Evaluation of Traffic Distribution Performance of ECMP and PCC+CAKE for Multi-ISP Load Balancing on Real Networks Based on Mikrotik

Moh Fathurrohim; Achmad Basuki

doi:10.22219/kinetik.v10i4.2374

Issue

Vol. 10, No. 4, November 2025

Issue Published : Oct 16, 2025

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Evaluation of Traffic Distribution Performance of ECMP and PCC+CAKE for Multi-ISP Load Balancing on Real Networks Based on Mikrotik

https://doi.org/10.22219/kinetik.v10i4.2374

Moh Fathurrohim

085706777720

Achmad Basuki

Corresponding Author(s) : Moh Fathurrohim

fathurrohim@student.ub.ac.id

Kinetik: Game Technology, Information System, Computer Network, Computing, Electronics, and Control, Vol. 10, No. 4, November 2025
Article Published : Oct 16, 2025

Abstract

Imbalance in bandwidth utilization among Internet Service Providers (ISPs) is a major challenge in network management in educational institutions, especially when differences in capacity between ISPs cause overload on one main path. To address this issue, this study proposes the application of load balancing methods using Equal Cost Multi-Path (ECMP) and Per Connection Classifier (PCC) optimized with the CAKE queue type. The implementation is carried out using MikroTik devices, which support the flexible configuration of both methods. Testing is conducted on a real network with a passive monitoring approach through the analysis of actual traffic and ISP utilization, and active monitoring. The evaluation results show that the ECMP method still produces an uneven traffic distribution, with a tendency to concentrate the load on one path. In contrast, PCC + CAKE is able to distribute traffic more evenly according to the ISP bandwidth ratio. In addition, PCC + CAKE shows more stable performance on throughput, RTT, and jitter parameters, and has very low packet loss. Therefore, PCC + CAKE is recommended as a more effective load balancing method to increase the efficiency of ISP utilization and overall network quality in a multi-ISP environment.

Keywords

Load Balancing ECMP PCC CAKE Mikrotik Multi ISP Passive Monitoring Active Monitoring

Fathurrohim, M., & Basuki, A. (2025). Evaluation of Traffic Distribution Performance of ECMP and PCC+CAKE for Multi-ISP Load Balancing on Real Networks Based on Mikrotik. Kinetik: Game Technology, Information System, Computer Network, Computing, Electronics, and Control, 10(4). https://doi.org/10.22219/kinetik.v10i4.2374

