This is a named interface (WAN2) and can find reference to it in the firewall logs (non-0.0.0.0 source).

Hmm, that is odd. The switch chip in the 1100 connects to all the ports and is auto MDI/MDIX.

Do you see link with a straight through cable to the unmanaged external switch? It shouldn't make any difference.

Do you see a link with the laptop connected to the LAN or OPT ports? Those should also be identical.

Steve