How do I hook up an Ethernet Switch?

I was told by a salesman at Best Buy that I could use a Dynex Eithernet Switch to hookup my desktop and laptop to my Hughesnet satellite modem instead of using a router.  Well, it sounded good to me, however, now that I've got it out of the box, I'm not too sure as to what gets plugged in where?  He sold me a 14' Network Cable to hookup the laptop to the Dynex Switch but I'm just not sure as to what to do with the ethernet wire that is presently running from the computer to the satellite modem.  Do I run that wire from the modem to the switch then run another ethernet wire from the desktop to the switch?  Then run the 14' ethernet wire from the laptop to the switch?  That would mean that 3 of the available 5 outlets in the switch would be utilized?  While I am doing all this, should the computers be shutdown?  I am confused about this because everything I've read on the internet about hooking these things up mentions routers being plugged into them also and I do not have a router.  Thanks,

1.  Unless the "satellite" modem has more functionality than a regular DSL/Cable modem and/or the Dynex Eithernet Switch is more than just a switch, I think you need a home router.  You're going to have to wade through the specs to see what they're capable of.

Strictly speaking the equipment should be powered down when making the connections, but I don't think anyone does when making the ethernet connections.

2.  Home Router.  You connect each computer via ethernet cable to a LAN port on the router.  You connect WAN port of router via ethernet cable to modem.  Permits your local area network to share a single "public" IP address provided by ISP.

3.  Switch.  You connect each computer via ethernet cable to a LAN port of switch.  You also connect modem via ethernet cable to a LAN port of switch.  Requires ISP to provide a "public" IP address for each computer connected to the switch. 

Check to see whether your ISP will provide multiple IP addresses and what they charge for additional addresses.

4.  Reference(s):
     http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/networking/default.mspx
     http://www.home-network-help.com/

I bought the Switch because the computer salesperson/guru at Best Buy told me that I would have to pay the Geek Squad $149.00 to have them come out and install the $79.00 Router.  He said he had done it with his computer but wouldn't do it again as it was so complicated to hook up the Linksys Router that he reccomended the Geek Squad.   Well, I wasn't too keen on that because to me I should be able to get something like this up and running right out of the box.  After I wrote this "help-me" to CH.com, I went to the website for Dynex and the salesperson failed to mention that this Switch needs a special software for a fee.  The following was on the website FAQ:

 Q I bought this switch because I wanted to share my internet connection however it is not working. What should I do?

A Switches don’t work like routers, switches require a specialized software that will allow one of the computers to act like a server and hand out ip addresses to the other computers. Therefore what you would need to do if you wish to share the internet connection using a switch is get in touch with the Geek Squad Service and Support team, which will help you on a for fee basis to install this software and configure it so that you may achieve your goal.

I don't know about you folks but I really am not a happy camper when I feel like I've been had.  It would seem to me that if a device required "drivers" to get it up and running it should be included with the product.

Is there a fairly easy way to hook up 2 computers to the same satellite modem that someone who can follow simple directions could do.  Or are the easier routers to get up and running than the Linksys that Best Buy carries?  Thanks, again.

...He said he had done it with his computer but wouldn't do it again as it was so complicated to hook up the Linksys Router that he reccomended the Geek Squad....Or are the easier routers to get up and running than the Linksys that Best Buy carries?...

Of course he said that; they likely get a commission on every Geek Squad order they make.
Return the switch and get the Linksys router.
http://consumer.hughesnet.com/faq/small-home-network.cfm

But find out what software comes with the router before you buy it.
Or see if you can get a copy of the manual on the internet.
http://www.retrevo.com/samples/Linksys-manuals.html

1.  Someone should probably verify the functional capability of your equipment.  Are they just a modem and switch or do they have additional functionality built-in.  If you "post" the model name, product number, and hardware version for your equipment (look for info on back or bottom), perhaps someone can pull the specs off the internet for:
     a.  HughesNet Satellite Modem
     b.  Dynex Ethernet Switch

2.  Unless there's something special about a "satellite" modem and that switch, you should return it.  Standard best practice when setting up a home network is to connect the modem to a home router not a switch.  (Actually the home router has a "switch" component built-in to the back end of it).

While there are many things you can configure in a router, most people don't (they should but they don't).  The configurations are there to make your network and data more secure.  (A switch offers no security at all.)  All of the major vendors provide user manuals with setup instructions either on CD, on their website for download, or both.  Many people have home routers for their networks.  It's expensive to pay someone to set them up or maintain them, so don't.  Do it yourself.  Once you work through it, you'll be able to maintain it for the lifetime of your network.

If you have a laptop, you should consider a "wireless" home router.  They still have four "wired" ports, but also include a wireless access point component.  While I have concerns about the physical safety of wireless signals, they do provide a configuration option to disable the wireless component.  (Hopefully this actually disables all wireless signal propagation).  Last approved wireless mode standard was 802.11g.  Most wireless sold today is for the proposed 802.11n standard which has not been finalized.  I bought my wireless 802.11g Linksys router about four years ago on sale for about 50 dollars US.  Your laptop probably has a wireless network adaptor.  You should check to see what wireless modes it supports.  My point - you can get an 802.11g wireless router for less than that switch.

