Questions regarding setting up a layer 3 Ethernet switch in place of a router

[Elynnsia]

So I have just moved into a new house and am setting up the Internet connection atm. I am currently using xfinity as the ISP and arris wbm760a wired directly to a linksys EA9200 wireless router. However, since there are already Ethernet cables (8 ish) wired into the house I would like to utilize them to get some Ethernet connection around. I should have used a router directly but upon telling my dad about it he sent me this retired Cisco SG300-10 Ethernet switch to use and claimed that since it is a layer 3 switch it should be able to function as a modest router. However, he didn't know how exactly to configure it and the manuals and online documentation aren't exactly IT-noob-friendly. So I would like some help on how exactly to get this thing to work.

And here is the current situation. The CoAx comes in through and connects to the modem in the basement, where the ends of all the ethernet cables are located. Since the basement isn't exactly a nice place to place the wireless router (signal would be unacceptable on the third floor), I would like to have it on the first floor and connects to the basement through an ethernet cable. I would like to have the ethernet switch to be in the basement as a router, with the 10th port connected to the modem as the gateway and the other 9 ports connected to the ends of ethernet cables, with one connecting to the wireless access point on the first floor to provide wifi around the house.

However, I am unable to find a way to let the ethernet switch to function as a modem because I simply don't understand what to configure.

Below are the option tabs on the Ethernet's configuration page
Getting Started
Status and Statistics
System Summary
Interface
Etherlike
GVRP
802.1x EAP
TCAM Utilization
RMON
View Log
Administration
System Settings
Console Settings
Management Interface
User Accounts
Idle Session Timeout
Time Settings
System Log
File Management
Reboot
Diagnostics
Discovery - Bonjour
Discovery - LLDP
Discovery - CDP
Ping
Traceroute
Port Management
Port Settings
Link Aggregation
Green Ethernet
Smartport
Properties
Smartport Type Settings
Interface Settings
VLAN Management
Default VLAN Settings
Create VLAN
Interface Settings
Port to VLAN
Port VLAN Membership
GVRP Settings
VLAN Groups
Voice VLAN
Access Port Multicast TV VLAN
Customer Port Multicast TV VLAN
Spanning Tree
STP Status & Global Settings
STP Interface Settings
RSTP Interface Settings
MSTP Properties
VLAN to MSTP Instance
MSTP Instance Settings
MSTP Interface Settings
MAC Address Tables
Static Addresses
Dynamic Address Settings
Dynamic Addresses
Reserved MAC Addresses
Multicast
Properties
MAC Group Address
IP Multicast Group Address
IGMP Snooping
MLD Snooping
IGMP/MLD IP Multicast Group
Multicast Router Port
Forward All
Unregistered Multicast
IP Configuration
IPv4 Management and Interfaces
ARP
DHCP Snooping/Relay
DHCP Server
Domain Name System
Security
TACACS+
RADIUS
Password Strength
Mgmt Access Method
Management Access Authentication
Secure Sensitive Data Management
SSL Server
SSH Server
SSH Client
TCP/UDP Services
Storm Control
Port Security
802.1X
Denial of Service Prevention
DHCP Snooping
IP Source Guard
ARP Inspection
Access Control
MAC-Based ACL
MAC-Based ACE
IPv4-Based ACL
IPv4-Based ACE
IPv6-Based ACL
IPv6-Based ACE
ACL Binding
Quality of Service
General
QoS Properties
Queue
CoS/802.1p to Queue
DSCP to Queue
Bandwidth
Egress Shaping Per Queue
VLAN Ingress Rate Limit
TCP Congestion Avoidance
QoS Basic Mode
QoS Advanced Mode
QoS Statistics
SNMP
Engine ID
Views
Groups
Users
Communities
Trap Settings
Notification Recipients SNMPv1,2
Notification Recipients SNMPv3
Notification Filter

Can somebody help me setting up the ethernet switch? Or is my best option buying an actual router to wire the cables?

[Elynnsia]

Also I am considering shopping for a new laptop for study and work in the near future, and since I have a history of physically breaking computers (mainly the metal frame on the lid from excessively opening and closing, but I am also doing a good job fracturing the outer crust), I would like to buy a laptop that has medium requirement on performance but is known for integrity of design and stability of performance. Mobility is not a primary concern as I am the kind of person who prefer carrying entire backpacks of books over going through the trouble of sorting out which are needed for the classes of the day.

[Evolutious]

In all honesty, it sounds like you do not have much experience in networking. If that is the case, you will have a hell of a time to get this all connected and working correctly. Your best bet is to get someone local to come to your house and get it all configured and set up. It will save you a ton of grey hairs and pulled hairs from the frustration.

In general; to do what you are wanting to do, you will need to configure one port on the switch as a layer 3 port with DHCP so that it will pull an IP from your cable modem. You will then want to configure a DHCP pool on the switch itself to issue out IP addresses to the devices you connect up and have them all use the switch for their default route. From there you will need to establish basic routing on the switch to direct all traffic out the cable modem connection.

This is a HIGHLY simplified overview of what needs to be done. Unless you understand what I have typed and can perform this, you are better off getting another Linksys router and disabling the wireless portion then use it to connect to your modem and home network.

[Bellarionna]

I had something similar at my folks house back when I lived at home I wires the whole house up, data Jacks in every room, etc.

Cable line to modem
Modem to router (cat5)
One of the ports on router to up link (wan) port on switch (cat5)
Then everyone hooks into either the leftover slots on router (faster) or the switch ports.

I don't recall a whole lot of configuration needed, but it was probably 12-13 years ago

[Elynnsia]

Thank you for your advices. I have just decided that it is better to have somebody else to set it up for me. I have just gotten my schedules straightened up and hopefully I will be able to return to wow soon enough. Hope I will be here for the next patch with you guys