What is the uplink connector on the back of my router for?

[Shawn]

Because for some reason that's the only port my laptop will recognize.

 

[kamper]

It should be going to your modem. Are you sure you're not playing with a cross-over cable?

 

[Shawn]

The modem is going to the WAN port. And no, I tried 3 different cables and they would only work on the uplink port.

 

[kamper]

Oh, sorry, that was a bit of a brainfart on my part Of course the WAN port goes to the modem

To correct myself, the uplink port has two wires crossed so that it can properly connect to another hub (the alternative being a normal port on your router and the uplink from the other hub, if it has one). No idea why that's the only one your laptop works with. I think some ethernet adapters have the ability to sense uplink and automatically uncross the lines on their side, but then it should also be smart enough to use a proper port

Time for someone more knowledgeable to step in

 

[ktwebb]

Actually the regular LAN ports would be crossed. The uplink port is not. General principle is intact though.

The uplink port is typically for doing what the name implies. Uplinking another switch/hub.

 

[Shawn]

Yea, it's very strange. When I hook my laptop up to a normal port it does not even recognize that a cable is plugged in.