Download Citation

References

Z. Saharuna, R. Nur, and A. Sandi, “Analisis Quality Of Service Jaringan Load Balancing Menggunakan Metode PCC Dan NTH,” CESS (Journal Comput. Eng. Syst. Sci., vol. 5, no. 1, p. 131, 2020, doi: 10.24114/cess.v5i1.14629.
A. Tantoni, M. T. A. Zaen, and L. Mutawalli, “Komparasi QoS Load Balancing Pada 4 Line Internet dengan Metode PCC, ECMP dan NTH,” J. Media Inform. Budidarma, vol. 6, no. 1, p. 110, 2022, doi: 10.30865/mib.v6i1.3436.
R. Pakiding, C. Iswahyudi, and R. Y. Ariyana, “Simulasi Perbandingan Load Balancing Dengan Metode PCC, ECMP, Dan NTH Menggunakan GNS3,” J. Jarkom, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 30–39, 2021.
E. B. P. Manurung and M. Ula, “Comparison Analysis of Bandwidth Speed Using Mikrotik Routerboard 750,” J. Techno Nusa Mandiri, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 48–53, 2023, doi: 10.33480/techno.v20i1.4129.
F. W. Christanto, S. Susanto, and A. Priyanto, “Load Balancing-Failover Methods using Static Route with Address List, ECMP, PCC, and Nth for Optimizing LAN Network: A Comparison,” Int. J. Commun. Networks Inf. Secur., vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 409–416, 2019, doi: 10.17762/ijcnis.v11i3.4340.
T. E. Ali, A. H. Morad, and M. A. Abdala, “Load balance in data center SDN networks,” Int. J. Electr. Comput. Eng., vol. 8, no. 5, pp. 3084–3091, 2018, doi: 10.11591/ijece.v8i5.pp3084-3091.
M. I. Rachmad Anwar and D. Priyawati, “Comparative Analysis of PCC and ECMP Methods in Load Balancing Using GNS3 Simulator,” Sistemasi, vol. 13, no. 2, p. 458, 2024, doi: 10.32520/stmsi.v13i2.3954.
A. Ashipala and J. A. Abolarinwa, “SDN-Enabled Data Offloading and Load Balancing in WLAN and Cellular Networks,” SSRN Electron. J., 2023, doi: 10.2139/ssrn.4332902.
S. Ali and R. Alubady, “RWRR: Remind Weighted Rounding Robin for Load Balancing in Fog Computing,” ISAS 2023 - 7th Int. Symp. Innov. Approaches Smart Technol. Proc., pp. 1–7, 2023, doi: 10.1109/ISAS60782.2023.10391499.
S. Agarwal, R. Kaushik, and S. Dawra, “View of Optimized Load Balancing Using Adaptive Algorithm In Cloud Computing With Round Robin Technique.” p. 8, 2024.
R. Fahrizal, M. I. Santoso, and M. Z. Arifin, “Implementation Multipath Routing with Equal Cost Multipath (ECMP) and per Connection Classifier (PCC),” Proceeding - 2020 2nd Int. Conf. Ind. Electr. Electron. ICIEE 2020, pp. 169–173, 2020, doi: 10.1109/ICIEE49813.2020.9277496.
R. Yanwastika Ariyana and V. D. Abdillah, “Network Design Using Load Balancing Equal Cost Multi Path (ECMP) Method At Lexima Consultant Office,” SAGA J. Technol. Inf. Syst., vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 31–36, 2023, doi: 10.58905/saga.v1i2.81.
R. Dewanto, R. Munadi, and R. M. Negara, “Improved Load Balancing on Software Defined Network-based Equal Cost Multipath Routing in Data Center Network,” J. Infotel, vol. 10, no. 3, p. 157, 2018, doi: 10.20895/infotel.v10i3.379.
W. Wiharti, I. L. Rimra, S. Rifka, I. Hidayatullah, and A. F. Kasmar, “Load Balancing and Fail Over MikroTik Implementation Using Per Connection Classifier (PCC) on Two Internet Providers Interconnection,” Int. J. Adv. Sci. Comput. Eng., vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 129–135, 2023, doi: 10.62527/ijasce.5.2.135.
A. Wahid, S. G. Zain, and J. M. Parenreng, “Implementation of Load Balancing Using the PCC ( Per Connection Classifier ) Method on Computer Networks to Improve Responsiveness,” vol. 04, 2024, doi: 10.31763/iota.v4i4.810.
E. R. Amalia, Nurheki, R. Saputra, C. Ramadhana, and E. H. Yossy, “Computer network design and implementation using load balancing technique with per connection classifier (PCC) method based on MikroTik router,” Procedia Comput. Sci., vol. 216, pp. 103–111, 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.procs.2022.12.116.
A. Jalil, J. Kobayashi, and T. Saitoh, “Optimization Algorithm for Balancing QoS Configuration in Aggregated Robot Processing Architecture,” Proc. Int. Conf. Artif. Life Robot., pp. 928–932, 2023, doi: 10.5954/icarob.2023.gs4-4.
M. Seenivasan, R. Ramesh, and R. Dhanabhakkiyam, “Performance Analysis of Queueing Model with Two types of Vacations and Single Service with Feedback,” 2025 5th Int. Conf. Adv. Electr. Comput. Commun. Sustain. Technol. ICAECT 2025, pp. 1–7, 2025, doi: 10.1109/ICAECT63952.2025.10958997.
M. Guo, Q. Guan, W. Chen, F. Ji, and Z. Peng, “Delay-Optimal Scheduling of VMs in a Queueing Cloud Computing System with Heterogeneous Workloads,” IEEE Trans. Serv. Comput., vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 110–123, 2022, doi: 10.1109/TSC.2019.2920954.
K. T.A., O. O.A., A. O.O., O. O.O., and O. R.O.A., “A Simulation-Based Comparative Study of Controlled Delay (Codel) with Random early Detection (Red) for Network Performance Evaluation,” Br. J. Comput. Netw. Inf. Technol., vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 1–10, 2023, doi: 10.52589/bjcnit-nmhj4s4q.
S. Prahara and I. Ali, “OPTIMALISASI JARINGAN INTERNET DENGAN OPTIMALISASI LOAD BALANCING MENGGUNAKAN PARAMETER QOS ( Studi Kasus : SMK Bina Warga Lemahabang ),” vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 211–217, 2023.
C. Dumitrache, G. Predusca, G. Gavriloaia, N. Angelescu, D. Circiumarescu, and D. C. Puchianu, “Comparative analysis of routing protocols using GNS3, Wireshark and IPerf3,” 2022 14th Int. Conf. Electron. Comput. Artif. Intell. ECAI 2022, pp. 1–6, 2022, doi: 10.1109/ECAI54874.2022.9847499.
T. Farhan and B. Santoso, “View of Effect of Load Balancing Bonding and Failover on Speed, Latency, Average, and Packet Loss.” Journal of Applied Informatics and Computing (JAIC), 2024.
K. T. Nugroho, B. Julianto, D. R. Tisna, and D. F. Nur M S, “Quality Analysis of Service Load Balancing Using PCC, ECMP, and NTH Methods,” J. Nas. Pendidik. Tek. Inform., vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 33–41, 2023, doi: 10.23887/janapati.v12i1.55894.
J. Yao, S. Pang, J. J. P. C. Rodrigues, Z. Lv, and S. Wang, “Performance Evaluation of MPTCP Incast Based on Queuing Network,” IEEE Trans. Green Commun. Netw., vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 695–703, 2022, doi: 10.1109/TGCN.2021.3125860.
L. Zhang and L. Xiao, “Performance analysis for a two-stage queuing system with online service,” IEEE Int. Conf. Ind. Eng. Eng. Manag., vol. 2020-Decem, pp. 878–882, 2020, doi: 10.1109/IEEM45057.2020.9309758.

