Analisis Kinerja Load Balancing dan Failover Menggunakan Mikrotik RouterOS untuk Layanan Internet Multi-ISP

Abstract

The increasing demand for internet connectivity across various sectors requires a reliable, stable, and highly available network infrastructure capable of maintaining service continuity. Dependence on a single Internet Service Provider (ISP) often leads to service disruptions when connection failures occur, highlighting the need for an effective network redundancy mechanism. This study aims to analyze the performance of implementing load balancing using the Per Connection Classifier (PCC) method and failover on Mikrotik RouterOS within a multi-ISP network environment. An experimental research approach was employed, consisting of network requirements analysis, network topology design, implementation of load balancing and failover configurations, and network performance evaluation. The performance parameters observed included throughput, latency, and downtime to assess network reliability before and after the implementation of the proposed mechanisms. The results demonstrate that the load balancing mechanism effectively distributes network traffic across multiple ISP links, resulting in more efficient bandwidth utilization. Meanwhile, the failover mechanism successfully maintains service continuity by automatically switching traffic to the backup connection whenever the primary ISP experiences a failure. Furthermore, the implementation improved network throughput, stabilized latency, and ensured uninterrupted internet connectivity during ISP outages. Therefore, the integration of PCC-based load balancing and failover on Mikrotik RouterOS is proven to be an effective solution for enhancing network reliability and supporting high-availability internet services.