Router/Hub/Switch question

[network23]

I have an Actiontec DSL modem with built-in router. The modem has four 10/100 Base-T ethernet ports.

Seeing as the modem router is not a switch, is there any value in using more than one of the modem's ethernet ports? Right now, I have one ethernet cable running from my modem to a 5-port gigabit switch. Three computers and my network storage drive are then connected to the switch.

Is this the best way? Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[silbeej]

a router is a switch, but with brains. A switch is simply connecting a bunch of cables to each other. A router will know which cable to send data to based on where it was sent from. A router is like a mail processing center, which knows where each piece is to go, where a switch is like dumping all the mail in one big bin.