References

Z. Saharuna, R. Nur, and A. Sandi, “Analisis Quality Of Service Jaringan Load Balancing Menggunakan Metode PCC Dan NTH,” CESS (Journal Comput. Eng. Syst. Sci., vol. 5, no. 1, p. 131, 2020, doi: 10.24114/cess.v5i1.14629.

A. Tantoni, M. T. A. Zaen, and L. Mutawalli, “Komparasi QoS Load Balancing Pada 4 Line Internet dengan Metode PCC, ECMP dan NTH,” J. Media Inform. Budidarma, vol. 6, no. 1, p. 110, 2022, doi: 10.30865/mib.v6i1.3436.

R. Pakiding, C. Iswahyudi, and R. Y. Ariyana, “Simulasi Perbandingan Load Balancing Dengan Metode PCC, ECMP, Dan NTH Menggunakan GNS3,” J. Jarkom, vol. 9, no. 1, pp. 30–39, 2021.

E. B. P. Manurung and M. Ula, “Comparison Analysis of Bandwidth Speed Using Mikrotik Routerboard 750,” J. Techno Nusa Mandiri, vol. 20, no. 1, pp. 48–53, 2023, doi: 10.33480/techno.v20i1.4129.

F. W. Christanto, S. Susanto, and A. Priyanto, “Load Balancing-Failover Methods using Static Route with Address List, ECMP, PCC, and Nth for Optimizing LAN Network: A Comparison,” Int. J. Commun. Networks Inf. Secur., vol. 11, no. 3, pp. 409–416, 2019, doi: 10.17762/ijcnis.v11i3.4340.

T. E. Ali, A. H. Morad, and M. A. Abdala, “Load balance in data center SDN networks,” Int. J. Electr. Comput. Eng., vol. 8, no. 5, pp. 3084–3091, 2018, doi: 10.11591/ijece.v8i5.pp3084-3091.

M. I. Rachmad Anwar and D. Priyawati, “Comparative Analysis of PCC and ECMP Methods in Load Balancing Using GNS3 Simulator,” Sistemasi, vol. 13, no. 2, p. 458, 2024, doi: 10.32520/stmsi.v13i2.3954.

A. Ashipala and J. A. Abolarinwa, “SDN-Enabled Data Offloading and Load Balancing in WLAN and Cellular Networks,” SSRN Electron. J., 2023, doi: 10.2139/ssrn.4332902.

S. Ali and R. Alubady, “RWRR: Remind Weighted Rounding Robin for Load Balancing in Fog Computing,” ISAS 2023 - 7th Int. Symp. Innov. Approaches Smart Technol. Proc., pp. 1–7, 2023, doi: 10.1109/ISAS60782.2023.10391499.

S. Agarwal, R. Kaushik, and S. Dawra, “View of Optimized Load Balancing Using Adaptive Algorithm In Cloud Computing With Round Robin Technique.” p. 8, 2024.

R. Fahrizal, M. I. Santoso, and M. Z. Arifin, “Implementation Multipath Routing with Equal Cost Multipath (ECMP) and per Connection Classifier (PCC),” Proceeding - 2020 2nd Int. Conf. Ind. Electr. Electron. ICIEE 2020, pp. 169–173, 2020, doi: 10.1109/ICIEE49813.2020.9277496.

R. Yanwastika Ariyana and V. D. Abdillah, “Network Design Using Load Balancing Equal Cost Multi Path (ECMP) Method At Lexima Consultant Office,” SAGA J. Technol. Inf. Syst., vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 31–36, 2023, doi: 10.58905/saga.v1i2.81.

