How Many Ethernet Ports Does a Modem Have?
The video above is included in the following blog post on network-from-home.com:
https://network-from-home.com/how-man...
0:00 Introduction
0:59 Ethernet ports on a standalone modem
3:26 Ethernet ports on a modem router combo device
6:13 Summary
How many ethernet ports does a modem have?
The number of ethernet ports on a modem will depend upon what type of modem the device is.
There are two different types of modems that we are talking about here: standalone modems and modem router combo devices
Standalone modems:
A standalone modem is a modem that’s a separate device from the router on the network.
Standalone modems will only have one ethernet port. The purpose of this ethernet port is to allow for a connection to the router on the network with an ethernet cable. This is a required connection in order for the home network to have internet.
It’s important to note that no other device should be directly connected to a modem. The ethernet port on a standalone modem should only be used to connect the device to a router. Connecting any other type of device to the modem is extremely insecure and it puts the entire network at risk.
Modem router combo devices:
Modem router combo devices are different from standalone modems in that they take the capabilities of a modem and router and combine them into one device. For reference, these are usually the devices that internet service providers (ISPs) provide when you rent a modem and router from them as part of an internet plan.
The ethernet port on a standalone modem that’s used to connect the modem to a standalone router is not needed on a modem router combo device because the modem and router are already connected. As a result, the modem portion of the device doesn’t need any ethernet ports.
Despite this, modem and router devices still have a total of four ethernet ports. These four ethernet ports are from the router portion of the device. They allow for devices on the network to connect to the modem router combination device with an ethernet cable.
Conclusion:
If you have any questions about the ethernet ports on a modem, please leave a comment below. You can also check out the blog post I linked to above for more information.