It’s a simple question that pops up in everyone’s mind, when setting up a home or office network, Ethernet requires a router. Can we use Ethernet without a router?
This question often stems from confusion about the roles of different networking devices and how they connect together to provide Internet access and local area network capabilities.
The answer is given below.
Actually, I’ve heard many times from professionals that using an Ethernet connection technically doesn’t require a router. Ethernet connectivity requires a router if you want to connect multiple devices to it. Since you should only have one device connected to Ethernet at a time, Ethernet is not needed in any other situation.
On the other hand, in most home and office networks, you need a router for an effective Ethernet connection. As you know, for one single modem, there is no need for Ethernet. If you have more than one device, you definitely need a router for reliable connections.
Contents
- 1 You need to know Ethernet and its role
- 2 What is a Router?
- 3 How to Connect Devices to the Internet Using Ethernet
- 4 Do You Need a Router for Ethernet?
- 5 How to set Up Your Ethernet Network
- 6 Conclusion
You need to know Ethernet and its role
Ethernet is a technology designed for wired networking connections that allows devices to communicate with each other over a local area network (LAN). Mostly used for wide area network connectivity, it provides speed and security for end users. Ethernet connections use cables to connect devices such as PCs, computers, printers and other devices using commonly used Ethernet ports for communication.
What is a Router?
router is a networking device that is used to send data packets between different networks. Mostly used in the LAN networks. It assigns IP addresses to devices on the network, ensuring that data packets are sent to right destinations. Routers are also used for network security, such as firewalls, wireless wifi and network management tools.
How to Connect Devices to the Internet Using Ethernet
It is quite easy to get multiple devices online using Ethernet.
When you connect one end of your Ethernet cable (roughly thought of as a LAN cable or network cable), which is to always plug into the Ethernet port of your device, such as laptop gaming console pc, streaming device printer, etc.
Similarly, you can plug the other end of the Ethernet cable into one of the LAN ports (usually yellow) on the back of your router.
When you have installed live internet and enabled it as an ISP (Nayatel, Comsat Wateen, etc.), your devices will be able to connect to Ethernet. which in turn sends and receives data over your phone line connection to the wider Internet, allowing devices to get online.
Most people ask about the confusion that modems and routers sometimes go together and sometimes separate. Stay with us, and we will clear up all the doubts related to it.
Do You Need a Router for Ethernet?
Here is the short answer.
It depends on what your network needs. as you know On modern home and office networks, routers are always necessary to effectively use Ethernet with multiple users connected. Getting multiple devices online requires a router and a modem, but sometimes they’re all in one and sometimes they’re not.
Let’s explore different scenarios to determine if a router is necessary for your Ethernet setup.
Scenario 1. Single device with direct Internet access
These are slightly different scenarios than others.
There are some limitations to establishing this.
Limited Connectivity
There is only one device that can access the internet at a time. Because here you don’t need to use a router for Ethernet and you will be directly connected to the Internet.
No local network.
You won’t have a local network to share files or printers between devices, because you’re connected directly to the Internet.
Security concerns
We often read that direct connections without a router’s firewall are more vulnerable to cyber threats.
Scenario 2. Multiple devices and network management
For most homes and offices, a router is essential. Here’s why:
Multiple device connections
A router which is able to connect multiple devices to the internet.
Network Management
Routers provide Dhcp (Dynamic host configuration protocol) services, assigning IP addresses to devices on the network automatically.
Improved security
Routers that offer firewall protection, which helps protect your network from unauthorized access.
Creation of a local network
A router enables the creation of a local network, allowing devices to share files, printers and other resources.
Scenario 3. Advanced networking requirements
You have to use many devices to create complex networks. Some of the given below.
Switch
switch is a networking device which is creates network within lan. It contains multiple Ethernet ports to provide wired connectivity for many devices.
Access Point
Access points are mostly used to extend Wi-Fi coverage, ensuring strong wireless connectivity over a large area.
How to set Up Your Ethernet Network
The process of setting up your Ethernet network is quite simple. The steps that are provided must be followed.
Connect the modem
After plugging your modem into a wall socket, connect it to the router’s WAN (Wide Area Network) port using an Ethernet cable.
Power up the router
Turn on the router by plugging it into a power source.
Connect devices
Your devices can reach the router’s LAN (Local Area Network) ports using an Ethernet connection.
Configure the Router
You need a laptop to access your router via Ethernet. The configuration of router is easy you have to enter Ip address and login details which is labled at the back side of router.
Conclusion
It’s true that while you can connect a single device to the Internet without a router, most modern network setups require the use of a router. In most cases it is preferred as a router used in large networks providing security features and also enabling multiple devices to connect to the Internet. As we mentioned in the above paragraph how you are using Ethernet for a single device, and you need a router to connect to multiple devices.
