Connecting Google Mesh Router to a switch port

[regreenspan]

I have a single port internet modem connected by cable to my ISP (Comcast) bringing Internet into my home at the utility panel in a basement room at one end of the house.  I want to locate my nest wifi in my office in the middle of the house.  Where the cable modem is located, I need to make ethernet cable connections to my Vonage modem, my alarm system and my generator.  I ran an ethernet cable from the utility room to the room where I want to place the nest wifi router.  I would like to connect the nest wifi to the  end of the ethernet cable in the office, so that I can use it for Google assistant and locate it closer to other devices upstairs that need a fast Internet connection.  Is there a way to set up the cable modem and a switch in the utility room to make that happen?  This set up will work when I run an ethernet cable from the cable modem to a wifi router first and then connect it to the switch, where the other I plug in the other cables.  But not when I connect the cable modem directly to the switch first and then connect the other cables to the switch, including the cable that goes to the  wifi router in my office.    Assuming I have no way to move the cables closer to my office, is there a way I can achieve my goal?  In other words, is there a way to put the switch between the cable modem and the wifi modem and make this work?  I have tp-link managed switches.  

[MichaelP]

Hello @regreenspan 

If I'm understanding the situation properly, you only have one Ethernet cable run from where the modem is to where you want to place the Nest WiFi Router so that it is closer to the center of your home (which is highly recommended). But, you have other Ethernet cable runs from near where the modem is. If I'm reading that right, then the short answer is that switch feeding your wired network must be connected to the LAN port on the Nest WiFi Router (it can't be "upstream" from the Nest WiFi Router). I would consider running another cable to get a return path from the Nest WiFi Router back to where your switch is that feeds the rest of the house (the switch just needs to be connected to the LAN port – it doesn't have to be right next to it or connected by a short cable).

If you really can't do that, and you are confident in your technical skills, there is a way to make one Ethernet cable look like two, but it is fairly complicated to set up, requires two managed switches that support multiple VLANs, and impacts performance. But, honestly, it would probably be easier to just run another cable.

[Jeff]

Hi, regreenspan.
I just wanted to jump in real fast to see if you saw MichaelP's reply and to see if you still needed some help on this or if you were able to get it sorted out. If you are still needing some help, just let us know and we'll be happy to continue helping.
Thanks.

[Jeff]

Hi, everyone.
Just one quick final check in here since activity has slowed down. We'll be locking the thread in the next 24 hours, but if you still need help, I would be happy to keep it open. If there's more we can do, just let me know.
Thanks.

[Jeff]

Hi, everyone.
As we haven't had any activity here recently I'm going to go ahead and close the thread. If you have more to add, feel free to start a new discussion.
Thanks