XPost: alt.comp.os.windows-10   
   From: nospam@nospam.com   
      
   On Fri, 3 Mar 2023 19:57:37 +0000, Andy Burns wrote:   
      
      
   >> how would I turn the old router from routing into a "dumb" switch?   
   >   
   > disabling DHCP, making sure its IP addr doesn't clash with the new   
   > router, not using the WAN port, link one of it's LAN ports to one of the   
   > new router's LAN ports just about covers it, enable or disable wifi to suit.   
      
   I did the swap, which took me from when I sent that msg until now, which is   
   a few hours because of a series of problems that I only just now overcame.   
      
   The first thing I didn't know was that the modem configuration for the WAN   
   (let's call it 123.123.123.123/255.255.255.252) didn't automatically   
   transfer to the newly set up new router when I set up to "Get dynamically   
   from ISP" the Internet IP address from the modem. I don't know why.   
      
   The result was I could connect to the newly set up router via wireless or   
   via ethernet wired to one a LAN port from the PC but there was no Internet.   
      
   So I had to set up the new router to "Use static IP address" of (let's say)   
   123.123.123.123/255.255.255.252 & only then did it work. I don't know why.   
      
   After the new router had Internet, I switched that new router setup back   
   from "Use static IP address" to "Get dynamically from ISP" (and it still   
   worked). I did that because I don't know if my ISP changes my IP address or   
   not so I didn't want to take a chance. It's now set like the original was.   
      
   Now that the Internet is back, I can see your suggestions where I guess I   
   have some options, one of which is to turn the spare router into a dumb   
   switch (which should be the easiest thing to do with it, right?).   
      
   Is a switch a good use for a spare router?   
   I don't really need anything in particular, so that's why I ask.   
   I'm just trying to make use of the router now that I have it as a spare.   
      
   Are those all my options to make good use of a spare older router?   
   (I listed them below in terms of the assumed complexity of the setup.)   
   [1] dumb switch (gets me three or four extra LAN ports but nothing else)   
   [2] wired repeater (full speed) physically wired to the main gateway router   
   [3] wireless repeater (half speed) also connected to the main gateway router   
   [4] wireless client bridge + AP connected to the main gateway router or any AP   
      
   I don't really need any of that but I guess I could always use more ports   
   and I guess I could use better coverage in the house in lower signal areas.   
      
   Back to the dumb switch, I see another post so I'll take the setup there.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)