R. Dewanto, R. Munadi, and R. M. Negara, “Improved Load Balancing on Software Defined Network-based Equal Cost Multipath Routing in Data Center Network,” J. Infotel, vol. 10, no. 3, p. 157, 2018, doi: 10.20895/infotel.v10i3.379.

W. Wiharti, I. L. Rimra, S. Rifka, I. Hidayatullah, and A. F. Kasmar, “Load Balancing and Fail Over MikroTik Implementation Using Per Connection Classifier (PCC) on Two Internet Providers Interconnection,” Int. J. Adv. Sci. Comput. Eng., vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 129–135, 2023, doi: 10.62527/ijasce.5.2.135.

A. Wahid, S. G. Zain, and J. M. Parenreng, “Implementation of Load Balancing Using the PCC ( Per Connection Classifier ) Method on Computer Networks to Improve Responsiveness,” vol. 04, 2024, doi: 10.31763/iota.v4i4.810.

E. R. Amalia, Nurheki, R. Saputra, C. Ramadhana, and E. H. Yossy, “Computer network design and implementation using load balancing technique with per connection classifier (PCC) method based on MikroTik router,” Procedia Comput. Sci., vol. 216, pp. 103–111, 2022, doi: 10.1016/j.procs.2022.12.116.

A. Jalil, J. Kobayashi, and T. Saitoh, “Optimization Algorithm for Balancing QoS Configuration in Aggregated Robot Processing Architecture,” Proc. Int. Conf. Artif. Life Robot., pp. 928–932, 2023, doi: 10.5954/icarob.2023.gs4-4.

M. Seenivasan, R. Ramesh, and R. Dhanabhakkiyam, “Performance Analysis of Queueing Model with Two types of Vacations and Single Service with Feedback,” 2025 5th Int. Conf. Adv. Electr. Comput. Commun. Sustain. Technol. ICAECT 2025, pp. 1–7, 2025, doi: 10.1109/ICAECT63952.2025.10958997.

M. Guo, Q. Guan, W. Chen, F. Ji, and Z. Peng, “Delay-Optimal Scheduling of VMs in a Queueing Cloud Computing System with Heterogeneous Workloads,” IEEE Trans. Serv. Comput., vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 110–123, 2022, doi: 10.1109/TSC.2019.2920954.

K. T.A., O. O.A., A. O.O., O. O.O., and O. R.O.A., “A Simulation-Based Comparative Study of Controlled Delay (Codel) with Random early Detection (Red) for Network Performance Evaluation,” Br. J. Comput. Netw. Inf. Technol., vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 1–10, 2023, doi: 10.52589/bjcnit-nmhj4s4q.

S. Prahara and I. Ali, “OPTIMALISASI JARINGAN INTERNET DENGAN OPTIMALISASI LOAD BALANCING MENGGUNAKAN PARAMETER QOS ( Studi Kasus : SMK Bina Warga Lemahabang ),” vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 211–217, 2023.

C. Dumitrache, G. Predusca, G. Gavriloaia, N. Angelescu, D. Circiumarescu, and D. C. Puchianu, “Comparative analysis of routing protocols using GNS3, Wireshark and IPerf3,” 2022 14th Int. Conf. Electron. Comput. Artif. Intell. ECAI 2022, pp. 1–6, 2022, doi: 10.1109/ECAI54874.2022.9847499.

T. Farhan and B. Santoso, “View of Effect of Load Balancing Bonding and Failover on Speed, Latency, Average, and Packet Loss.” Journal of Applied Informatics and Computing (JAIC), 2024.

K. T. Nugroho, B. Julianto, D. R. Tisna, and D. F. Nur M S, “Quality Analysis of Service Load Balancing Using PCC, ECMP, and NTH Methods,” J. Nas. Pendidik. Tek. Inform., vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 33–41, 2023, doi: 10.23887/janapati.v12i1.55894.

J. Yao, S. Pang, J. J. P. C. Rodrigues, Z. Lv, and S. Wang, “Performance Evaluation of MPTCP Incast Based on Queuing Network,” IEEE Trans. Green Commun. Netw., vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 695–703, 2022, doi: 10.1109/TGCN.2021.3125860.

L. Zhang and L. Xiao, “Performance analysis for a two-stage queuing system with online service,” IEEE Int. Conf. Ind. Eng. Eng. Manag., vol. 2020-Decem, pp. 878–882, 2020, doi: 10.1109/IEEM45057.2020.9309758.

Author biographies is not available.

Issue

Vol. 10, No. 4, November 2025

Evaluation of Traffic Distribution Performance of ECMP and PCC+CAKE for Multi-ISP Load Balancing on Real Networks Based on Mikrotik

Corresponding Author(s) : Moh Fathurrohim

Abstract

Keywords

Download Citation

References

Downloads