Ethernet has been around since the 1970s, and the familiar RJ45 connector we see today was first used by Cat4 Ethernet cables in 1993 (although it was already in use since the 1980s for other purposes). You might be using Ethernet right now on your computer to read this article. On the other hand, if you're on a wireless network, you might be considering switching to Ethernet for higher speeds and reliability.

More importantly, and to the point, a router isn't the only thing you can connect to your PC's Ethernet port. You can connect many different kinds of devices to your computer using Ethernet. Not all of them may be relevant to your use case, but it's fun to explore the possibilities.

6 Routers, modems, and switches

Your home "router" is usually a 3-in-1 device

The most common device you'll see connected to a computer's Ethernet port is the home router. And while a router isn't the only popular networking device connected to home computers — modems and switches being the other two — your router, most likely, is a combination of a router, modem, and switch. It receives internet connectivity from your ISP, distributes it to your devices, and also allows them to communicate with each other.

You might get confused about whether to use a Cat5, Cat6, or Cat7 cable for connecting your PC to the router, but Cat5e actually works best for most connections. The best Ethernet cables will provide a well-built, reliable, and affordable connection for your Gigabit home network.

5 Printers

Not every printer is wireless

If you have an old printer that still works, but doesn't support Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity, then Ethernet is one of the few ways you can connect it to your PC. You'll need to configure a few settings to add the printer to your Windows PC, but Windows will do most of the heavy lifting. Once connected, you can print a test page to verify the connection.

Buying a new printer and retiring your old one isn't always an option. Maybe you spent considerable money on your old printer, and want to make it last for a few more years, or maybe it works just fine for your needs, and you see no reason to spend money on a new machine. Or perhaps you got an older printer and can use that instead of buying a new one. In such cases, a trusty Ethernet connection comes in handy when adding your printer to the home network.

4 NAS devices

When you want a direct connection

Using routers and switches in between to connect your PC to your NAS device is common, but what if you don't want anything to do with them, whether for security or performance reasons? Connecting your NAS directly to your PC can be done using a simple Ethernet cable, configuring static IPs for both the PC and NAS, and configuring the connection.

This will work great if your setup includes only your computer and NAS. However, if you want all your devices to be able to interface with your NAS device, you'll want to consider a switch or router.

3 IP cameras

Enhanced home security

While you can always use traditional CCTV cameras as part of your home surveillance system, network-based cameras offer several benefits, such as remote access and better performance. Most surveillance systems will have IP cameras connected to the router or switch, but it is possible to connect one directly to your PC using a reliable Ethernet cable.

You just need to configure the IP settings for both the camera and your PC, and add the camera to the security software you're using on your PC. This kind of direct connection might work for a secondary computer being used as a dedicated security device and placed near the camera you're using.

2 Consoles

Share your PC's internet

If, for some reason, you can't connect your console to your home router for internet connectivity, you could connect it to your PC instead. This setup will work only if your PC is connected to the internet (presumably to the home router), and has two network adapters. The additional adapter and Ethernet port will be used to connect to the console.

This can help bring your console online without routing a cable all the way to your router. You can place the console next to your PC, connect them to each other using Ethernet, configure network sharing settings in Windows, and you're done. While this is an uncommon method to connect your console to the internet, it might be useful in a setup where the PC monitor doubles up as the console's display, and a switch or router is far away or unavailable.

1 Other computers

Direct PC-to-PC connection

Normally, different computers and devices in your home connect to the network using a router, either with an Ethernet cable or wirelessly. However, you can also connect two computers directly using an Ethernet cable if you want a fast connection to transfer larger amounts of data between them. This type of direct connection used to require an Ethernet crossover cable (different from regular cables), but as long as you have a modern Gigabit network adapter on both computers, a regular Ethernet cable will work just fine.

Newer network adapters support Auto-MDIX, which automatically detects the type of Ethernet cable being used, and adjusts the connection accordingly to resolve any connectivity issues. Thanks to this, you can use a spare Ethernet cable in your home to directly connect your PC to your laptop, no special crossover cables required.

Know your Ethernet

Your computer's Ethernet port enables you to not only connect to your home router, but also switches, printers, NAS devices, consoles, and other computers directly. You might not often find yourself in a situation where you need to do it, but knowing about the possibilities can enable you to solve a potential roadblock in the future.