Are you just using your router for Wi-Fi? Well, it actually does a lot more than that. Here’s everything else your Wi-Fi router can do.
Act as a NAS
Yes, your router’s USB port can do that
Your router’s USB port is actually quite powerful. It can do a number of things, including sharing a storage drive with your entire network.
Before I had a dedicated NAS, this is exactly how I used my Wi-Fi router’s USB port. I simply plugged in an external hard drive and was able to access the files wirelessly from any computer in the house. Your router does need to specifically have SMB sharing capabilities, but most modern routers have that as an option.
There is one slight downside to using a hard drive wirelessly like this, and that’s transfer speeds. While you can achieve Gigabit speeds when wired to your router, unless you have a newer Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 system, you’re likely going to move files much slower than a normal NAS would.
You also lose out on the RAID benefits of a NAS, but, if you’re okay without faster transfer speeds or RAID, then plugging a hard drive into your router is a budget-friendly way to create network attached storage.
Block websites and devices
All it takes is some DNS configuration
Whether you have younger kids in the house and want to keep them safe from the dark areas of the web, or just want to block websites for some other reason, your router is the perfect place to do that.
Since your router handles all the web traffic for the entire home, it’s entirely possible to block website access at the router-level. This is done by changing the DNS on your router.
You can do something like run Pi-hole or Technitium if you want a custom setup where you can pick and choose the specific websites to block or allow. However, if you don’t want to deal with setting up a custom DNS server and maintaining that, there are pre-made filtered DNS servers that you can use.
OpenDNS is one of the biggest DNS filters out there to use. There are a few different DNS servers maintained by OpenDNS depending on what you’re wanting to use. The most popular version is OpenDNS Family Shield, where you just point your router’s DNS settings to the following two IPs: 208.67.222.123, 208.67.220.123.
However, there is also OpenDNS Home, which requires a free account, but allows you to customize what’s blocked or allowed. So, if you want a slightly customizable experience, then that’s what I’d recommend checking out.
QuizUnique and creative DIY NAS setups
Trivia challenge
From old laptops to dusty routers — find out how well you know the wild world of homemade network storage.
HardwareNetworkingSoftwareDIY BuildsStorage
Which major advantage makes an old laptop a surprisingly good candidate for a DIY NAS build?
Correct! A laptop’s built-in battery acts like a mini UPS (uninterruptible power supply), protecting your data from sudden power outages. This is a significant perk that desktop-based NAS builds don’t get for free.
Not quite. The big hidden advantage of a laptop NAS is its built-in battery, which functions as a natural UPS. This keeps the system running briefly during power cuts, protecting data integrity without any extra hardware.
Which open-source firmware is most commonly flashed onto compatible routers to enable NAS-like USB storage sharing features?
Correct! OpenWrt is a Linux-based open-source firmware that replaces stock router firmware and adds powerful features, including USB storage sharing via Samba or NFS, turning a basic router into a lightweight NAS.
Not quite. OpenWrt is the go-to open-source firmware for repurposing routers. Once flashed, it supports USB drives connected to the router’s USB port, enabling basic NAS functionality like Samba file sharing on a very small budget.
Which NAS operating system is specifically designed to run well on low-power ARM-based single-board computers like the Raspberry Pi?
Correct! OpenMediaVault (OMV) is a Debian-based NAS OS that supports ARM architectures, making it a popular choice for Raspberry Pi NAS builds. It’s lightweight, free, and has a web-based GUI that simplifies setup.
Not quite. OpenMediaVault is the answer. Unlike TrueNAS or Unraid, OMV is optimized to run on ARM processors, which is why it’s the community favorite for Raspberry Pi-powered NAS projects.
When building a NAS using a Raspberry Pi, what is the most common bottleneck that limits file transfer speeds?
Correct! On older Raspberry Pi models (prior to the Pi 4), both the USB ports and the Ethernet port shared the same USB 2.0 bus, creating a significant bottleneck when transferring data between network and storage simultaneously.
Not quite. The real culprit on older Raspberry Pi models is the shared USB and Ethernet bus. Because both the network adapter and USB storage competed for the same bandwidth, real-world NAS speeds were often far below what the hardware theoretically promised.
What is a ‘Franken-NAS’ commonly referred to in DIY storage communities?
Correct! A ‘Franken-NAS’ is a beloved DIY term for a NAS cobbled together from spare and salvaged parts — old desktop cases, mixed hard drives, and recycled motherboards all stitched together into one functional (if ugly) storage machine.
Not quite. A Franken-NAS refers to a storage build assembled from mismatched, salvaged components — think old desktop parts, second-hand drives, and whatever case happens to fit. It’s a badge of honor in the DIY NAS community.
Which RAID level is recommended for a small 2-drive DIY NAS that prioritizes data redundancy over total storage capacity?
