When you were talking about disabling DHCP to turn a router into a switch, is that the same as putting it into Bridge Mode?

[Elephant789]

I've just build a PfSense router and want to use this old router as a switch. At least that's the plan.

And other than that, might there be anything else I will have to do?

 

[xiaofan]

Just set it up in AP mode (Wireless AP) since this router supports AP mode. In this case, the old router runs as a switch plus wireless access point. If you do not need wireless function, then you can disable wireless function as well. In AP mode, DHCP function will automatically be disabled.

Some of the very old router does not support AP mode, but then there is a way to use it up as a switch plus wireless access point, I call it custom AP mode. You connect the LAN port (not WAN port) of the router to the main router, then disable DHCP function. This custom AP mode is useful as well in some other cases where the AP mode may interfere with the VLAN function.

Reference: one use case for custom AP mode for Singtel users with ONR and Singtel TV box, the router needs to suppport IGMP Snooping.
https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/...tel-tv-onr-ac86u-ax23-singtel-tv-box.6681949/

 

[Elephant789]

Just set it up in AP mode (Wireless AP) since this router supports AP mode. In this case, the old router runs as a switch plus wireless access point. If you do not need wireless function, then you can disable wireless function as well. In AP mode, DHCP function will automatically be disabled.

Some of the very old router does not support AP mode, but then there is a way to use it up as a switch plus wireless access point, I call it custom AP mode. You connect the LAN port (not WAN port) of the router to the main router, then disable DHCP function. This custom AP mode is useful as well in some other cases where the AP mode may interfere with the VLAN function.

Reference: one use case for custom AP mode for Singtel users with ONR and Singtel TV box, the router needs to suppport IGMP Snooping.
https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/...tel-tv-onr-ac86u-ax23-singtel-tv-box.6681949/

I built the PfSense router to handle a lot of uploading and downloading, such as torrenting. If I continue to use the router, but in Wireless AP mode, will my performance be affected? Will my old router, even when set to Wireless AP mode, hinder my downloading and uploading speeds? I hope I worded that coherently.

 

[xiaofan]

I built the PfSense router to handle a lot of uploading and downloading, such as torrenting. If I continue to use the router, but in Wireless AP mode, will my performance be affected? Will my old router, even when set to Wireless AP mode, hinder my downloading and uploading speeds? I hope I worded that coherently.

It should not affect much if you use wired connection, since pfSense is handling the heaby tasks. The old D-Link router's built-in gigabit switch should be able to do the job, as that is handling by the swtich hardware.

For wireless, the old D-Link may not be a good option for you, if you have many clients or if you care about speed. For a few clients it should be okay.