如果您已升级到较新的路由器并且旧路由器没有损坏，那么您仍然可以使用旧设备做一些有用的事情吗？事实证明，答案是你可以用旧路由器做几件事。
关于自定义路由器固件的注意事项
您可以使用旧路由器做的许多很酷的事情都取决于自定义固件。“固件”是系统上的硬连线软件，只能通过“重新刷新”内存来更改。每个路由器制造商都决定应该在固件中启用哪些功能，因此即使您的路由器硬件具备某些功能，出厂固件也可能会将其关闭。
通过安装自定义固件，您可以解锁路由器的所有功能(router’s features)，而不必被迫购买更昂贵的型号。
可悲的是，并非每种型号的路由器都可以使用自定义固件。检查路由器数据库中的DD-WRT和OpenWRT以查看您的旧路由器是否兼容。
1. 用于局域网游戏！
每个人都喜欢通过 Internet 进行在线多人游戏，但仍然没有什么能比坐在一个满是朋友的房间里举办一场精彩的LAN派对更棒的了。大多数路由器都有四到六个以太网端口，因此只需使用以太网(Ethernet)电缆将每个系统插入路由器，您就应该准备好了。
一些现代游戏不会让你在没有互联网连接的情况下进行局域网，但对于许多让你可以玩的当前和经典游戏来说，这是通过网络玩的终极方式。没有滞后，没有借口。
2.将它用于额外的以太网端口
您可以使用第二个路由器来扩展可用的以太网(Ethernet)端口数量。将旧路由器变成简单的网络交换机需要做一些准备工作。一些路由器通过在固件中进行模式切换来简化操作。您还可以使用自定义固件访问必要的功能。
如果您想手动调整您的路由器以充当交换机，您必须为其指定一个不与主路由器冲突的特定 IP 地址。然后，关闭WiFi并禁用DH C P，以便主路由器单独分配 IP 地址。您必须在Google(Google)上花费几分钟才能弄清楚，但在旧路由器可以使用的情况下，通过购买交换机来避免花费和浪费是值得的。
3. 使用旧路由器(Old Router)作为接入(Access)点
接入点是一种将 Internet 连接从主路由器扩展到另一台设备的方法，该设备作为WiFi热点使用其SSID。接入点配置的一个关键优势是连接到第二个路由器的设备不能与连接到主路由器的设备通信。
因此，它非常适合与出租的房间或公寓共享互联网连接。这也是一种让只需要互联网连接的远程设备（例如智能电视）访问互联网的简单方法。
一般来说，设置接入点并不难。只需(Just)将两个路由器放在适当的位置，用一段以太网电缆将它们连接起来，然后在其设置中将第二个路由器配置为接入点模式。
4. 访客 Wi-Fi 接入
使用您的第二个路由器作为接入点是一个好主意，但您仍然需要对WiFi进行密码保护，这样路人就无法翻遍与其连接的所有其他设备。如果您想在没有密码的情况下向人们提供WiFi ，您可以在路由器的设置中打开访客模式。(Guest Mode)在访客模式下，连接到路由器的每个人都只能访问互联网，其他一切都被锁定。
5.把它变成一个无线中继器
到目前为止，我们已经讨论了使用以太网电缆连接两个路由器，但是使用WiFi连接它们呢？根据您的路由器是否支持它，您可以将第二个路由器设置为使用无线网桥(Wireless Bridge)模式或无线中继器(Wireless Repeater)模式，具体取决于使用的特定语言。
这将让您以与专用的现成WiFi中继器工作方式大致相同的方式扩展您的WiFi足迹。(WiFi)当然，您也有相同的限制，例如只能通过中继器获得一半的带宽，并且仅限于旧路由器支持的任何频段。
有关更多信息，请查看如何将备用路由器用作 Wifi 扩展器(How to Use a Spare Router as a Wifi Extender)。
6.把它变成一个NAS
网络附加存储(Storage)设备可能非常昂贵，但如果您的旧路由器有USB端口并且可以接受自定义固件，您可以将其变成NAS。这涉及加载自定义固件，然后通过其USB(USB)端口将外部硬盘驱动器连接到路由器。之后，您将前往自定义固件的NAS部分。例如，DD-WRT有一个NAS选项卡，您可以在其中进行全部设置。在那里填写信息，保存并申请。然后你的网络上应该有一个可见的NAS ！
确切的过程将因您的路由器而异。一些路由器的出厂固件中已经具有NAS功能，因此您可以跳过该过程的这一部分。
7.将其用作专用VPN
虚拟专用网络(Virtual Private Network)是保护您的隐私和解锁受地理限制的内容的好方法。但是，您通常不想一直通过VPN运行所有网络流量。例如，您的银行会认为您从另一个国家/地区登录很奇怪。
有几种方法可以解决此问题，但其中之一是将您的旧路由器设置为配置了VPN的接入点。这样，任何连接到第二个路由器的设备都在使用VPN，而那些连接到主路由器的设备则没有。
坏消息是，较旧且较便宜的路由器无法运行VPN软件，即使它们支持自定义固件，由于旧路由器中的硬件性能低下， VPN功能也可能无法正常工作。但是，值得一试，看看您的旧路由器是否可以完成这项工作。
8. 把它变成一个基本的 Web 服务器
您可以使用旧路由器（假设它具有固件支持）做的另一件很酷的事情是将其用作基本的 Web 服务器。这意味着它托管您从其他地方创建或复制的 Web 内容。你自己的小网站可以是你只在本地网络上运行的东西，或者你可以把它放到网上供任何人使用。
例如，如果您梦想创建自己的博客，您可以托管自己的WordPress网站。这可能不是最实用的用途，因为您可怜的小路由器无法承受任何实际流量，但它是学习创建和运行网络服务器的来龙去脉的好方法，无需任何实际费用。
走正确的路
当然，旧路由器还有许多其他潜在用途，我们邀请您在下面的评论中分享您的创造力。你用你的旧路由器做了什么？
What To Do With an Old Router: 8 Great Ideas
If you’ve upgraded to a newer router and the old one isn’t broken, is therе something useful you can still do with the old device? As it turns out, the answer is that there аre several things you cаn do with an old router.
