CM1200 Router Ports

> [...] In some posts people are saying that only one of the four
> ethernet ports can be used at any given time unless you have separate IP
> addresses from your ISP (for link aggregation purposes). [...]

   Thanks for the helpful links.  There's a technical term for those
people: "correct".  Have you looked at the CM1200 documentation?

      https://community.netgear.com/t5/x/x/m-p/1971839

   A Web/forum search for your model number should find abundant
evidence of users over-estimating the utility of those Ethernet ports.

> So if I assume that this website is correct, [...]

   That's a _big_ "if".  If you assume any false statement, then you can
use it to prove anything at all.

Just because it has 4 ports on the back of the CM1200 doesn't mean it has a router or you can connect anything to these ports. Further informnation about this modem says that these ports are for ISP WAN IP addressing on ports 2-4. These are WAN side ports only. So you have a ISP and a business need for having 4 different WAN IP addresses from your ISP, this modem fits that need. 

Please don't assume that if a modem has 4 ports that there would be a router. You can assume that for the C series modems, yes this is the case for those series modems as they do have built in router. For the CM series, these modems do not have a built in router. Yes, you may see more than one WAN port on these modems, CM1100 and CM1200 are the only models that have these additional WAN ports for only WAN side ISP assigned IP addresses from them. 

---

adamfong11 wrote:

So I have been trying to do some reseach and I have read the other posts about the ethernet ports on the CM1200, but it isn't explicitly clear.  

 

What I am trying to do is to connect a wireless router (google home) and a NAS to the Modem on the same LAN.  In some posts people are saying that only one of the four ethernet ports can be used at any given time unless you have separate IP addresses from your ISP (for link aggregation purposes).  I honestly don't need that fancy stuff, I just need 2 ethernet ports to put 2 hardwired devices on the same network.  On another website it says the following:

 

"One thing that you have to bear in mind is that NETGEAR modems with link aggregation will only allow you to use half the total number of available ports. For example, if it comes with 4 ports, only two can be used with your computer. The remaining two are only available for link aggregation."

https://fadingred.org/best-docsis-3-1-modems/

 

So if I assume that this website is correct, the CM1200 would allow me to solve my problem and connect 2 devices on the same network.  I can live without 4 ports, but I need at least 2.  Am I correct?

 

Thank you.

---

adamfong11,

Have you tried an unmanaged switch??  You can connect it to an open ethernet port on your router (not cable modem) and it will provide you with additional ethernet ports.  You router will control the IP addresses.  Unmanaged switches can be set up all over your residence.  They are automatic in that they will detect the ethernet port with the incoming connection and make all of the other ports usable for internet access through your router.

For the time being, just use the top port (port 1) on the CM1200.  That is the port that will get your internet connectivity from you ISP.  Connect that to the internet port of your router and you should be good to go.  Just remember about the unmanaged switches.  I've hard wired just abou t everything in my condo and it's awesome.  Only my mobile devices are on WiFi so, I get great speeds on everything.  Also, make sure you have enough bandwidth to support all of your devices....gaming, 4K streaming, office work, etc.

The introductory prices for Gigabit service, if it's available in your area should be competitive, especially if you negotiate with the ISP.