I recently bought a new NETGEAR 802.11g wireless router for the ethernet ports on the back. I need 6 ethernet ports for this cluster I'm trying to build(these things were $10 a piece at staples, cheaper than an 8 port router) However, when I try to configure it, it seems to require that I have an external WAN(internet) modem to plug into it. Is there any way to bypass this and configure it for the ports only? I tried arp -a in windows and that gave me 192.186.1.1 for an address. Typed that in firefox, and it say to hit start, then scans for a modem. It won't move past that step. Thougts?

Read the 5000+ threads on this on the internet. Or perhaps the several plain english statements on the netgear site that state you must hook their routers to a cable model or other internet modem. Or the part of the instruction manual that tells you you must have broadband to plug it into... or the system requirements page that states you must have a broadband modem to plug it into...

Could they say it in many more places, that you "must" have broadband internet plugged into the router?

You need a switch - dump the router, it's not gonna work.

but you can set up the router to be an access point. Why wouldn't you be able to use it as a hard router without having internet. I can dialup my connection, and it still won't do anything. I've even tried www.routerlogin.net/basicsetting.htm and that didn't do anything. Thoughts? Is there anybody with this model that can login get past the modem check and then give me the URL?

I think I got it. Thanks for all the help :/