I have a laptop with one ethernet port. what are my options for getting multiple ethernet ports out of it and using it as a firewall using the multiple ethernet ports as a switch or router, control ...

The Windows Defender Firewall can be configured to allow or block programs on a computer from accessing network or Internet resources. It also allows or blocks connections to and from other computers ...

Linux is highly secure, but you should still have a firewall. You should know if your ISP's hardware (gateway) uses a firewall. One of the easiest Linux firewalls is UFW and its GUI sidekick, GUFW.