Can cable modems be connected directly to a network switch

hello have a 5 port network switch with 5 network ports and 1 uplink
port currently have cable modem plug directly into 1 of our 4
computers via a usb cable, which is the server and the other computers
share the internet through this computer via the switch. what we want
to do is plug the cable modem into the switch directly so the server
can be turned off or disconnected completely. but the other 3
computer can still access the internet. do we plug it in to the uplink
port or the normal port?. what cable do we use a network or cross over
cable?or do we have to buy a network router which we plug into the
uplink of our current switch

On 20 Apr 2007 19:57:13 -0700, igniteyourlife.DeleteThis@optushome.com.au wrote:

>hello have a 5 port network switch with 5 network ports and 1 uplink
>port currently have cable modem plug directly into 1 of our 4
>computers via a usb cable, which is the server and the other computers
>share the internet through this computer via the switch. what we want
>to do is plug the cable modem into the switch directly so the server
>can be turned off or disconnected completely. but the other 3
>computer can still access the internet. do we plug it in to the uplink
>port or the normal port?. what cable do we use a network or cross over
>cable?or do we have to buy a network router which we plug into the
>uplink of our current switch

The utility of connecting a switch directly to a cable modem is dependent on
how many ip addresses are made available. It won't hurt to try, but unless
your broadband agreement includes multiple ip addresses, most likely only one
system will be able to connect to the internet in that configuration.

If you still want to try it, you can use a standard patch cable between the
modem and the uplink port on the switch. Then use standard patch cables
between switch and each end node.

The odds are you're going to end up needing a router appliance. Your "server"
is currently performing that function. You can pick up four port routers for a
modest sum - as little as free with discounts & rebates applied. If four ports
aren't enough, plug the uplink port on your existing switch into any of the
lan ports on the router...

Cheers

/daytripper