"Hello, DEV Community! I’m a Computer Science student at Universitas Sains dan Teknologi Indonesia. Today, I want to share my journey of building something more than just a home lab: a real-world, legal, and small-scale ISP (RT/RW Net) using Fiber to the Home (FTTH) technology."
"To keep the network stable and scalable, I've moved away from old copper cables to a modern Fiber Optic ecosystem. Here is what's under the hood:
Core: MikroTik RouterOS v7 (leveraging the new Linux Kernel for stability).
Distribution: OLT (Optical Line Terminal) using GPON technology.
Management: Custom Automated Billing with WhatsApp Gateway integration.
Monitoring: Real-time alerts via Telegram bots."
"One of the biggest challenges in a shared community network is fairness. I implemented HTB (Hierarchical Token Bucket) and FQ-CoDel to fight bufferbloat. This ensures that while one user is downloading a heavy file, another can still enjoy lag-free gaming or Zoom calls."
"Building a network isn't just about crimping cables. In my country, legal compliance is a must. I’ll explain how the 'Reseller' model works through ISP partnerships (KSO) and why every network engineer should consider the legal framework before going live."
"Building this has taught me more about networking than any textbook ever could. If you’re a student or a hobbyist looking to scale up your home lab into a community service, let’s discuss in the comments!"
"You can follow my detailed step-by-step tutorials on my blog: Mahasiswa Indonesia.
