Throwing away your old network equipment is a fool’s errand - here’s what to do with it instead

Old networking equipment like routers, switches, and access points doesn't have to be discarded when upgraded. It can be repurposed as a wireless access point to eliminate Wi-Fi dead zones, sold on the secondhand market to home lab enthusiasts, or used as extra switches in a home lab setup. However, hardware too old to support current security standards like WPA3 and no longer receiving firmware updates should be retired from active network use to avoid security risks.