Question 1

how do  you connect to computer ?

Accepted Answer

Not exactly sure what you are asking.  This is a network switch typically used to extend the reach of your wired network and/or increase the number of wired ports available.  The computer would use a wired (ethernet) connection to one of the ports in back of the switch.  All of the ports can act as either an uplink (to your ISP router) or downlink (to your computer).  One of the ports will always need to be an uplink to the router, so you basically have 7 ports to work with for computers and other wired network devices.  You will use a Cat 5 or Cat 6 Ethernet cable with RJ45 ends to connect the computer to the switch and the switch to the router.  The switch only supports wired RJ45 connections (no wireless is provided by this device).

Question 2

The brief description on the search page says this device "switches 4 to 10 ports." How does that work with a switch that only has 8 ports?

Accepted Answer

It is one of many generic descriptions that are made for a product that comes in multiple configurations. This switch comes in models with 4, 8, and 10 ports. That description I see as covering the product with the most ports. Lazy and confusing , yes but done all of the time. I have the 8 port and it is phenomenal.

Question 3

I'm not real sure about Auto MDI/MDIX, but you need to worry about what or where I connect this thing besides coming off of my router?

Accepted Answer

You can connect it to any of the port outputs off your router.  It will assign IPs to any device connected through the D-link switch.  Pretty much automatic.

Question 4

I have this switch connected directly to my modem/wireless router, but the light on the port I am using for the uplink is always amber (100Mbs), instead of green (1000Mbs). After doing some reading, I have a feeling the reason for this is the length of cable I am using. I can connect the same cable to an E3200 device and I get the full 1000Mbs connection speed. Is there any way to force the 1008G switch to use the higher connection speed across the longer cable?

Accepted Answer

It sounds like you are either not using a CAT5e cable or your modem/router is not gigabit.  Probably the latter.  You should be getting gigabit connection to your other devices connected to the switch, but if you don't have a gigabit router, you won't have a true 1000Mbs connection from the internet.  Hope this helps.

Questions & Answers