Correct! RAID 1 mirrors data identically across two drives, meaning if one drive fails, your data survives on the other. It cuts your total usable capacity in half but provides simple, reliable redundancy — perfect for a two-drive home NAS.
Not quite. RAID 1 is the right answer for a two-drive redundancy setup. RAID 0 stripes data for speed but has zero redundancy, and RAID 5 or 6 require three or more drives. RAID 1 mirrors your data across both drives for straightforward protection.
What protocol do most DIY NAS builders configure to allow Windows PCs on the local network to browse shared folders like a network drive?
Correct! Samba implements the SMB (Server Message Block) protocol on Linux and Unix systems, enabling seamless file sharing with Windows machines. It’s the standard choice for home NAS builds because Windows natively understands SMB shares.
Not quite. Samba, which uses the SMB protocol, is the standard answer here. It allows Linux-based NAS systems to present their shares in a way Windows PCs understand natively, so you can map them as network drives without any extra client software.
Which low-power x86 platform became extremely popular for DIY NAS and home server builds due to its fanless design and efficient Intel Atom or Celeron processors?
Correct! Compact Chinese-manufactured mini PC boards from brands like Topton and Cwwk, featuring Intel’s N100 or N5105 processors, became hugely popular in the DIY NAS community around 2022–2024. They offer multiple 2.5GbE ports, low power draw, and multiple SATA connections at a very low price.
Not quite. The Topton and Cwwk N100-based mini PC motherboards became a community favorite for budget DIY NAS builds. They pack multiple Ethernet ports, SATA connections, and efficient modern CPUs into a tiny, affordable package that traditional options couldn’t match at the price.
Your Score
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Run a VPN for your whole home
Mask your whole home’s network traffic in one go
Have you ever wanted to block your entire network’s traffic from your ISP in one go? Well, some routers actually allow you to connect to a VPN at the router level. This means that all traffic leaving your router goes through a VPN, bypassing your ISP’s snooping nose.
This can be useful for a number of reasons, including masking what country you’re browsing from if you’re trying to watch content not available in your country.
However, another way a VPN could be good is by running a VPN to access your network. Whenever I travel, I VPN back into my home network in order to access my servers and other devices as if I was still at home.
Depending on your router, this could also be an option. My UniFi Dream Router 7 allows me to do both at the same time. As in, I can run a VPN on the network to mask my browsing as well as allow myself back into the network when traveling.
Make a wired printer wireless
It’s easier than buying a new printer
After I got a proper NAS, I still had a wired laser printer. It was a trusty old Brother HL-L2400D, which my parents still use to this day.
The only downside to that printer is there’s no built-in wireless functionality. Instead, it has to be plugged into a computer. However, some wireless routers can actually work as a CUPS (Common UNIX Printing System) server, allowing you to turn a wired printer into a wireless one.
This is definitely a bit more niche, and it might require some custom firmware on your router, but it is definitely doable. We did it many years ago, and it saved us from having to purchase a new printer for quite a while.
Handle dynamic DNS for your self-hosted services
Stop running a separate Docker container just for dynamic DNS
I run a lot of self-hosted services in my homelab. This means that I have a lot of domains pointing at my home IP address. While AT&T hasn’t changed my IP in over six years (though now that I said that, it’ll probably change tomorrow), there’s still a chance it could change. That’s what dynamic DNS fixes.
In the past, I’ve run dynamic DNS in a Docker container in my homelab. That works, but it’s a bit cumbersome and requires maintenance. However, some routers, like my Dream Router 7, allow for running reverse proxies right on the router hardware.
This means that the router itself, which is the originating point of your IP in your home, is the one updating your domain’s IP. So, if your home IP ever changes, it will automatically update your domain without you having to lift a finger.
9/10
- Brand
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Unifi
- Range
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1,750 square feet
- Wi-Fi Bands
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2.4/5/6GHz
- Ethernet Ports
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4 2.5G
The Unifi Dream Router 7 is a full-fledged network appliance offering NVR capabilities, fully managed switching,a built-in firewall, VLANs, and more. With four 2.5G Ethernet ports (one with PoE+) and a 10G SFP+ port, the Unifi Dream Router 7 also features dual WAN capabilities should you have two ISP connections. It includes a 64GB microSD card for IP camera storage, but can be upgraded for more storage if needed. With Wi-Fi 7, you’ll be able to reach up to a theoretical 5.7 Gbps network speed when using the 10G SFP+ port, or 2.5 Gbps when using Ethernet.
Your router has a lot of hidden capabilities
Depending on what router you have, there’s a chance it does a lot more than just handle Wi-Fi traffic. For example, my router, the Dream Router 7, is not just capable of handling network traffic, but it also handles network video recording for security cameras, VoIP phones, and much more.
So, if you think that your router is only good for Wi-Fi, then think again. It probably does way more than you think.
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
