Just plug the "Digital Modem" or whatever you use for your net connection, into the Router in the WAN port, then while the machines are turned off, plug the cables in from the NIC into the Router.... Would be good knowing more about this, I for example have this set up: I have a Router / Digital Modem form the cable company. That's plugged into the WAN port of my D-Link Router. This machine is plugged into the router with Cat5e Cable The machine next to it is the same, right inro the router on a free port. The machine next to that is as well. Then I have another port on the Router which I plugged in a Cisco switch with Cat6 cable. The laptop and my Mom's computer are on the switch. Everything is online You don't need a switch fo course to dot his, but that's how I have mine set up. I then logged into the Router and set it up (RTFM) and then I installed SUSE on the machines and it used DHCP by default and when the install finished they were on. You don't usually NEED to assign IPs by hand. -Allen.