3.  Cost.  With the time, effort, and money (additional software, labor) you'd have to spend to get the switch to not work well (and it will never work well); you'd be an unhappy person.

Most ISPs will "lease" you one "public" IP address for Internet access.  If they provide more than one, be prepared to pay extra for it.  Without additional software or configuration, if you connect two computers to a switch which connects to a modem, you'll need two IP addresses from the ISP.  If they do something funny like provide special software for one of your computers to act as a server to the other, you might get by with one address from the ISP; but it might require the server computer to always be on to operate.

I had a router on my old XP that the laptop worked well with, however, the router (Buffalo) bit the dust so I haven't been able to use my laptop on the internet since then.  I now have an Asus Win 7 Pro, 64 bit, and the modem from Hughesnet is an HN9000.  I'm not concerned with privacy problems with a router as our nearest neighbor is 1/2 mile away in either direction and the road is 600' away from the house.  I'm just a little gun-shy from routers because the salesperson at Best Buy said I would need their Geek Squad to hook it up.  The old router had been installed by the service person who had installed Hughesnet for me.  It didn't seem to me that he had had difficulty doing it but I wasn't paying that much attention at the time.  I think I will return the Switch tomorrow and maybe go to Staples for a router.  Thanks for your input. 

Please tell us the name of your ISP service.
The new services being offered are hard to follow.
New Satellite Technology is today doing things that many years ago we were told would d never be done for low cost home applications. But with all the Hype out there, it is hard to get the exact details.

I assume it is Hughesnet as they are the ones who set up my satellite dish and installed the modem, MN:  HN9000.

If the Buffalo router worked, so will the Linksys.  Just follow the enclosed instructions, but don't install the CD.  Default configuration should work just fine.

Is this it?

It is a DHCP thing with just one RJ-45 (Yes, it is!)
A four port Hub will do the job.
That is super easy. Just plug it in and go.

Or a cheap wireless router.
EDIT The below will depend on the router.
A smart router will do it automatically.

But you have to disable the DHCP stuff and not use the WAN input.
And make sure the net IP of the router is inside the subset.

But you have to disable the DHCP stuff and not use the WAN input.
And make sure the net IP of the router is inside the subset.

Yes, that is my modem.
I have no idea what the DHCP stuff is nor do I know what a WAN input is and am totally lost on the net IP of the router and ditto the subset.  I do admire you guys for knowing all this stuff but the computer illiterates like "yours truly" are here because you DO know it but it has to be watered down to simpler terms for folks like me.  Thanks for your time and answer. 

The Link Sys may have a bit of software that will guide you through it. I understand that Link Sys is now part of Crisco.

Anyway, it is easier to let somebody else show you.
Here are Free videos:
http://video.google.com/videosearch?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=3Vu&resnum=0&q=Linksys+router+video&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=RfEuS9fjLY3QtgPp96TQBA&sa=X&oi=video_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBkQqwQwAA#
After watching two or three, please come back here and somebody will help you.

You guys are just great!  I am off to return the Switch and replace it with a router that hopefully, I'll be able to install without too much trouble.  Thanks, again.

...But you have to disable the DHCP stuff and not use the WAN input.
And make sure the net IP of the router is inside the subset...

Not necessarily.  I have 1 modem and 2 routers and all are DHCP and both routers use the WAN input.  The routers are different makes and have different default IP's.

1.  HughsNet HN9000 Satellite Modem.  The user guide for this modem indicates it has a DHCP server built-in which assigns IP addresses to your connected computers according to the service plan you have with HughsNet.

Depending upon your needs and service plans, a "switch" might work.  Having said that, you can't go wrong by getting a home router.  In a thread I browsed in a different forum, most if not everyone is using a home router with this modem.  If push comes to shove, you can always just use the back-end switch component of the home router (no configuration necessary - just plug both computers and modem into the "LAN" ports of the router); but I think it would be best used as a router.

2.  Reference(s):
     a.  HughsNet User Guides
     
     b.  Since HughsNet appears to monitor your "byte" usage, be aware the download link for the HN9000 Satellite Modem User Guide (pdf document) is almost 5 MegaBytes.

Not necessarily.  I have 1 modem and 2 routers and all are DHCP and both routers use the WAN input.  The routers are different makes and have different default IP's.

You are right. Some work right out of the box.

Just thought you all would like to know how I made out with the new router.  I bought a Linksys  WRT160N router and did as Computer_Commando suggested and hooked it up with the directions from a video suggested by Geek-9pm.  I did not use the software that came with the router, just hooked it up and set it up as Windows suggested when it detected a Network.............and it works!!!!!  I am really having a hard time trying to figure out WHY 2 salespersons at Best Buy told me that it was extremely difficult to do and that I would be better off calling the Geek Squad to the tune of $149.00 to set it up.  They really had me spooked at the time.   Anyway, can't thank you all enough for hanging in there with me.  May Santa bring you all the electronic gadetry on your Wish Lists!