernet ports. My router in this video falls into that category (it does not have PoE ports).

@joshedwards1721 Ай бұрын

I have 1 port😢

@network-from-home Ай бұрын

@joshedwards1721 I think you might be looking at your modem. Modems have 1 ethernet port that is used to connect to your router.

@alecblackie-uq1yh Ай бұрын

I thoght sone are faster 😂 ty mN

@network-from-home Ай бұрын

No problem!

@EsperLeon730 17 күн бұрын

Why you cute huh? stop it

@Z1RE_ Ай бұрын

This video is so pointless he is just telling everyone what it says on the back page f the router lmao if you can read you don’t need this video hahahaha

@Ashimaro22 6 ай бұрын

Which ethernet port is advisable for gaming ?

@network-from-home 6 ай бұрын

@xboxguy you should be able to use any ethernet port for your gaming console. All the ethernet ports on your router will be the same. I hope this helps!