Everyday Tech‘s step-by-step tutorial on transforming your Raspberry Pi into a versatile travel router using the RaspAP software! Whether you’re on the go or looking to create a portable Wi-Fi hotspot, this tutorial will guide you through the process with ease. In this comprehensive video, I’ll cover everything you need to know, from setting up your Raspberry Pi to configuring RaspAP for optimal performance. No prior experience is necessary – I’ll walk you through each step, making it accessible for beginners and seasoned Raspberry Pi enthusiasts alike. This is an updated version of a previous video I made almost 2 years ago.. Unfortunately, that video is out of date and now we’re required to have an additional Wifi USB Dongle.
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This is a classic “networking lab” setup. By combining a wireless gateway (RaspAP) with a local web server, you’re essentially building a private, portable intranet.
Here is a blueprint to get your Pi-powered network off the ground.
1. The Hardware Architecture
In this setup, the Ethernet Switch acts as the backbone (the “backplane”) connecting your Pis, while the Hotspot Pi acts as the gatekeeper to the internet (via its Wi-Fi or a secondary WAN connection).
Components:
- Pi #1 (The Gateway): Runs RaspAP. It receives internet (usually via onboard Wi-Fi or a USB Cellular dongle) and shares it through the Ethernet port to the switch.
- Pi #2 (The Server): Connected via Ethernet to the switch. It receives an IP address from Pi #1.
- Ethernet Switch: An unmanaged 5-port switch is perfect here.
2. Setting Up Pi #1: The RaspAP Gateway
RaspAP makes it incredibly easy to turn a Pi into a router without manually wrestling with iptables.
- Install Raspberry Pi OS: Use the Lite version to save resources.
- Install RaspAP: Run the quick installer:
curl -sL https://install.raspap.com | bash - Configure Routing: * Access the web UI (usually at
10.3.14.1).- In the Hotspot settings, ensure your Wi-Fi is broadcasting.
- In Networking, configure the
eth0interface to act as the LAN bridge. You want RaspAP to provide DHCP addresses to anything plugged into the switch.
3. Setting Up Pi #2: The Web Server
Since this Pi is plugged into the switch, it will automatically pull an IP address from the RaspAP Pi.
- Install a Web Stack: For a lightweight setup, use Nginx:
sudo apt update && sudo apt install nginx -y - Identify the IP: Run
hostname -Ito find its local address (e.g.,10.3.14.50). - Deploy your site: Place your HTML/CSS files in
/var/www/html.
4. How the Traffic Flows
When a device (like your phone) connects to the RaspAP Wi-Fi, it enters the network.
| Connection Path | Description |
| Client → Pi #1 | Wireless connection via RaspAP Hotspot. |
| Pi #1 → Switch | Traffic travels over the Ethernet cable. |
| Switch → Pi #2 | The switch routes the request to the Web Server’s MAC address. |
| Accessing the Site | In your phone’s browser, you just type http://10.3.14.50. |
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Pro-Tips for this Setup
- Static IPs: Within the RaspAP “DHCP Server” settings, map the MAC address of Pi #2 to a static IP (like
10.3.14.10). This ensures your web server address never changes. - Local DNS: You can use the Hosts files feature in RaspAP to give your server a name, like
myserver.local, so you don’t have to remember the IP address. - Power: Since you have a switch and two Pis, consider a multi-port USB charging station to keep the cable clutter down.
Would you like me to walk you through the specific RaspAP settings to bridge the Wi-Fi internet to the Ethernet switch?