Belkin 5-Port Gigabit Switch F5D5141-5 - Installation

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The most common network configuration when using the 5-port switch is outlined below.

This is for the user that wants to be able to share the Internet connection among all the computers on the network, in addition to sharing files between the computers at up to gigabit speed. This configuration consists of a cable modem, a router, the Belkin 5-Port Gigabit Switch, and the computers with Ethernet cards.  Installation of the Belkin switch in this type of network is a breeze.

1. Make sure your broadband router is correctly configured to connect to your ISP, and that you are able to sure the Internet when the computers are connected to it.
   
   
2. Connect an Ethernet cable between one of the numbered ports on the rear of the broadband router and one of the numbered ports on the front of the switch. If you choose, a Cat5 cable can be used here since the connection will only be 100 Mbps. I was surprised that this step did not require a crossover cable; a standard Ethernet cable is all that is needed.
   
   
3. Connect the power cord into the power adapter socket on the rear of the switch; now plug the adapter into a power source (wall jack or power strip).
   
   
4. Power down all computers.
   
   
5. Connect a Cat 5e (or better) Ethernet cable between each computer's NIC and one of the numbered ports on the front of the switch.
   
   
6. Power up all computers connected to the Belkin Switch.

Those are the instructions out of the manual with a few additions made. Unlike some networking equipment, it really is that easy to install the Belkin Switch.

Once all of the connections are made and everything is powered up, the front panel of the switch will tell you at what speed the various computers are networked. An orange light signifies 10/100 Mbps and a green light signifies 1000 Mbps (a gigabit connection).

The only problem I had during installation was not with the switch itself. One of the machines I had connected to the switch claimed it was capable of a gigabit connection; unfortunately, it wasn't. In fact, when connected to the switch the machine would freeze during booting (when the Windows screen appeared) or immediately after login. The machine causing the problem has a ASUS P4R800-V Deluxe motherboard based on the ATI 9100 IGP. The chipset for that motherboard does not natively support gigabit Ethernet and ASUS attempted to modify the P4R800-V to give it gigabit ability. Clearly, it did not work.

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