Using routers as switches?

[tankman1989]

I have a few extra routers (linksys WRT54GL) and I am curious if I can use them as 4 port switches and not hook anything up to the WAN connection. I know the 4 ports are switched ports but I don't know if there is any "interference" with the router software.? Would this work?

 

[ATS]

I have a few extra routers (linksys WRT54GL) and I am curious if I can use them as 4 port switches and not hook anything up to the WAN connection. I know the 4 ports are switched ports but I don't know if there is any "interference" with the router software.? Would this work?

You can do it no problem, I think there is even an option on the router admin page (192.168.1.1 for that model) to disable DHCP server and to act as a switch instead of a router.

 

[Ccomp5950]

Change the "local IP address" and turn off DHCP and you should be fine.



You can also use them as access points in this manner as well.
Plug them into via one of their lan ports turn off dhcp and the wireless will connect on that network it connects without NAT'ing

 

[wimwauters]

You can also use them as access points in this manner as well.
Plug them into via one of their lan ports turn off dhcp and the wireless will connect on that network it connects without NAT'ing

Yes, using them as access points makes a lot more sense than going through a 'lot' of trouble to add 3 network ports. Network switches are ridiculously cheap.

 

[Vicenarian]

related question: I have a wireless router I disabled DHCP on for this purpose, and am just using it as an AP for my network. However, as soon as you disable DHCP, you also lose all ability to administer the device...from what I can tell. Is there a way around this? I'm thinking there must be a way to statically assign an IP to the router, but haven't tried it yet (no time).

 

[Ccomp5950]

related question: I have a wireless router I disabled DHCP on for this purpose, and am just using it as an AP for my network. However, as soon as you disable DHCP, you also lose all ability to administer the device...from what I can tell. Is there a way around this? I'm thinking there must be a way to statically assign an IP to the router, but haven't tried it yet (no time).

More than likely it has a setting on the main setup page (or LAN page) where it asks for a local ip address to be assigned to it. You should change that, if you have another device with the same IP listed on your network or the local ip address is set to something outside your current subnet then you are not going to be able to reach the device.

 

[Vicenarian]

More than likely it has a setting on the main setup page (or LAN page) where it asks for a local ip address to be assigned to it. You should change that, if you have another device with the same IP listed on your network or the local ip address is set to something outside your current subnet then you are not going to be able to reach the device.

I'll try that, thanks.

 

[Frank]

related question: I have a wireless router I disabled DHCP on for this purpose, and am just using it as an AP for my network. However, as soon as you disable DHCP, you also lose all ability to administer the device...from what I can tell. Is there a way around this? I'm thinking there must be a way to statically assign an IP to the router, but haven't tried it yet (no time).

You need to make sure the IP of router that you're disabling DHCP on is on the same subnet as the other devices on your network and that it has a unique IP outside of the DHCP scope of the main router.

ie:

Main router: 192.168.1.1 (255.255.255.0)
Second router (DHCP off): 192.168.1.99
DHCP scope: 192.168.1.100 - 192.168.1.199

You should be able to log onto it with a configuration similar to this.

 

[ajc196]

I have a few extra routers (linksys WRT54GL) and I am curious if I can use them as 4 port switches and not hook anything up to the WAN connection. I know the 4 ports are switched ports but I don't know if there is any "interference" with the router software.? Would this work?

For good measure, you could also flash DD-WRT onto that one.

http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Linksys_WRT54G/GL/GS/GX