Ethernet switch and IP address issues

[Cdhansen96]

Hello, I have never ran into this issue before.
I have an Ethernet switch that I use basically as a splitter for internet connection between 4 devices. (Those being 2 gaming computers a work computer and a Xbox)

while directly connected to the modem the Ethernet connection on the computers shows that there is no ip configuration and cannot connect to the internet.
this is the case for all 4 devices. If I directly connect my WiFi router to the modem and then connect the Ethernet switch to a router Ethernet port it says I have an internet connection.

anyone else have this issue? I don’t have access to a lot of settings on my work computer and I have tried a lot of things on my personal computer to resolve this issue. I am trying to not rely on the router for my main Ethernet connection.

 

[TerryNet]

If your modem is actually a modem (lots of people confusingly call a modem/router combo as just a "modem") and you are paying for exactly one internet connection (as most residential customers do) then you will get only one public IP address. And maybe none if you are trying to get multiple ones by connecting multiple devices to the modem.

If you do not want to use a router check with your ISP to see if you can purchase multiple connections (get multiple public IP addresses). You may have to switch to a business account to do so.

 

[Couriant]

I suspect that Terry is correct in that if you are connecting a switch to a modem only gateway, then your ISP service is only allowing one device at a time. But since you said that the router shows internet connectivity, then it's more likely that the ISP is showing that the router is your 'registered device' and blocks any other devices connected to the modem directly (which in this case the 4 devices through the switch)

Is there a reason you need a switch? Most routers have 4 ports anyways.

 

[zx10guy]

First. What is your intention of not using a router and connecting those devices naked to the Internet? Are you doing this intentionally or you're just not aware of the risks that you assume?

The basics. SOHO routers are pre configured to connect to your ISP and use an IP address that is assigned to it by your ISP that is typically a public route-able IP. The SOHO router does what is called a NAT overload where it can share the single public IP across multiple devices that are connected behind the router in what's called your private local network. In addition, the SOHO router has a stateful packet inspection firewall to provide a level of security.

Some ISPs operate by registering the first device it sees on the circuit by locking into its MAC address. This may be hindering what you're attempting to do.

Most ISPs only provide one public IP to residential home users. Some may provide the option for you to purchase additional public IPs. You need this at a minimum to allow multiple devices to use the circuit. But again, if you do this, you're presenting those devices naked to the Internet and allowing them to be subject to hacking attempts. If this is the way you want to configure things, you are correct in using a switch connected to the modem and then the devices connected to the switch. I've done this for a Verizon circuit for a former employer where they had 5 IPs assigned to them from Verizon.