Script that enables a Raspberry Pi to create a WiFi Access Point and route internet traffic through the Ethernet interface.
This script automates the configuration required to turn a Raspberry Pi into a WiFi router (AP + Ethernet uplink). It installs the necessary software, configures system files, and enables routing between interfaces.
Originally developed around 2017, this project reflects the networking practices and tooling available at that time.
sudo bash raspberrywifiap.shor:
chmod +x raspberrywifiap.sh
sudo ./raspberrywifiap.shOnce configured, your Raspberry Pi will provide:
- WiFi Access Point with WPA2 security (default passphrase — change before use)
- WiFi modes G and N
- WiFi network with 192.168.66.X / 255.255.255.0 (customizable)
- Ethernet interface in DHCP client mode (connected to upstream router)
- Internet access for WiFi clients via IPv4 forwarding
- Automatic startup of services on boot
- Basic sanity checks and file backups to reduce risk of misconfiguration
- Key parameters configurable via variables at the top of the script
This project is based on the following guide:
https://medium.com/@edoardo849/turn-a-raspberrypi-3-into-a-wifi-router-hotspot-41b03500080e
The original tutorial demonstrates how to turn a Raspberry Pi 3 into a WiFi router using common Linux networking tools.
It should be noted that the original guide was intended as a proof of concept, not a production-ready solution, and has known limitations in performance and hardware capabilities.
This project is not actively mantained and it's designed for older Raspbian / Raspberry Pi OS versions. It uses legacy networking tools such as ifconfig and iptables. It may still be useful for learning how WiFi AP + routing works internally, small domestic projects and educational purposes but do not use as a production-ready router, for modern networking stack compatibility, or for setups requiring high performance or reliability.
It's not tested with recent Raspberry Pi OS releases.