Your outdated router gathering mud can nonetheless be a Wi-Fi AP, WireGuard server, and NAS

Earlier this yr, I modified ISPs as a result of my earlier ISP was driving me up the wall. When my new ISP was put in, they gave me a brand new router, making the router that got here with my earlier ISP was just about ineffective, or so I believed.

I initially stored it in my outdated tech stuff drawer — the one drawer, cupboard, or storage room stuffed with outdated devices we swear we’ll use once more sometime. Well, I lastly discovered a use for that outdated router. Instead of letting it collect mud, I noticed I may repurpose it for a couple of helpful networking tasks round my dwelling.

Turn your outdated router right into a Wi-Fi entry level

A second entry level beats a mesh system I do not want

This is definitely what I’m at the moment utilizing my outdated router for. When my new ISP put in my web, I requested them to place the router in my bed room as a result of that is the place my workstation is. It made sense for my work setup, nevertheless it created one other downside.

The Wi-Fi sign in my lounge was fairly weak, and several other areas outdoors my bed room had a virtually useless connection. Rather than shopping for a Wi-Fi extender or an entirely new mesh system, I made a decision to tug my outdated router out of retirement.

I linked the outdated router to my predominant router utilizing an Ethernet cable and positioned it in my lounge, the place the Wi-Fi sign was weak. This turned the outdated router right into a secondary entry level that would present Wi-Fi protection to that a part of my dwelling. To make this work correctly, it’s essential change a couple of settings.

You have to log into the outdated router’s admin panel and alter its native IP handle. The IP handle ought to be on the identical subnet as your predominant router (as an illustration, in case your predominant router is 192.168.1.1, set the outdated router to 192.168.1.2). Then disable the DHCP server on the outdated router. I additionally advocate giving the outdated router the identical SSID and password as your predominant router.

Use it as a WireGuard server

An outdated router can provide me safe entry to my dwelling community when I’m away

If your router has sufficient processing energy and helps the proper firmware, you can too flip it right into a WireGuard server. WireGuard is a light-weight VPN protocol that may let me join again to my dwelling community when I’m away. That means I can entry units, recordsdata, and different providers on my dwelling community remotely whereas additionally getting an encrypted connection when I’m utilizing public Wi-Fi.

But your router must help VPN internet hosting. I checked mine, and sadly, its inventory firmware did not help VPN internet hosting. So, if you happen to’re in the identical boat, you might want to interchange the producer’s firmware with one thing like OpenWrt.

Once OpenWrt is put in, I can set up the WireGuard bundle by way of its bundle supervisor and configure the router to behave as a WireGuard server. The primary course of entails producing a public/non-public key pair, configuring the WireGuard interface and friends, and organising the required community guidelines.

You’ll additionally have to configure port forwarding in your main router, so WireGuard visitors can attain the outdated router. WireGuard generally makes use of UDP port 51820, though you may configure it to make use of one other port. Just take into account that your precise VPN efficiency will rely closely on the router’s {hardware} and your web connection.

Turn it right into a DIY Network-Attached Storage gadget

Not an actual NAS, however sufficient for a shared drive

Sadly, I could not actually take a look at this one myself as a result of my outdated router would not have a USB port. It’s a reasonably outdated mannequin, so it’s not shocking. If your router has a USB 3.0 port and helps storage sharing, although, you may join an exterior onerous drive or a USB flash drive and make the storage accessible throughout your private home community.

The setup will range relying on the router, however the common course of is analogous. First, plug your exterior storage into the router’s USB port. Then, open the router’s administrator interface and search for settings associated to USB storage, Storage, File Sharing, or Media Sharing.

From there, you may allow a community file-sharing protocol like Samba (SMB) for Windows and macOS community sharing. Some routers can also help FTP for accessing recordsdata remotely. You’ll additionally need to create person accounts and passwords somewhat than leaving the shared storage utterly open to everybody in your community.

However, an outdated router will not flip right into a Synology or QNAP NAS simply since you plugged a tough drive into it. File switch speeds will be slower than what you’d get from an precise NAS, particularly if the router has an outdated processor.

Old {hardware} doesn’t suggest ineffective {hardware}

When I first put my outdated ISP router in that drawer, I actually thought I’d by no means use it once more. Now it is serving to me solve a Wi-Fi coverage problem that will’ve in any other case had me spending cash on one other piece of networking tools. And that is the attention-grabbing factor about outdated stuff. They would possibly not be ok to serve their predominant function, however that does not imply they’ve grow to be ineffective.

So, earlier than you throw that dusty router right into a drawer and neglect about it, it is price checking what it may truly do. You would possibly have already got a usable networking gadget sitting in your pile of outdated tech.