Use spare hub as switch

Slider09

I’ve run out of Ethernet ports on my router.  I do have an old router, can this be used as a Ethernet switch?

Thanks

BobA51

Depending on the manufacturer I would have thought you should be able to disable DHCP Server and possibly WiFi (although could use as another AP - Set SSID & WPA PSK the same as main router).

Slider09

Is that all his required then?
Turn off DHCP, give it an IP address then plug cable between new router and the spare?

Russ_64

What is the Make & Model of your router? You may be able to flash a custom firmware such as Tomato. A switch does not use an IP as it only switches traffic.

Russ_64

There is a lot on Google such as:
https://www.howtogeek.com/174419/how-to-reuse-your-old-wi-fi-router-as-a-network-switch/

mickevh

We have yet (after more than ten years) to find a SOHO router where you couldn't do this: Have a read of the "Using two routers together" FAQ pinned in this forum. You can disregard the "Wi-Fi" aspects but as BobA51 says, all you should need to do is disable the DHCP Server and change the IP address to something that doesn't conflict with anything else in your network and you should be good to go.

The LAN ports in a SOHO router are an ethernet switch. All you have to do is render the routing and "IP" (including and especially DHCP) functionality of "old" router inactive and the FAQ describes how to achieve that. Then, plug it in, and you're good to go. Just read the first few posts of the aforementioned FAQ - you may even think it worthwhile to benefit from using "old" router as an additional Wi-Fi AP, though it's not mandatory - most SOHO router will let you turn Wi-Fi off.

chrisgeary

The only other thing to bear in mind is that not all routers have gigabit ethernet ports, if that matters to you.