A Note on Custom Router Firmware
Many of the cool things you can do with an old router depend on custom firmware. “Firmware” is the hard-wired software on the system that can only be altered by “reflashing” the memory. Every router manufacturer decides what features should be enabled in the firmware, so even if your router’s hardware is capable of something, the factory firmware may switch it off.
By installing custom firmware, you can unlock all your router’s features without being forced to buy a more expensive model.
Sadly, not every model of the router can use custom firmware. Check the router database for DD-WRT and OpenWRT to see if your old router is compatible.
1. Use It for LAN Gaming!
Everyone’s into online multiplayer over the internet, but there’s still nothing like sitting in a room full of friends and having a good old LAN party. Most routers have between four and six ethernet ports, so it’s simply a matter of plugging every system into the router with an Ethernet cable, and you should be ready to go.
Some modern games won’t let you LAN without an internet connection, but this is the ultimate way to play over a network for the many current and classic games that let you. No lag, no excuses.
2. Use It for Extra Ethernet Ports
You can use your second router as a way to expand the number of Ethernet ports you have available. There’s some prep work involved in turning your old router into a simple network switch. Some routers make it easy by having a mode toggle in the firmware. You may also gain access to the necessary features using custom firmware.
If you want to manually tweak your router to act as a switch, you’ll have to give it a specific IP address that doesn’t conflict with the primary router. Then, turn off WiFi and disable DHCP so that the master router alone can assign IP addresses. You’ll have to spend a few minutes on Google to figure it out, but it’s worth the expenditure and waste you avoid by buying a switch when the old router will do.
3. Use an Old Router as an Access Point
An access point is a way to extend the internet connection from your primary router to another device that acts as a WiFi hotspot with its SSID. One key advantage of an access point configuration is that devices connected to the second router can’t talk to devices connected to the primary router.
So it’s perfect for sharing an internet connection with, for example, a room or flatlet that’s being rented out. It’s also an easy way to give internet access to far-flung devices that only need an internet connection, such as a smart TV.
Generally, it’s not hard to set up an access point. Just put the two routers in place, connect them with a length of ethernet cable and configure the second router to access point mode in its settings.
4. Guest Wi-Fi Access
Using your second router as an access point is a great idea, but you still need to password protect the WiFi so that passers-by can’t rummage around all the other devices connected to it. If you want to offer WiFi to people without a password, you can switch on Guest Mode in the router’s settings. While in guest mode, each person connected to the router can only access the internet, and everything else is locked down.
5. Turn It Into a Wireless Repeater
So far, we’ve talked about connecting two routers using an ethernet cable, but what about connecting them using WiFi? Depending on whether your router supports it, you can set the second router to use Wireless Bridge mode or Wireless Repeater mode, depending on the specific language used.
This will let you expand your WiFi footprint in much the same way as a dedicated off-the-shelf WiFi repeater works. You also have the same limitations, of course, such as only getting half the bandwidth through the repeater and being limited to whatever frequency bands the old router supports.
For more information, check out How to Use a Spare Router as a Wifi Extender.
6. Turn It Into a NAS
Network-Attached Storage devices can be pretty expensive, but if your old router has a USB port and can accept custom firmware, you can turn it into a NAS. This involves loading custom firmware, then attaching an external hard drive to the router via its USB port. Following that, you’ll head to the NAS section of the custom firmware. For example, DD-WRT has a NAS tab where you’ll set it all up. Complete the information there, save it and apply. Then you should have a NAS visible on your network!
The exact process will differ depending on your router. Some routers already have NAS functionality in their factory firmware so that you can skip that part of the process.
7. Use It as a Dedicated VPN
A Virtual Private Network is a great way to protect your privacy and unblock geo-restricted content. However, you usually don’t want to run all of your web traffic through the VPN all the time. For example, your bank will think it’s pretty weird that you’re logging in from another country.
There are a few ways around this issue, but one of them is to set up your old router as an access point with a VPN configured. This way, any devices that connect to the second router are using the VPN, and those who connect to the prime router aren’t.
The bad news is that older and cheaper routers cannot run VPN software, and even if they support custom firmware, the VPN function may not work due to low-performance hardware in the old router. However, it’s worth a shot to see if your old router can do the job or not.
8. Turn It Into a Basic Web Server
Another cool thing you can do with an old router (assuming it has firmware support) is to use it as a basic web server. All that means is that it hosts web content that you’ve created or copied from somewhere else. Your own little website could be something that you run only on the local network, or you can put it out on the web for anyone to use.
If you’ve dreamt of starting your blog, for example, you could host your own WordPress site. It’s perhaps not the most practical use since your poor little router won’t stand up to any real traffic, but it’s a cool way to learn the ins and outs of creating and running a webserver without any actual expense.
Taking the Right Route
There are, of course, many other potential uses for an old router, and we invite you to share your creativity in the comments below. What have you done with your old router?
